As 'Sharmaine' goes viral, law expert explains legal grounds for changing first name

The viral "Sharmaine" meme on TikTok involving an orange that wishes to change its name has sparked discussions online about whether Filipinos can legally change their names.

In JP Soriano’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, a civil law expert said changing one's first name is possible under certain circumstances, but it cannot be done simply because a person no longer likes their given name.

Under Republic Act No. 10172, Filipinos may seek administrative correction of their first name through the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General without the need for a court order, particularly in cases involving clerical or typographical errors in the birth day, birth month, or sex of a person.

Republic Act No. 9048 also allows changes to a person's first name or nickname, provided there are valid legal grounds.

"Yung first name mo, ang term ng batas is ridiculous, halimbawa tainted with dishonor. Siyempre, mapapahiya ka, embarrassing. That is a ground to change your first name," explained Atty. Nikki De Vega, a civil law expert from NDV Law.

“Halimbawa, itong first name mo ay mahirap, extremely difficult to pronounce or spell,” she added.

A person may also legally change their first name if the name they wish to adopt has already been established and is the one by which they are commonly known.

The law likewise allows a name change when having the same name as other family members causes confusion, particularly in important records and documents.

However, the expert stressed that a person cannot legally change a first name without a valid reason.

"Hindi ka puwedeng magpalit ng first name mo kung walang ground na kumbaga ayaw mo lang. Halimbawa, naasar ka lang sa pangalan mo or nagising ka kinabukasan, gusto mo ikaw si Sharmaine eh ikaw si Anna. Hindi puwedeng ganun," the expert said.

A person also cannot change their name in an attempt to evade criminal liability.

For those who wish to pursue a legal name change, the process begins at the local civil registrar where the person's birth was registered, per Soriano's report. Applicants must file a verified petition and submit supporting documents proving the grounds for the request.

The viral “Sharmaine” meme on TikTok features an orange that complains that its name was not properly thought out compared to other fruits.

"Naiinis naman ako 'te kasi parang 'di naman ako pinag-isipan,” the fictional orange said. “O 'di ba ikaw ang pangalan mo ay mango, pero dilaw ka naman. Parang obvious naman kasi sa 'kin te, orange, wala na bang ibang pangalan? Kaloka naman.”

When asked what name it would rather be called, the orange replied, “Sharmaine.”

"Ay, ang ganda. Ipa-notaryo natin 'yan," the persona in the background said.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News