NationStates Jolt Archive

I think the parents are slightly south of stupid, but why should any government be able to tell people what to name their kids (short of keeping someone from naming his/her son vagina)?

And the French! A list of approved names!? What happened to the Liberte part of Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite?

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/new-zealand-judge-blocks-name-for-baby/20070624111209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

And the French! A list of approved names!? What happened to the Liberte part of Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite?


Well, that died together with Napoleon, maybe even earlier than that :)

Wasn't there a thread on that a couple days ago?

I think it's perfectly justified to have some regulations on what names parents can and can't give a kid. If my mom had had her way, I'd have a name that is a synonym to "fatass" in English.

An old story;

Woman was at a gynecologist office about 9 months along with twins. Doctor asked her if she had picked out names and she said no. He told her there were brochures in the waiting room with name ideas. So on her way out she picked up a couple.

When the babies came she named them.........


GonRaya and SyPhillis

Wasn't there a thread on that a couple days ago?

I think it's perfectly justified to have some regulations on what names parents can and can't give a kid. If my mom had had her way, I'd have a name that is a synonym to "fatass" in English.

Junkin D. Trunk?



I feel the need to apologize...

I think the parents are slightly south of stupid, but why should any government be able to tell people what to name their kids (short of keeping someone from naming his/her son vagina)?

And the French! A list of approved names!? What happened to the Liberte part of Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite?

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/new-zealand-judge-blocks-name-for-baby/20070624111209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

'4Real'? What the hell? Why can't parents just name their children Mohammed like any normal people? Non-alphabetical symbols in names invoke the wrath of Allah.

i dont see any reason why there shouldnt be a list of acceptable names. its not like there is some need to name a child something odd. there are plenty of names to choose from. where is the problem?

To be honest, if 4Real grew up with that name I would recommend they sue their parents for emotional damage.

I've no problem with legislation with regards to what a parent can name a child. A child is another person not a dog or a piece of property, and you don't have the right to disrupt it's life with a horrid name. However once the child is 18 I see no problem with letting that person change their name to whatever they want.

I think the parents are slightly south of stupid, but why should any government be able to tell people what to name their kids (short of keeping someone from naming his/her son vagina)?I suppose they consider it their task to protect children against the stupidity of their parents. A bad name is akin to a mild form of childabuse that lasts you a lifetime (or untill you change your name).

You know, I have no problem with "Apple", or "Moxie Crimefighter"(Moxie seems like an interesting name, and they probably would drop the "crimefighter" in most purposes"), however "4Real" is just wrong. Stick with actual words, at least.

I should name my kid ROFLMAO or H4XX0R5!, maybe even 1337. Of course, with the current phenomena of leet speak, I can see that happening in the future with some people.

There is a difference between naming a kid a unique name, and giving them something idiotic to the extreme. Not sure if it should be illegal or not, but some parents need a good punch in the face.

People should be free to name their children whatever they want, be it 4real, Adolf Hitler, a profanity, or ESPN. The children should also be free to rename themselves once they are able to make decisions (also any name they want). You say it is unfair to the child for them to have a horrid name, but it is far more of an injustice that the government would make you choose a name off of a list. What if you want to name them after a relative (or anyone for that matter) and the name is not approved? More importantly, governments are actually wasting taxpayers' money by coming up with these lists and enforcing these ridiculous rules.

Just another example of the government's unnecessary intervention in the lives of its people.

Names have actually been studied.

People with unusual names fall in an strange way on the economic curve. They tend to be extremely successful or a total failure. Very few fall in the middle as would be expected with a usual name.

"Ethnic" names also seem to predict less chance of success.

There are sources that show what predictions people make when they hear a specific name. Of course those predictions change over time as names cycle.

I should name my kid ROFLMAO or H4XX0R5!, maybe even 1337. Leto Atreides, 1337 for short ;)

*Sigh*

If only the litigation could wait 18 years, that way the poor little bugger could make a little money out of the tragedy.

Wasn't there a thread on that a couple days ago?

I think it's perfectly justified to have some regulations on what names parents can and can't give a kid. If my mom had had her way, I'd have a name that is a synonym to "fatass" in English.

But is your mothers native tongue English?

Because over here we can give male babies the name 'Dick' without any problems. However, when they travel abroad they will be made fun of :)

Because some parents are selfish idiots that want their child to be unique. They name those kids without thinking of the child who will have to live with that name until they are old enough to change it.

The government is just trying to help keep these kids from ridicule.

If you want your child to be unique in their name..give them a decent one and just change the spelling.

I named my son a common name but he really hated it. Why was Sue so upset about his name?

So, does this mean if I moved to France, I wouldn't be allowed to name my first born child Zaphod Beeblebrox?

If you want your child to be unique in their name..give them a decent one and just change the spelling.

God I hate when people do that. If you're going to use a traditional name why bother with a change of spelling to make them unique. Just go all out and give them a crazy name

To be honest, if 4Real grew up with that name I would recommend they sue their parents for emotional damage.

I've no problem with legislation with regards to what a parent can name a child. A child is another person not a dog or a piece of property, and you don't have the right to disrupt it's life with a horrid name. However once the child is 18 I see no problem with letting that person change their name to whatever they want.

Exactly! Wont they be ashamed when their son wants to change his name to Timothy or Kevin or Brian or Colin or........

Slightly separately there should be a list of banned names, starting with LaShonda.

But is your mothers native tongue English?

Because over here we can give male babies the name 'Dick' without any problems. However, when they travel abroad they will be made fun of :)

No, she isn't. But luckily for me, the name she was going to give me was an abreviated version of a German name, and the guy at the registry office told her she'll have to give me the real name, not the nick name.

So now, I can fall back on that name, instead of feeling embarrased all the time :D

Having a "normal" name will NOT spare a child ridicule period.

I had a nice "normal" name and my classmates perverted it to the point that I hate it so much that I use my middle name and I will be legally dropping my shitty first name because of the meaning and because it was the subject of ridicule.

So, I think the government has no place to say that is normal and what isn't.

Let the parents name the child whatever they want. A normal name will NOT make one iota of a fucking difference if children are hellbent on perverting the name in order to tease the person of their choosing.

Having a "normal" name will NOT spare a child ridicule period.

I had a nice "normal" name and my classmates perverted it to the point that I hate it so much that I use my middle name and I will be legally dropping my shitty first name because of the meaning and because it was the subject of ridicule.

So, I think the government has no place to say that is normal and what isn't.

Let the parents name the child whatever they want. A normal name will NOT make one iota of a fucking difference if children are hellbent on perverting the name in order to tease the person of their choosing.

Who cares about classmates??? They'll make fun of just about anything.
Try applying for a job with a name like "fatass", and then come back to complain about normal names.

Who cares about classmates??? They'll make fun of just about anything.
Try applying for a job with a name like "fatass", and then come back to complain about normal names.

I had no luck getting a job when I used my first name and miraculously when I switched to my middle name I could get a job. And yes, my legal first name is very very normal, there is nothing strange about it.

Having a "normal" name will NOT spare a child ridicule period.

I had a nice "normal" name and my classmates perverted it to the point that I hate it so much that I use my middle name and I will be legally dropping my shitty first name because of the meaning and because it was the subject of ridicule.

So, I think the government has no place to say that is normal and what isn't.

Let the parents name the child whatever they want. A normal name will NOT make one iota of a fucking difference if children are hellbent on perverting the name in order to tease the person of their choosing.

QFFT!

Government should have no powers over what parents should name their kids, I am so glad I don't live in France.

QFFT!

Government should have no powers over what parents should name their kids, I am so glad I don't live in France.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Sweden has a similar type of law. Maybe Fass knows.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Sweden has a similar type of law. Maybe Fass knows.

and the Nanny State grows some more in both countries. *sigh*

I had no luck getting a job when I used my first name and miraculously when I switched to my middle name I could get a job. And yes, my legal first name is very very normal, there is nothing strange about it.

Are you sure nothing else changed at roughly the same time?

Are you sure nothing else changed at roughly the same time?

You have no idea how shallow and idiotic people can be.

You have no idea how shallow and idiotic people can be.

I beg to differ ;)

Are you sure nothing else changed at roughly the same time?

Yes, nothing else had changed.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Sweden has a similar type of law. Maybe Fass knows.

Germany, Austria and the UK have similar rules, thank goodness.

Yes, nothing else had changed.

I hate that this thread has returned. Now i'm being teased with another group of names I want to know lol

Germany, Austria and the UK have similar rules, thank goodness.

How horribly intrusive and not to mention a waste of money.

Germany, Austria and the UK have similar rules, thank goodness.

The UK Deed Poll Service restrictions again:

"Name restrictions
We will not accept an order for a Deed Poll for a name that:

is impossible to pronounce,
includes numbers or symbols,
includes punctuation marks - although you can have a hyphen to link forenames or surnames (for example, if you want a double-barrelled surname) and an apostrophe in the case of surnames like O'Brien.
we consider vulgar, offensive, blasphemous or unsuitable,
may result in others believing you have a conferred or inherited honour, title or rank, for example, a change of first name to Sir, Lord, Laird, Lady, Prince, Princess, Baron, Baroness, Count, Countess, General, Colonel etc.,
does not include at least one forename and one surname.
Other than the above restrictions, you can change your forenames, surname (or both), add names, remove names or rearrange your existing names. You can change your name at any time and for any reason provided it is not for deceptive or fraudulent purposes or for the avoidance of an obligation."

Having a "normal" name will NOT spare a child ridicule period.It makes the probability of ridicule less though. A "Mike" is much less likely to get harassed for his name than a "Phineas". However, you're quite right that if kids want to harass someone, they'll find a way to pervert the name whatever it is.

Let the parents name the child whatever they want. A normal name will NOT make one iota of a fucking difference if children are hellbent on perverting the name in order to tease the person of their choosing.Yes, but the chance children are hellbound on perverting a name in order to tease someone is a lot smaller when it's not ridiculous in the first place.

The UK Deed Poll Service restrictions again:

"Name restrictions
We will not accept an order for a Deed Poll for a name that:

is impossible to pronounce,
includes numbers or symbols,
includes punctuation marks - although you can have a hyphen to link forenames or surnames (for example, if you want a double-barrelled surname) and an apostrophe in the case of surnames like O'Brien.
we consider vulgar, offensive, blasphemous or unsuitable,
may result in others believing you have a conferred or inherited honour, title or rank, for example, a change of first name to Sir, Lord, Laird, Lady, Prince, Princess, Baron, Baroness, Count, Countess, General, Colonel etc.,
does not include at least one forename and one surname.
Other than the above restrictions, you can change your forenames, surname (or both), add names, remove names or rearrange your existing names. You can change your name at any time and for any reason provided it is not for deceptive or fraudulent purposes or for the avoidance of an obligation."

The bold line is too vague and what make not be offensive for some may be for others. That line is precisely why the government should have zero say in the name of the child, other than to say it cannot have non-alphabetical characters in it (hyphen excluded).

The bold line is too vague and what make not be offensive for some may be for others. That line is precisely why the government should have zero say in the name of the child, other than to say it cannot have non-alphabetical characters in it (hyphen excluded).

Why shouldn't it? If you're going to allow anything else where is the problem with non-alphabetical characters?

Why shouldn't it? If you're going to allow anything else where is the problem with non-alphabetical characters?

The fact that it makes the name unreadable. *nods*

The fact that it makes the name unreadable. *nods*

But you didn't complain about the part that says names should be pronouncable

How horribly intrusive and not to mention a waste of money.

Agreed, again. :)

How horribly intrusive and not to mention a waste of money.

I'm eternally grateful to this particular law. Seriously, if you were an employer and received an application from Fatass Mueller, would you bother replying or would you think someone's taking the piss and chuck it out straight away?

And it would indeed have been a waste of money for me if my mother had succeeded in giving me that name, it can cost well over 1000 Euros having it changed, and that's without the hassle of getting all your certifications, credentials, bank accounts, driver's licences, etc updated afterwards. An immense waste of time and money.

The bold line is too vague and what make not be offensive for some may be for others. That line is precisely why the government should have zero say in the name of the child, other than to say it cannot have non-alphabetical characters in it (hyphen excluded).

That's not from the government. That's from the UK Deed Poll Service, a private company that makes up a deed poll (or, more accurately, a deed of change of name) for you, to save you the 30 seconds it takes to do it yourself. They won't accept names that they consider "vulgar, offensive, blasphemous or unsuitable", but that's, as far as I'm aware, not to say you can't legally make a deed poll up yourself and include all four of those things.

That's not from the government. That's from the UK Deed Poll Service, a private company that makes up a deed poll (or, more accurately, a deed of change of name) for you, to save you the 30 seconds it takes to do it yourself. They won't accept names that they consider "vulgar, offensive, blasphemous or unsuitable", but that's, as far as I'm aware, not to say you can't legally make a deed poll up yourself and include all four of those things.

Thanks for clarifying that. I probably should have said that myself. Sorry all

I'm eternally grateful to this particular law. Seriously, if you were an employer and received an application from Fatass Mueller, would you bother replying or would you think someone's taking the piss and chuck it out straight away?



To be completely honest I would definitely bring that person in just to see if I could keep a straight face during the interview

We have some people here named Hitler. (And some Rommels though, but that's okay with me, I like Rommel, he's (present tense) cool)

But then again, those guys were one generation older than me,... and at that time the education level of where I live is lower than now,... not that it's any good now either.

I don't think there should be a "list" of valid names. Parents should have the freedom to name their kid something "unique". However, there should be some common sense limits. No kid should be named "Fatass" or "Shithead" (at least not their legal name). Or anything truly stupid or unpronouncable.

I don't think there should be a "list" of valid names. Parents should have the freedom to name their kid something "unique". However, there should be some common sense limits. No kid should be named "Fatass" or "Shithead" (at least not their legal name). Or anything truly stupid or unpronouncable.

But then you're leaving that subjective choice up to a government official. Sounds like a bad idea to me

But then you're leaving that subjective choice up to a government official. Sounds like a bad idea to me

I shall give you a fluffle. :fluffle:

I shall give you a fluffle. :fluffle:

I think this may be my first fluffle

:fluffle:

Hope it was as good for you as it was for me ;)

I think this may be my first fluffle

:fluffle:

Hope it was as good for you as it was for me ;)

Get a room! :)

I don't think there should be a "list" of valid names. Parents should have the freedom to name their kid something "unique". However, there should be some common sense limits. No kid should be named "Fatass" or "Shithead" (at least not their legal name). Or anything truly stupid or unpronouncable.

If I recall German law correctly, there's no list as such. There are certain criteria a name must have, it must be clearly showing the sex of the child, it cannot be ridiculous, and must be "dem Wesen nach Vorname", meaning it must be recognisable as a first name. That doesn't prevent anyone from inventing new names, for example, but it does give the registry office the right to refuse first names like "Hitler", "Pumuckl", or my intended first name.

But then you're leaving that subjective choice up to a government official. Sounds like a bad idea to me

You don't. I remeber a while ago reading about a case where the parents wanted to call her daughter "Uregano", meaning hurricane apparently, after a song title by Eros Ramazotti. The official refused, they complained about it and provided an explanation for the name, and the kid's now called Uregano.
Personally, I feel sorry for the kid, though. That name would be bad enough in Italy, but in Germany...

If I recall German law correctly, there's no list as such. There are certain criteria a name must have, it must be clearly showing the sex of the child, it cannot be ridiculous, and must be "dem Wesen nach Vorname", meaning it must be recognisable as a first name. That doesn't prevent anyone from inventing new names, for example, but it does give the registry office the right to refuse first names like "Hitler", "Pumuckl", or my intended first name.

Just tease away why don't you.

You don't. I remeber a while ago reading about a case where the parents wanted to call her daughter "Uregano", meaning hurricane apparently, after a song title by Eros Ramazotti. The official refused, they complained about it and provided an explanation for the name, and the kid's now called Uregano.
Personally, I feel sorry for the kid, though. That name would be bad enough in Italy, but in Germany...

But they had to go through all that hassle based on the officials decision. Although I do understand your point that it's open to appeal

But they had to go through all that hassle based on the officials decision. Although I do understand your point that it's open to appeal

Didn't cost them much more than the stamps for a letter.
Changing that name will cost the kid hundreds of Euros later.

Didn't cost them much more than the stamps for a letter.
Changing that name will cost the kid hundreds of Euros later.

Its an issue with the cost of changing the name later on then, in my opinion

God I hate when people do that. If you're going to use a traditional name why bother with a change of spelling to make them unique. Just go all out and give them a crazy name

I really hate it too, I had a kid in my class last year named Jaxynne (Jackson) seriously, WTF?

I still don't like the idea of government intervention, it seems way too authoritarian to me.

My name sucks, I know it, I plan to change it, I am still glad the government didn't legislate my name.

My kids have a non-traditionally spelled name, and a foreign name, in Mexico neither are allowed. Someone in Mexico was once denied the right to name their kid Kevin (can't find the article).

I really hate it too, I had a kid in my class last year named Jaxynne (Jackson) seriously, WTF?

I still don't like the idea of government intervention, it seems way too authoritarian to me.

My name sucks, I know it, I plan to change it, I am still glad the government didn't legislate my name.

My kids have a non-traditionally spelled name, and a foreign name, in Mexico neither are allowed. Someone in Mexico was once denied the right to name their kid Kevin (can't find the article).

Not you too. Everyone holding their crazy names just out of my reach :p

I was lucky in that the traditional spelling of my name seems quite unique to most people.

Didn't cost them much more than the stamps for a letter.
Changing that name will cost the kid hundreds of Euros later.

Why would it cost so much?

Not you too. Everyone holding their crazy names just out of my reach :p

I was lucky in that the traditional spelling of my name seems quite unique to most people.

I have to find a new name I like.......right now I really like Hildegarde.

I have to find a new name I like.......right now I really like Hildegarde.

Not particularly to my tastes but its definitely unique

I received a somewhat non-traditional (but, in reality it's MORE traditional) middle name. Leigh. Apparently, people think it's appropriate to have a female named Lee, and pronounce my middle name "lay" or "lay-uh". Some people are idiots.

I did, however, see several messed-up names lately. Chewanna, Chewcanna, (Shuh-wahn-nuh and Shuh-kahn-uh, who were twins), Unique Reality(last name? JONES!), Shithead(Shuh-thayd), and Female (Fem-ah-lee).

What were these parents smoking? I wanted to call the twins Chewbacca 1 and 2...

There should be some kind of guidelines of what you can't name a kid. I'm all for excluding numerals.

And in the article, it was mentioned that Julia Roberts has a son named Phinnaeus. That's not a messed-up name. It's just old-school to the umpteenth power.

What were these parents smoking? I wanted to call the twins Chewbacca 1 and 2...

when I was pregnant with my first, I got tired of people asking me what I was going to name her, so I said ........

Yoda Kenobi Jawa Jawa Organa Wookie Wookie Chewbacca Skywalker III


they laughed and I stood with a straight face and said "I'm serious, if you are going to be a jerk though, you just won't have any contact with the baby ever"

The UK Deed Poll Service restrictions again:

"Name restrictions
We will not accept an order for a Deed Poll for a name that:

is impossible to pronounce,
includes numbers or symbols,
includes punctuation marks - although you can have a hyphen to link forenames or surnames (for example, if you want a double-barrelled surname) and an apostrophe in the case of surnames like O'Brien.
we consider vulgar, offensive, blasphemous or unsuitable,
may result in others believing you have a conferred or inherited honour, title or rank, for example, a change of first name to Sir, Lord, Laird, Lady, Prince, Princess, Baron, Baroness, Count, Countess, General, Colonel etc.,
does not include at least one forename and one surname.
Other than the above restrictions, you can change your forenames, surname (or both), add names, remove names or rearrange your existing names. You can change your name at any time and for any reason provided it is not for deceptive or fraudulent purposes or for the avoidance of an obligation."

So then, no Deed Poll for Prince 47![]GodIsDead Myxzplkt?

So then, no Deed Poll for Prince 47![]GodIsDead Myxzplkt?

Well not from these guys anyway although I think you should definitely look into it by other routes :p

How about Al Kader?

I think we should sterilize all celebrities who name their kids crap like "Salad Fork" and "Pilot Inspektor". Celebrity kids or not, they'll have unwanted attention because of the ridiculous names their idiotic parents gave them.

As for legislating names... to be honest, it's a good idea. No, it won't stop ridicule completely... but it will help the kids who would have been named things like, oh, "Coffee Table", "Laptop Computer," "Windows XP", ":D", or worse yet, "uber 1337 n00bz0r pwn".

So then, no Deed Poll for Prince 47![]GodIsDead Myxzplkt?

Or :sniper:?

Why would it cost so much?

Because it invloves a tremendous amount of paperwork. In effect, you're changing your entire identification. Your birth cert needs to be changed, your parent's data needs to be changed to reflect the new name of their kid, your voting registration, your certificates, your former schools need to be notified, your certifications need to be re-issued, all contracts you signed need to be updated, your former employers as well as your current employer need to be notified to make the changes in their files, your driving school, your driving test, your driver's licence, every single one of your insurances, all doctors who ever treated you so your medical record remains complete,etc etc.
It's simply massive.

I once tried to get the spelling of my last name officially changed cause it contains two letters that aren't found in the English alphabet. After taking a short look at the time, effort and costs I decided to just live with having to explain.

I still don't like the idea of government intervention, it seems way too authoritarian to me.

My name sucks, I know it, I plan to change it, I am still glad the government didn't legislate my name.



Why, though? I mean, what's the difference?
The point is, when you get given your name, you're too young to decide yourself. So what difference does it make if your parents give you a crappy name, or some government official? :confused:
Why should only your parents be allowed to mess up your life?

I've no problem with legislation with regards to what a parent can name a child. A child is another person not a dog or a piece of property, and you don't have the right to disrupt it's life with a horrid name.

My thoughts exactly.

To be honest, if 4Real grew up with that name I would recommend they sue their parents for emotional damage.

I've no problem with legislation with regards to what a parent can name a child. A child is another person not a dog or a piece of property, and you don't have the right to disrupt it's life with a horrid name. However once the child is 18 I see no problem with letting that person change their name to whatever they want.

THREADWINNER.

Because some parents are selfish idiots that want their child to be unique. They name those kids without thinking of the child who will have to live with that name until they are old enough to change it.

The government is just trying to help keep these kids from ridicule.

If you want your child to be unique in their name..give them a decent one and just change the spelling.

OH HELL NO.

Holy smothering shitblankets, there is TOO MUCH of that crap already. Just go through a month of substitute teaching and all the attendance lists you'll have to look at and once you've seen your TENTH variation of kylie, kayleigh, kai-li, caille, and so on and so on into yuppie-addled oblivion and you will change your mind in a Moscow minute.

For the love of all that's holy, just think about the kid having to spell their name, over and over and over again every time he or she gives it, whether it's polite conversation or an application for a job. It's pretentious horseshit, and while it is certainly within a parent's right to saddle their mewling cabbage with whatever vapid drool that they deem suits their issue, it doesn't make them anything but sadly uninspired at best and downright irresponsibly fruity at worst.

AN unpopular opinion, but dammit, think of the kid. Think of the day care center! "Agammemnon, you stop teasing Caligula!"

The bold line is too vague and what make not be offensive for some may be for others. That line is precisely why the government should have zero say in the name of the child, other than to say it cannot have non-alphabetical characters in it (hyphen excluded).

So little Christfucker Jones, Sodomize Allah Anderson, King Rapist Smith, Niggerhater Keepdarkydown White and John Jerk-Me-Off-Fuck-You-Too Johnson can keep their names? :rolleyes:

"4Real"? NO NUMBERS, it's a simple rule. Oh, wait, the number is subbing for an actual word, well, here's a tip: USE THE BLEEDING WORD!

"ForReal Smith". That atually has a tiny bit of ring to it and allows the kid to salvage his sodding DIGNITY.

I don't know why this issue arouses my ire so much. And no, I don't have an unusual name -- in fact, I ditched a long, Prussian surname when I turned 18 in favor of my current one, which is easy to spell and pronounce, has 7 letters instead of 16, and has significance because it's of my own choosing...and it pissed my father off, too. Bonus.

I don't think there should be a "list" of valid names. Parents should have the freedom to name their kid something "unique". However, there should be some common sense limits. No kid should be named "Fatass" or "Shithead" (at least not their legal name). Or anything truly stupid or unpronouncable.

There are at least six documented Shitheads in the US. It's a girl's name, apparently, and it's pronounced as thought it were Irish (shih-THEYD, with the voiced TH). There are also a few Asshole children as well (a-SHOAL-ee). There's also Orangejello (oh-RON-gel-oh) and Lemonjello (leh-MAHN-gel-oh), named after the mother's favorite desserts. [Source, the book Freakonomics by Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner.]

Of course I don't want to see lists of state-approved names; that's far too Orwellian. I'd just like to see a bare minimum of common sense. It's asking too much, I know, but that's me. Optimist.

There are trends that need to die, though. I see a lot of Black folks thinking their kid will sound somehow more ethnic or African with a phoneme or syllable placed before an otherwise okay name: DeShaun, LaQuinna, ShaVerna. This is faux-ethnic gobbledygook that bespeaks little for the kid and (referencing the aforementioned book) actually harms their chances for future employment.

So little Christfucker Jones, Sodomize Allah Anderson, King Rapist Smith, Niggerhater Keepdarkydown White and John Jerk-Me-Off-Fuck-You-Too Johnson can keep their names? :rolleyes:
.

LOL

OH HELL NO.

Holy smothering shitblankets, there is TOO MUCH of that crap already. Just go through a month of substitute teaching and all the attendance lists you'll have to look at and once you've seen your TENTH variation of kylie, kayleigh, kai-li, caille, and so on and so on into yuppie-addled oblivion and you will change your mind in a Moscow minute.

For the love of all that's holy, just think about the kind having to spell their name, over and over and over again every time he or she gives it, whether it's polite conversation or an application for a job. It's pretentious horseshit, and while it is certainly within a parent's right to saddle their mewling cabbage with whatever vapid drool that they deem suits their issue, it doesn't make them anything but sadly uninspired at best and downright irresponsibly fruity at worst.

An unpopular opinion, but dammit, think of the kid. Think of the day care center! "Agammemnon, you stop teasing Caligula!"

I think I love you.

Hey, why not turn it around? Legislate that every child must have a unique name.

That way you avoid the situation in later life where your company employs 7 Kates and 5 Peters and you have to remember which is which. It also eliminates the possibility of getting mercilessly ripped because you happen to have the same first name as the cabinet minister who's just been outed for his indecent behaviour with zoo animals.

Just have all names currently in use stored on one computer database. When the parents come to register their child's birth, they have to come up with a name that's not already on the list. If they can't come up with anything, the computer could be programmed to string together random characters till it comes up with something unique.

It's a win-win solution.

Hey, why not turn it around? Legislate that every child must have a unique name.

That way you avoid the situation in later life where your company employs 7 Kates and 5 Peters and you have to remember which is which. It also eliminates the possibility of getting mercilessly ripped because you happen to have the same first name as the cabinet minister who's just been outed for his indecent behaviour with zoo animals.

Just have all names currently in use stored on one computer database. When the parents come to register their child's birth, they have to come up with a name that's not already on the list. If they can't come up with anything, the computer could be programmed to string together random characters till it comes up with something unique.

It's a win-win solution.

Except it's not. Duplicate given name problems are commonly solved with either middle names, surnames or nicknames.

THREADWINNER.

I do what I can.:)

There are at least six documented Shitheads in the US. It's a girl's name, apparently, and it's pronounced as thought it were Irish (shih-THEYD, with the voiced TH). There are also a few Asshole children as well (a-SHOAL-ee). There's also Orangejello (oh-RON-gel-oh) and Lemonjello (leh-MAHN-gel-oh), named after the mother's favorite desserts. [Source, the book Freakonomics by Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner.]

Of course I don't want to see lists of state-approved names; that's far too Orwellian. I'd just like to see a bare minimum of common sense. It's asking too much, I know, but that's me. Optimist.

There are trends that need to die, though. I see a lot of Black folks thinking their kid will sound somehow more ethnic or African with a phoneme or syllable placed before an otherwise okay name: DeShaun, LaQuinna, ShaVerna. This is faux-ethnic gobbledygook that bespeaks little for the kid and (referencing the aforementioned book) actually harms their chances for future employment.

It's a trend. It has to be. At least there's nobody named ":D" or "uberl33t."

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Sweden has a similar type of law. Maybe Fass knows.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12510027&postcount=27

It's a trend. It has to be. At least there's nobody named ":D" or "uberl33t."

How would you pronouce ":D"?

How would you pronouce ":D"?

Perhaps you just grin. "You make me smile, :D."

Would be a bit difficult to pronounce when you're not too happy, though.

Or you could just pronounce it "smiley". But that wouldn't be as fun.