The footballer Bixente’s first name was renamed at birth by the civil registrar who opted for a “French” version. After long procedures, the athlete managed to have his real first name, of Basque origin, recognized.
When Bixente Lizarazu was born in 1969, the parents were refused the choice of their child’s first name. The civil registrar had in fact opted for a completely different first name, preferring a more French version: the first name Vincent. However, Breton and Basque first names are authorized in the legislation. This was modernized in 1966 and the administration today issues a reservation: the refusal of first names which would be likely to harm the interests of the child. That said, some parents are still fighting today to have their baby recognize a Breton first name, especially when it contains a tilde, as we have seen several times with the first name Fañch.
The 1998 world football champion, who became a sports commentator and consultant, also fought to be able to be called what he wanted. To have his initial first name Bixente recognized on official documents, instead of the first name Vincent, Claire Keim’s companion had to assert himself and be patient. He therefore bore the first name Vincent for several years since his real first name, Bixente, was only recognized in 1996, after long legal proceedings.
Very attached to his origins, the footballer was keen to choose, in turn, a pretty Basque first name for his children. But this time, no one opposed his decision. His eldest son, aged 29 and born from a previous union, is called Tximista, which refers to lightning in Basque. With the actress and singer Claire Keim, Bixente Lizarazu also has a daughter with the very pretty first name Uhaina, which means “the wave” in Basque. A first name that takes on its full meaning for this big fan of surfing, another sport, this time aquatic, in which he also excels.