Canada and the World
Current Events with a Canadian Perspective
Last update
19 November 2010
Parents Should Be
Careful in Naming their Children
What might seem like a clever name
for a baby may turn out to be something
that attracts negative attention later in life
Researchers from TheBabyWebsite.com have spent many hours trawling through the Internet looking for the unfortunate names with which some children are saddled.
Spare a thought for Chris Cross, Helen Back, Barry Cade, and Rose Bush. These are just a few of the monikers that turned up in a British study of names in 2009.
Peculiar U.S. Names
The study cast its net wide: “America as you’d expect,” its authors say, “is a haven of weird and wonderful names including Anna Prentice, Annette Curtain, Bill Board, and Carrie Oakey.
“A string of people have brilliant names linked to their professions including Dr. Leslie Doctor, [then there are] Dr. Thoulton Surgeon a vet in Connecticut, Dr. Payne a plastic surgeon in Sandusky, Ohio, Les Plack a dentist in San Francisco, and Priti Manek a doctor in Florida.”
Name Holders often Not Amused
The BBC interviewed several of the unfortunates who no longer appreciate their parents’ sense of humour.
“Retired airman Stan Still, 76, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, said his name had been ‘a blooming millstone around my neck my entire life. When I was in the RAF my commanding officer used to shout, ‘Stan Still, get a move on’ and roll about laughing,’ he said.
‘It got hugely boring after a while.’ ”
The Law Corrects Naming Mistakes
In 2008, the case of a New Zealand girl with a strange name made headlines. Kathy Marks of The Independent reported on this in an article entitled "Parents Must Rename Girl Called Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii" on July 25, 2008.
“The girl, now nine, was not amused. She refused to tell anyone, even her close friends, her name. When her parents split and launched a custody battle, it came to the attention of a judge, who ordered her to be made a ward of court until her name was changed.”
Talula now has a new name but her identity is being kept a secret to protect her privacy.
The law came down on a Swedish couple in 1996 over the naming of their son. Parents Elisabeth Hallin and Lasse Diding named their child Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, which, they said, was pronounced Albin.
The BBC reported in April 2007 that the name was “rejected by authorities in 1996. The boy’s parents had chosen the name as a protest against Swedish naming laws.”
This law says that a child must be named within five years of its birth and that the name must not “cause discomfort for the one using it.” Elisabeth and Lasse’s protest cost them a $735 fine.
Children Carry Famous Names
Many parents choose to name a child after a favourite movie star of athlete.
One British father named his son after the starting line-
Imagine the conversation when Dad gets back from registering snookums’ name: “You did what?” Let’s turn away from this discussion; it looks like it might get ugly.
There was no stampede to name babies “Dweezil” after musician Frank Zappa called his son that in 1969. (Actually, Dweezil was legally registered as Ian Donald). Similarly, Bandit Lee (the name given to the son of Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance) is unlikely to race up the popularity charts as fast as the groups songs.
Marriage Can Create Some Odd Names
Susan Frame from Doncaster, England wrote to the BBC in 2009 with her story. "I am
a lawyer. I met and married Robert who is a banker. His surname is Mee. Now we are
Sue Mee, a lawyer, and Rob Mee, a banker -
But, perhaps, there’s an upside. People are not likely to forget you if you’re called Justin Case, Candy Barr, Tim Burr, Jo King, Barb Dwyer, or Ray Gunn. It might make up for the years of ruthless teasing children with these names will have suffered.
However, parents can save their children a lot of tears if they avoid giving them a name that can lead to ridicule. What might seem clever and cute can end up being a lifelong burden.
Sources
“Most Unfortunate Names’ Revealed.” BBC News, February 25, 2009.
“Baby Named Metallica Rocks Sweden.” BBC News, April 4, 2007.
© Canada and the World, April 2010
All rights reserved
Among names that had been approved by birth registration officials in New Zealand were Number 16 Bush Shelter, Midnight Chardonnay, and Benson and Hedges (for twins).
"The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgement which this child's parents have shown in choosing this name. It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and a handicap, unnecessarily. She fears being mocked and teased, and in that she has a greater level of insight than either of her parents."
New Zealand Judge Robert Murfitt in ordering the parents of a young girl to rename the child they had called had Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii
"The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgement which this child's parents have shown in choosing this name. It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and a handicap, unnecessarily. She fears being mocked and teased, and in that she has a greater level of insight than either of her parents."
New Zealand Judge Robert Murfitt in ordering the parents of a young girl to rename the child they had called had Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii
Among names that have been approved by birth registration officials in New Zealand are Number 16 Bush Shelter, Midnight Chardonnay, and Benson and Hedges (for twins).