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Thursday, 30 May 2013 | Term 2, Week 5
FEATURE
The fine print
by Tom Gibson and Matthew Theophile
What’s in the name?
Our names are something that we often take for granted, yet in many ways they influence our lives. Over the
years, we have seen trends emerge in our choices of various baby names, many of which may seem strange
or dated to us now. However, current trends in naming have led to some governments around the world
legislating on the names people can and, more importantly, cannot call their children.
Iceland has a list of approved names which
must be used, although new names can be
considered after an application process. In
Germany, names must clearly indicate gender,
(meaning that gender-neutral names like Alex
and Jessie are unacceptable). In New Zealand,
however, the government has released a list of
names that are officially banned. The list seems
to be based on somewhat tenuous criteria, as
to-date, names such as Queen Victoria have
been banned whilst, perversely, someone
is roaming around New Zealand with the
entirely legal name of Number 16 Bus Shelter.
Some of these weird and wacky names can
be put down to the celebrity obsession with
strange names, dating back to when Frank
Zappa called his daughter Moon Unit, Michael
Jackson called his son Blanket and Sylvester
Stallone called his daughter Sage Moonblood.
Regardless of how this new phenomenon
started, the question is whether governments
are entitled to ban names based on their own
idea of what constitutes a bad name.
It certainly seems that names like ‘.’ (Full Stop)
or ‘4real’, would be a hindrance to anyone
who had to live with them and, after all, the
government’s job is to look after the well-being
of its citizens. Some people claim that such
names are fine, because people can simply
change them; however, this is not entirely the
case. In NSW, people under the age of eighteen
cannot legally change their name without
the full consent of both of their parents. In
New Zealand, a girl named ‘Talula Does the
Hula From Hawaii’ went to court to get her
name legally changed at age nine. The judge
criticised the parents for giving the girl a name
which acted as a social hurdle and even ‘set
her up for a social disability and handicap.’
Whilst it may not be illegal, it certainly
seems immoral or unkind to give a child
such a hindrance in life for a cheap laugh.
Nevertheless, the fact that governments are
beginning to restrict what we can and cannot
call our children is not entirely comforting.
Regardless of how this
new phenomenon
started, the question is
whether governments
are entitled to ban
names based on their
own idea of what
constitutes a bad name.
Even if these new laws are put in place in the
interests of the children who bear the burden
of these names, many would argue that such
restrictions are a violation of our freedom in
a democratic nation. Whether or not this is
true, when there are twins being called Benson
and Hedges, it certainly seems as if someone
should be doing something about it.
Whilst there’s nothing wrong with funny and
outlandish names, when someone is given a
name that can set them up as a social pariah,
there should be laws in place to prevent it. In
2009, three children were taken into social
services in New Jersey, after they were named
after prominent Nazis, including Adolf Hitler.
Last year, the courts decided that the parents
would never be able to regain access to their
children (although this decision was not
based solely on their actions in naming the
children). Whilst it may be slightly over- the
-top to separate parents from their children
because of a bad name choice, New Zealand
may not be doing such a bad thing in banning
names that could set children up for a life of
teasing and discrimination.
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