Well as someone who changed hers from a birth name meaning “puritanical self-punishment” to a given spiritual name meaning “eternal wisdom” (work in progress I always say!) quite a lot.   And so it would seem for the 285 girls in the Indian state of Maharashtra, who all changed their names from Nakusha meaning “unwanted” (because their parents wanted a boy) to one of their choice.  “Ashmita” which is Hindi for “very tough” was chosen by one young woman and no doubt she will need to be as she grows up in an environment where women are frequently considered a burden rather than an asset.  However, it’s a positive step and whilst I don’t consider myself a feminist I do champion equality, so may there be many more along the path of freedom for oppressed women everywhere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15414796