An attempt by the nationalist-dominated Derry city council to change the name of the North's second city from Londonderry to Derry has failed in the High Court in Belfast.
The name of the council was changed from Londonderry City Council to Derry City Council in 1984, but the city name remained unchanged.
In a reserved judgment, Mr Justice Weatherup said just because the council name had changed did not mean the name specified by Royal Charter granted by King James I in 1613 should be changed.
A spokesman for Derry City Council said: "Today's declaration on the legal name of the city is important as it provides clarity on the matter before any further decisions or actions can be considered.
"This was always the council's decision. The judgment will be examined in full and presented to Derry City Council for further consideration and discussion."
Democratic Unionist Party MLA and former mayor of the city William Hay welcomed the ruling.
"This decision has to be welcomed and will be, very, very much, by the small minority of unionists who live in the city," he said.