chfn doesn't allow me to change my name

[Aminda Suomalainen]

I have shell access to some systems where I am not root. I am trans woman and I legally changed my name in March and noticed that some systems are still showing my old name.

I then tried to fix it by running `chfn` which helpfully automatically filled my old name and went to next field, "room number". I couldn't find reason for this from quick google search nor the manual page. <Sorry for this part, I was angry and didn't think that this could be found offensive.>

UPDATE: I tried this on both systems, remote and local with same result.

UPDATE2: FreeBSD allows changing all details with chsh including name. I also tested with OS X which allows it too.

UPDATE3: Removing of CoC referral

> IMO it's not a completely bad idea to not allow changing that by default because it might be used to identify people if you know them IRL or on IRC or something and they use a different name there

This shouldn't be done, there should be a separate database for user information which has nothing to do with the system. What if you lose your passwd file?

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: passwd 1:4.1.5.1-1ubuntu9
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.47-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Thu Jul 17 21:33:53 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-04 (74 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
SourcePackage: shadow
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

From /etc/login.defs:

#
# Which fields may be changed by regular users using chfn - use
# any combination of letters "frwh" (full name, room number, work
# phone, home phone). If not defined, no changes are allowed.
# For backward compatibility, "yes" = "rwh" and "no" = "frwh".
#
CHFN_RESTRICT rwh

Asking your system administer to change this to 'frwh' should suffice.

Thanks

[Aminda Suomalainen (mikaela)]

Why "frwh" isn't the default?