Can I change my name or first name?
It depends: you can change your name administratively, but for justified reasons. The request is addressed to the mayor of your locality of residence (for Romanians abroad, the last residence town hall or Sector 1 Town Hall). It's filed with the population records service, followed by publishing an extract in the Official Gazette, Part III. The request must be justified: when the name is indecent or ridiculous, when the person is known by another name in society/profession (with evidence), when incorrect entries were made, when the name is too complicated and you want to simplify it, or when you want to add a first name you're known by. After publication, any interested person can object within 30 days. Fees are about 27 lei (file processing) and 211 lei (county directorate). In short: yes, but you need a sound reason and to follow the procedure.
📋 The rules
- Request to the mayor of the locality of residence
- Requires justified reasons provided by law
- Publication in the Official Gazette, Part III
- 30 days for third-party objections
- Fees: about 27 lei + 211 lei
🔓 Exceptions
- Adopting another person's name: needs their consent
- Minors: guardianship-court authorisation may be needed
- Requests without a justified reason: can be refused
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A name change involves no "sanctions" but a procedure with conditions and fees. A request without a justified reason or with an incomplete file can be refused. Also, if an interested person objects within the 30 days of publication, believing the change would harm a right of theirs, the request can be blocked. To succeed: clearly justify the request (indecent/ridiculous name, social recognition under another name, simplification etc.), attach the required documents (ID, civil-status certificates, the Official Gazette copy, the consent of the person whose name you want to take, if applicable) and pay the fees. After approval, you'll also have to update your other documents (ID card, passport, licence etc.).
📎 Official sources
- GO 41/2003 on the administrative name change →
- Directorate for Population Records (DEPABD) →
- Ministry of Internal Affairs · civil status →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I change my name anytime?
Not just any way, but for justified reasons provided by law and by following the administrative procedure. The request is addressed to the mayor of your locality of residence and filed with the population records service. Without a sound reason and following the procedure, the name change can't be approved.
What reasons are considered justified?
Among justified reasons: the name is indecent or ridiculous, the person is known in society or profession by another name (with evidence), incorrect entries were made in civil-status documents, the name is too complicated and you want to simplify it, or you want to add a first name you're known by, within the law.
How does the procedure work?
You file the justified request with the population records service, with the required documents. An extract is published in the Official Gazette, Part III, and for 30 days any interested person can object. If there are no justified objections and the file is complete, the request can be approved.
How much does a name change cost?
There's a file-processing fee of about 27 lei and a fee to the county population records directorate of about 211 lei. To these can be added costs for publishing in the Official Gazette and for later updating your ID documents and other papers.
What happens after the name change?
After the change is approved, the note is entered in the civil-status documents, and you'll have to update your other papers: ID card, passport, driving licence and other documents in your name. It's a needed step for the new name to be correctly reflected in all official records.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “administrative name change”
- “justified reasons name change”
- “name change request town hall”
- “name change fee 211 lei”
- “official gazette objection 30 days”
- “first name change documents”