I'm trans and I want to change my name. How do I start? - DYKKA.com

Living with a name that reminds us of an incorrect gender identity is a pain. The Czech Republic is lagging behind some other countries in this regard, but there are still ways to change your name.

 

What does the law say?

 

Names and naming are regulated in the Czech Republic by the Act on Registers, Names and Surnames and on the Amendment of Certain Related Acts. It is a lengthy document, but the most important things for us are:

• everyone with Czech citizenship must have a first name and a surname,
• the name must either come from a list of already approved names, or it must be proven that such a name was once used by someone,
• a person with a male legal gender must not have a name designated only for persons with a female legal gender, or vice versa,
• a new development since 2022 is that persons with a female legal gender can use a surname without the -ová suffix without having to have a non-Czech nationality, a non-Czech spouse, or having to meet other conditions that previously applied to this change. 

In the Czech Republic, until we have undergone sterilization, we cannot change our legal gender, and so, unfortunately, we must abide by what is stated in our documents. 

Male or masculine name

Since the Czech Republic no longer requires persons with a female legal gender to have a feminized surname, transgender men and other transmasculine men can change theirs. This does not only apply to surnames with the -ová suffix, so if your name is, for example, Zelená and you want to be Zelený, that is also possible. 

If you are applying for the first time in your life to change your surname to a non-feminized form, you pay nothing. You will also change your surname for free if you have a certificate from a sexology clinic confirming that you are undergoing transition. In such a case, you will most often receive a neutral surname (most often with the -ů suffix).

And what about first names? There is a list of gender-neutral names on the website of court expert Jana Valdrová, from which you can choose. However, if you choose an unusual name, one that is not on the list of approved names in the publication Jak se bude jmenovat? by another court expert Miloslava Knappová, the registry office will most likely require an expert opinion, for which you will have to pay. Otherwise, changing a name to a neutral one is free for people who provide a certificate of ongoing transition. If you do not have a certificate from a sexology clinic, you will pay 1,000 CZK.

Female or feminine name 

Similar rules apply here as for male names: If you want a neutral name and have a certificate from a sexology clinic stating that you are undergoing transition, the registry office will change it for you free of charge. If you do not want to go through the official transition process, you will again pay 1,000 CZK for the name change. 

On the other hand, if you have a male legal gender, you will not be able to have your surname feminized.

Neutral name

To get a neutral surname, you don't have to rush to a sexology clinic immediately, but keep in mind that, as in previous cases, you will pay a thousand crowns for this change.

Alternative: artistic name

Don't you like any gender-neutral name, or don't you want a non-feminized or neutral surname? Even if you are a person under a name you don't like for the authorities, you can use a different name in other places.

In the artistic field and in workplaces that are LGBT+ friendly, you can use an artistic (or professional) name. This applies to people who, for example, write or translate literature, compose or play music, paint pictures, and so on. If you are a self-employed person, you can also operate under a different name (see copywriter Michelle Losekoot), however, the name you have in your documents should be found on invoices and official presentations.