|
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
|
Quote:
What's In a Name: Judge Blocks Parents' Choice
Search For 'Different' Names Result In Interesting Choices
June 23, 2007 —
LINK
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow named her baby after a fruit, Apple. Comedian Penn Jillette chose Moxie Crimefighter for his spunky daughter.
And while unusual names may be a Hollywood staple, some believe it may cross the line in the real world.
One New Zealand judge even blocked one family from using the name it chose. The judge said the name was unfair to the child.
"Initially, the reaction is, 'Are you for real?'" said Pat Wheaton, the New Zealand father who was blocked from naming his son 4Real.
Wheaton said the idea for the name came when the couple saw the first scan of the child.
"We started thinking 'Jeez, he is for real?'" Wheaton said.
The couple's idea came naturally, but many parents are feeling the pressure to be different.
Baby naming is big business today. Some parents are turning to professional consultants, computer programs, polls and even numerologists to achieve the perfect moniker for their bundle of joy.
"Parents think that if they give their child a unique and special name, the child will become unique and special," said Bruce Lansky, author of "100,000 Baby Names."
Nevaeh, which heaven spelled backwards, has become one of the world's most popular names. But others don't always pass the societal test.
Two boys, one in Michigan and the other in Texas, bear the name ESPN. They were named after the sports network.
In some countries, names are illegal -- like Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden in Germany.
And French parents must choose from an approved list. The laws are designed to prevent teasing.
In America, almost anything goes.
"You can't use a four letter word that I wouldn't use in this interview anyway, and other than that you're free to do what you want," said New York University Sociology Department Chairman Dalton Conley. "That's part of the first amendment right to free speech here in America."
Only as the children grow up will people learn if these interesting names will be the source of ridicule.
|
I dunno 4real sounds STUPID, so I'm glad that some judge decided that it wasn't appropriate.
But hey... name the kids what you want...I'm all for it. I'll even give the kid some money when they get close to 18 so that they can legally change it to whatever they want.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by dirtyrascal7
I read a very similar article in the Wall Street Journal last week. It nearly made me want to throw up. One of the top 100 girls' names for 2006 was Nevaeh (heaven spelled backwards... *gag*
If you ask me, there seems to be a trend where people (as a population in general) are putting unnecessary significance on choices that should be relatively simple and straight forward. Granted, naming your children is a bit more complex... but so much that it validates spending hundreds of dollars for a list of names? I don't think so.
|
yeah.. too much emphasis on UNIQUENESS instead of similarities.
__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.
Last edited by Cynthetiq; 06-26-2007 at 02:01 PM..
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
|