BAKU, August 1, 2025
This year, over 300 Azerbaijanis have formally applied to change their names—a noticeable rise in identity revisions, according to officials.
Sayaly Sadigova, Deputy Chair of the Terminology Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers, told Report that the majority of requests submitted to civil registration offices relate to first names given by parents.
“Names are an essential part of how we address one another, and each should carry a distinct national character,” she said. “However, we’ve seen a significant number of applications to change names—over 300 this year alone.”
The most common reasons, she noted, include names that provoke ridicule, carry unclear or inappropriate meanings, or are simply spelled incorrectly.
According to Sadigova, this wave of name changes reflects a deeper societal shift. As personal identity becomes more important in a modernizing Azerbaijan, many are seeking names that reflect cultural pride, clarity, and dignity.
