Parents' right to naming their children

[TheNoNamedOne]

In the last ten years there have been some interesting cases before courts in different countries with governments challenging parental rights to naming their children what they wish. For example, a little more than 10 years ago a Japanese couple tried to name their child Akuma (Devil), but the courts would not allow it.

I think the over-riding decision by courts in intruding on naming rights is that of the welfare of the child i.e. taking into accounts of social norms and how a child could likely be a target of bullying by peers while growing up.

IIRC, there was a spate of incidences in Latin American countries several years ago where it was a trend to name children after strange things related to a parent's interest, such as "spark plug," some other name. I think the courts had moved to quash that.

But just the other day:

What to name a child? In Italy, a court can decide (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071218/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_name)

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court has ruled that a couple could not name their son "Friday" and ordered that he instead be called Gregory after the saint whose feast day he was born on. ...

The parents registered him as Friday in the city hall and a priest even baptised him as Friday -- unusual in Italy since many priests insist that first names be of Christian origin. ...

"We named him Friday because we like the sound of the name. Even if it would have been a girl, we would have named her Friday," the boy's mother, Mara Germano, told Reuters. ...

"I am livid about this," the boy's mother said. "A court should not waste its time with things like this when there is so much more to worry about."

"My son was born Friday, baptised Friday, will call himself Friday, we will call him Friday but when he gets older he will have to sign his name Gregory," she said.

Like, what's wrong with Friday? What is wrong with any name so long as it is not an expletive? Do you think the courts should be allowed to oversee the naming rights of parents?

[Asshat]

The naming of a child by those who nurture him shouldn't be in the courts. My kids didn't know their names weren't Dumbass, or Butthead untill they went to HS.

Any known instances of US Courts deciding a name was inappropriate?

[TheNoNamedOne]

Any known instances of US Courts deciding a name was inappropriate?

Haven't found any yet for the U.S. But just recently in New Zealand parents were not allowed to name their child 4Real. Here is the story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6937327.stm) that came out before the court decision (haven't found that story yet). In the end it seems as if they have been able to name their child Superman.

Seems the New Zealand court also at one time stepped in to keep a couple from naming their child Adolf Hitler, too. If that couple idolizes Hitler, then why shouldn't they be allowed to name him Hitler? After all, Jesus is a common name in Latin Amerca, Central America, South America, and Spain.

Many wars have been fought over Christian doctrine. Why the favoritism toward Jesus and not for Hitler? Which one throughout history has had more deaths associated with them?

[TheNoNamedOne]

How about naming your child a fruit, like say Banana, Guava, or....Apple (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3721153.stm).

The child of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Apple is the recipient of an honest-to-goodness celebrity offspring name.

If a fruit isn't nutty for a name, then yeah...why not Spark Plug (scroll down above story)?:

In Honduras some recent bizarre child names include Spark Plug and Miracle Tire.
Andy, UK

Still looking for some court rulings in the U.S.

[dk]

Many wars have been fought over Christian doctrine. Why the favoritism toward Jesus and not for Hitler? Which one throughout history has had more deaths associated with them?
Directly, I'd say Hitler.

Indirectly, who knows. I'd say Jesus caused about as many deaths as Destiny, which is a pretty often used female name.

I always thought Jezebel was a pretty cool name, but man, I probably would have been disowned from my family if I named my daughter that. But then again, people don't seem to have a problem with the name Delilah.

[DougP]

Didn't Hitler do what he did in the name of Christianity? Or at least that's what he said he was doing. Hard to say which is to blame when it comes to things like this. The man or the weapon. The weapon of course being religion.

[dk]

I don't know, but some of his best leaders were devout Catholics so... I really don't put faith in religion when it comes to nations fighting nations. I mean really, when both sides are praying to the same God for victory and using their religion to motivate the public, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Tony Stacks]

I am all about freedom but I see where these governments are comming from. Imagine if your are a kid and your parents name you Butt just for example and imagine how bad you would be picked on and the torment you would face from other kids so I think these governments are trying to help the kids.

[DougP]

I knew a guy who's last name was Dick.:) You can imagine all the first names he was thinking of naming his future children.:D

[P_chan]

I knew a guy who's last name was Dick.:) You can imagine all the first names he was thinking of naming his future children.:D

So I've got one to beat that. A math teacher at my high school had the last name of boner. Funny thing is his first name was Dick:D What were his parents smoking once they named their child dick boner?

[DougP]

At least his first name wasn't Harry.:D Actually not sure if anyone remembers a show called "Growing Pains" but there was a kid on there who's name was Boner.:D

[kombu_kid]

It's a pretty sad day when the courts have to intervene and block parents from naming their kid some off-the-wall names. To me, it just goes to show how immature and I guess selfish these parents are. I'm halfway on the fence on this one. I just can't bring myself to say "yeah, let's involve the courts on naming your kid". Can you imagine having your in-laws protesting your slightly-different-sounding name you picked for your kid in court? Don't wanna start seeing that B.S. Then it might turn into......"submit your application for the names you picked to the courts for approval"....and a nominal fee, of course. No, no, no. Ain't goin' there.

It may be considered a whole 'nother thread, but I believe that many times in this day and age, people just don't want to grow up. I don't wanna rain on anybody's parade, but I personally know of a few people in their 40's and 50's who still wear braces on their teeth and have been for about 10 years. What does that tell you? It tells me desperation to stay young. Think about how stodgy people dressed @ age 30 back in the 1950s. At least they shifted into "parent~responsible" mode at that point.

BTW, what if your last name was Hitler? Would you then not be allowed to name your son Adolph? Questions...questions.....questions....

Wanna hear something funny? When I was a teenager, I knew a guy named Dave Hunt. One day, me and my other friend were joking around with him and said "hey, Dave, ya got a brother named Mike?" (Mike Hunt.....My C*nt) He said "yeah, actually I do." I guess his parents never put 2 and 2 together when they named his brother.:)

[Ammoyankee]

I knew a guy who's last name was Dick.:) You can imagine all the first names he was thinking of naming his future children.:D


When I was stationed at Hill AFB in the early 90's my Wing Commander was named Colonel Daniel Dick! About 2000 here, we got a visit from a General and lo and behold... It was General Daniel Dick! Can you imagine when he was a Major. What was the greeting used? "top o' the morning to you, Major Dick!":w00t:

[Muku]

I wonder what is Friday in Italian?

[DougP]

I wonder what is Friday in Italian?

venerdì I guess:D

Domani è venerdì tomorrow is friday:)