The capital's university was named after Queen Victoria 120 years ago.

Victoria University staff are among the late-arriving opponents to a proposal to change the university's name.

The institution's decision-making council issued a draft decision signing off a proposed change to "University of Wellington" last month, sparking a public outcry.

A petition in opposition has since gathered 5000 signatures, and public meetings on the matter are being attended by staff and alumni complaining of little time to respond.

JESSICA LONG/STUFF A "Stick With Vic" protest outside the campus' Hunter Building on Tuesday.

Vice-chancellor Grant Guilford, who announced the proposal in May, said it was "a little frustrating" to receive such feedback two weeks before the a final decision was due.

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"There's a very orchestrated campaign now from a group of very professional managers of such campaigns, professional political lobbyists, professional social media people.

"So that's creating some anxiety, where there wasn't anxiety previously."

Guilford said the university's council would consider all feedback before a Monday, August 13, deadline, before making a final decision on August 27.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Victoria University of Wellington has decided to go ahead with a name change, Education Minister Chris Hipkins permitting. To answer further questions on the change - after some public outcry - the university is hosting three meetings this week. (file photo)

Touted as a "name simplification", a change to University of Wellington and the te reo Māori name "Te Herenga Waka" is expected to address an international identity crisis said to be costing the university donations and prestige.

The vice-chancellor said staff overall backed the proposal.

ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF People have had ample opportunity to comment on the change says Vice-chancellor Grant Guildford, but meetings have not been well attended.

"The only reason we would delay is if we feel that people need more time for consultation, so we'll think about that."

Victoria University law professor Geoff McLay said the Law Faculty had not experienced the claimed international confusion over the university's name

"I can say without a shadow of a doubt that in the common law, Commonwealth and North America, we have quite a famous brand.

JOHN NICHOLSON/STUFF Victoria University of Wellington's Council has signed off on the name change proposal, which will now go to Education Minister Chris Hipkins for approval.

"There is no research that shows that University of Wellington would be more effective ... there's not a conclusive research that says that."

It was concerning that research behind the proposal was only made available with the council's draft decision, he said.

"It's difficult to do consultation with such a big community ... however there does seem to be a lack of engagement."

Professor of Strategic Studies Robert Ayson has raised concerns about how alumni will respond to a name change.

"There are three main problems to the proposal: benefits oversold, costs undersold, and consultation has not been extensive enough.

"It's not quite clear to me that we have evidence that we have a equivalent or greater sense of enthusiasm."

Around 30 students enthusiastically chanted in protest of the name change proposal on the university's Kelburn campus on Tuesday afternoon.

Around 30 people attended a second public meetings at the university's Rutherford House on the proposed name change.

At the similarly attended Monday meeting, Gwynn Compton, alumnus and organiser of a petition against the name change, said 5000 signatures gathered in a week showed the dismay at the proposal.

He questioned whether Guilford had the "demonstrable" support required for Education Minister Chris Hipkins to sign off the decision.

Guilford responded by saying 5000 signatures on a social media petition was a fraction of the 44,000 alumni and 200 stakeholders contacted in an already months-long consultation programme.

He listed the "scale of attempts" to engage the community, including five staff forums, social media postings and media coverage.

If the council confirms its decision, the proposal will be considered by the education minister.