Thursday, July 24, 2008

What's in a name?

I remember thinking it funny when I read that someone in the American South had named her daughter "Second Corinthians." But this takes the cake: "NZ judge orders 'odd' name change" (BBC News, July 24, 2008):
A judge in New Zealand made a young girl a ward of court so that she could change the name she hated - Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.

Judge Rob Murfitt said that the name embarrassed the nine-year-old and could expose her to teasing.

He attacked a trend of giving children bizarre names, citing several examples.

Officials had blocked Sex Fruit, Keenan Got Lucy and Yeah Detroit, he said, but Number 16 Bus Shelter, Violence and Midnight Chardonnay had been allowed.

One mother wanted to name her child O.crnia using text language, but was later persuaded to use Oceania, he said. (emphasis added)
[Hat tip to S.F.]

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