Graduate student needs a new name for hukou

Updated: 2012-02-24 17:00

(chinadaily.com.cn)

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A graduate of Hunan University called Peng A has a problem with her hukou (permanent residence permit) for her unusual given name, the Hunan-based Sanxiang City Express reported Thursday.

The 22-year-old Peng is having trouble transferring her hukou from her hometown, Baojing county, Hunan province, to Changsha, the capital city of the province where her university is based, because her first name has the English letter "A".

Names with English letters cannot be identified by the hukou system of the Ministry of Public Security, said an official at the Yuelu branch of the Changsha Public Security Bureau.

Peng's father named her because he was inspired by the renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun's "The True Story of Ah Q". "A symbolizes excellence, and my parents want me to be outstanding," Peng added.

Peng said she had finally decided to take the policeman's advice and change her name, though she has no idea about her new name.

Peng A is not the first one who has had trouble with names. People named Zhao C, Chen B and others have been ordered to change their names by authorities.