You have the right to have a name, which your parents can freely choose. Your name has to be officially registered by the State.
Your right and your parents’ choice
Your name is a very important part of your identity and plays a part in shaping your personality. It can also be a link to your family. Therefore, you have the right to have a name.
Your name is usually chosen by your parents. Apart from some impact and language requirements, they have the right to freely choose your name. Your name has to be officially recognized by the State and, therefore, your parent’s have the right to register it with the General Registry Office.
Requirements for a name
Your parents can choose your name freely, but they must keep your best interests in mind when choosing your name. Therefore, your parents must follow some rules when choosing your name:
- your name has to comply with the rules of the literary Lithuanian language, otherwise your name will not be registered by the State.
- your parents should also consider whether the chosen name could have a negative effect on your development, personality and relationship with others. A name which is offensive, eccentric or excessively whimsical is likely to harm your interests.
Registration of a name
Your name and surname is registered by the General Registry Office of your municipality. The Office may refuse to register your name if it does not conform to the requirements for a name, such as the literary Lithuanian language rules.
The refusal to register your name must be lawful. Read more about aspects that have to be taken into account when deciding whether to register your name.