RON ARTEST CHANGING HIS NAME

Say goodbye to Ron Artest and hello to Metta World Peace ... Mr. Metta World Peace to you.Ron's filed a petition in L.A. County Superior Court to change his name to -- World Peace.

FYI, metta means loving, kindness, happiness and all that jazz. We're told Ron wants to put the new last name -- Peace -- on the back of his L.A. Lakers' jersey.