The Supreme Court enumerated valid grounds or reasons to validly ask the court for a change of name. It is enshrined in Republic of the Philippines vs. Coseteng-Magpayo1, to wit:
A person can effect a change of name under Rule 103 (CHANGE OF NAME) using valid and meritorious grounds including (a) when the name is ridiculous, dishonorable or extremely difficult to write or pronounce; (b) when the change results as a legal consequence such as legitimation; (c) when the change will avoid confusion; (d) when one has continuously used and been known since childhood by a Filipino name, and was unaware of alien parentage; (e) a sincere desire to adopt a Filipino name to erase signs of former alienage, all in good faith and without prejudicing anybody; and (f) when the surname causes embarrassment and there is no showing that the desired change of name was for a fraudulent purpose or that the change of name would prejudice public interest2. Respondents reason for changing his name cannot be considered as one of, or analogous to, recognized grounds, however.
1G.R. No. 189476, February 2, 2011
2Republic v. Hernandez, 323 Phil. 606, 637-638 (1996).
