Change of Name

The Estonian-Latin alphabet is used for writing a personal name. The spelling of the Estonian personal name must adhere to the Estonian spelling rules. The spelling of a personal name in a foreign language must adhere to the spelling rules of the according language.

The given name may consist of:

• not more than three separately written names or two names connected with a hyphen as an assigned name;
• one or multiple names as an applied name.

The surname may consist of:

• one or two names connected with a hyphen (added spouse’s surname)
• one or multiple names as an applied name.

The surnames of people married or registered civil union or related to each other or surnames of current or previous relatives by marriage are considered as a joint surname in case their spelling is letter for letter identical, as well as names in which the spelling differences are due to gender, marital status or reflection of another characteristic based on the person’s national custom.

Applying a personal name means documenting a personal name in the person’s document issued in a foreign country and, if necessary, applying the rules of rewriting foreign names from foreign alphabets.

The reasons for applying for a new given name may include:

• a wish to abandon an unconventional given name which is not suitable to be used as a given name due to its complex spelling or pronunciation, or spelling or pronunciation which does not comply with the Estonian language use, or due to its general linguistic meaning;
• a wish to protect the personal name of a person if it coincides with the personal name of another person;
• a wish to avoid harmful economic or social consequences arising from the name;
• a wish to change the number or order of names in the given name;
• a wish to bear the given name firmly established in the actual usage which is different from the given name entered in a document or the population register due to writing of the name as one or several words or due to a mark which is not a letter (apostrophe, hyphen), or due to single characters, and which complies with the requirements of the Names Act (the firmly established given name in actual use must be proven by personal ID or vital statistics documents);
• a wish to use, in the case of a given name consisting of two names in brackets, one of these names without brackets;
• a wish to bear the given name in the form which is entered in the population register but which differs from the name form entered in the document serving as the basis for assignment of the name to the person due to application of the transcription rules.
• a wish to change the given name for any other good reason.

It is possible to give a new given name, which:

• consists of up to three separately written names or two names connected by a hyphen;
• complies with the Estonian language use, is not complex or inappropriate due to the general language use in spelling or pronunciation, or inappropriate as a given name due to the general meaning in the language;
• is used as a non-Estonian given name in Estonia or in other countries;
• doesn’t contain numbers or non-alphabetical signs;
• is separately or together with the surname in accordance with good morals;
• corresponds to the gender of the person;
• isn’t the person’s surname, so that the given and surname are not the same.

• wishes to use the surname of his or her parents, grandparents or great-grandparents;
• wishes to use, in the case of a surname consisting of several names, only one name;
• wishes to bear the same surname as the spouse or registered civil union or add the surname of the spouse or registered civil union after his or her surname;
• is widowed and wishes to bear the surname last borne before the marriage or registered civil union;
• wishes to bear the surname firmly established in the actual usage which is different from the personal name entered in a document or the population register due to writing of the name as one or several words or due to a mark which is not a letter (apostrophe, hyphen), or due to single characters, and which complies with the requirements of the Names Act;
• wishes to use, in the case of a surname consisting of two names in brackets, one of these names without brackets;
• wishes to bear the surname in the form which is entered in the population register but which differs from the name form entered in the document serving as the basis for assignment of the name to the person due to application of the transcription rules;
• wishes to give his or her minor child the surname which the person took after marrying the other parent of the child after registration of the birth of the child and which is the joint surname of the parents.

A new surname may be assigned at a reasoned request of a person if the person:

• wishes to abandon an unconventional surname which is not suitable to be used as a surname due to its complex spelling or pronunciation, or spelling or pronunciation which does not comply with the Estonian language use, or due to its general linguistic meaning;
• wishes to abandon the current surname if his or her personal name coincides with the personal name of another person;
• wishes to avoid harmful economic or social consequences arising from the personal name;
• wishes to bear an Estonian surname;
• wishes to change the surname for any other good reason.

At the person’s request, it is possible to assign a freely chosen surname.

The following names are not allowed to be assigned as freely chosen surnames:

• A name which contains numbers or non-alphabetical signs or which separately or together with the given name is contrary to good morals;
• a name which is not suitable to be used as a surname due to its complex spelling or pronunciation, or spelling or pronunciation which does not comply with the Estonian language use, or due to its general linguistic meaning;
• a name which is borne by 1–20 living persons according to data in the population register;
• a name in the case of which the new personal name and year of birth of the person would coincide with the personal name and year of birth of another living person;
• a name which is too widespread and is borne by 500 or more people according to the population register;
• a name which is used as a given name;
• a name of a well-known historical figure or a famous family;
• name referring to a legal person or the protected part of a well-known registered trade mark consisting of words, and the names of state and local governments and bodies and authorities thereof;
• a name in the case of which the given name and the surname of the person would be the same;
• a surname consisting of the two names of the parents.

A written consent of both custodial parents is necessary for changing the name of a minor.

The consent form can be digitally signed (digitally signed by both custodial parents) or submitted in person at the vital statistics office.

Assigning a personal name to a child ten years of age or older requires the child’s consent. The wish of a child younger than 10 years of age must be taken into consideration if their level of development allows for it. The consent of a minor shall be ascertained by an official who shall verify it with his or her signature.

The child can state their opinion at the vital statistics office in person.

A state fee of 100 euros shall be paid for registering a change of name. The fee must be paid before submitting your application.

It is possible to pay the state fee at the office using a bank card at the self-service check-out or via online bank.

Beneficiary: Rahandusministeerium (Ministry of Finance)
SEB bank EE891010220034796011
Swedbank EE932200221023778606
Luminor Bank EE701700017001577198
Reference number 10294002000134

In the explanation field of the payment please write nime muutmine (change of name) and the person’s name wanting to change their name.
 

NB! There is no need to pay the state fee in case:

• a person wishes to bear the given name or surname firmly established in the actual usage which is different from the personal name entered in a document or the population register due to writing of the name as one or several words or due to a mark which is not a letter (apostrophe, hyphen), or due to single characters, and which complies with the requirements of the Names Act (the established given name or surname in actual use must be proven by either vital statistics office documents or by personal ID);
• a person wishes to use, in the case of a given name or surname consisting of two names in brackets, one of these names without brackets;
• a person wishes to bear the given name or surname in the form which is entered in the population register but which differs from the name form entered in the document serving as the basis for assignment of the name to the person due to application of the transcription rules
• wishes to give his or her minor child the surname which the person took after marrying the other parent of the child after registration of the birth of the child and which is the joint surname of the parents.

In case you wish to discard your change of name, we kindly ask you to submit a digitally signed application in free form via email [email protected].

Application form for refund of state fee

The claim for refunding the state fee ends with the passing of two years from the end of the year in which the state fee was paid. The procedural costs for reviewing the application are deducted when refunding the state fee.

Names Act