Have you heard about Friday?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071218/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_name
An Italian court has ruled that a couple could not name their son "Friday"
Do you appreciate your FREEDOM?

Answer 1

You're starting from a wrong assumption: if a name "work" in a language, doesn't mean it'd do in another language as well.
First: "Catholic Italy" (which is by itself a stereotyped assumption...) has nothing to do with this decision; a similar dispute happened years ago, between a father and a mother: the dad, against the will of the mom, wanted to call their daughter "Catena", *which IS a name of a Saint*, but also means "chain". A judge took the same decision as today's, for the very same reason. So, they refuse a name of a Saint.
Second: the child was not going to be called "Friday", but "Venerdì". As I said, it may works in English, but that doesn't mean it will do in Italian. And if you discuss about this by using an English translation, you're partially invalidating any base for a debate.
The same, John Elkann (Gianni Agnelli heir) son name is "Oceano". Francesco Totti daughter is actually Chanel. As you may note, they were allowed to use those names. Although especially Oceano does sound quite ridicoulus in Italian...
The fact is: Venerdì in Italian IS a ridicoulus name and is going (if given) to be a serious problem for the boy, as the court said. As it ACTUALLY was for that girl, "Catena" (the name was eventually changed when she was a young lady, yet) who ACTUALLY felt ashamed and suffered because she was the laughing stock of her friends and classmates. Children can be really REALLY cruel, way more than any adult, even toward less "sensitive" names. I was witness of such kind of behaviour myself several times in my life.
Third: the court chose "Gregorio" (still, not "Gregory") just because parents refused to give alternative names and they HAD to choose one! So, they simply picked the name of the Saint of the day he was born. Nothing to do with the Vatican.

The question should be reformulated: not "Do parents have the right to call their son the way they want?" but "Do parents have the right to call their son with an absurd name that is going to doom the child to be the laughing stock of everybody?".
Do really somebody thinks the dignity and a healthy growth in society of a children is less important than an assumed "freedom of choice" of his/her parents...? "Catena" will still crying today, if for you.
I'd say "Ti manca un Venerdì" (which means "you're crazy")...
Mr Felice Mastronzo (literally: Happy Butanarshole), a real person, was very glad in Italy you can change your name and with nothing to pay if your name is ridiculous, degrading, cause of mocking or considered coarse.
But perhaps you think calling your son Happy Butanarshole is freedom.

Answer 2

i think the general principle - that a parent should not be allowed to give a child a degrading name - is sound.

how would you feel about a child named 'miscarriage', 'garbage', or even 'chastity'. (chastity bono grew up deeply troubled).

this decision will not stand if the parents take it to the european court of human rights. many europeans of african origin name their child for the day of the week on which they are born as a matter of tradition. this isn't always obvious: not everybody knows that kwame nkrumah is saturday nkrumah. but protection of racil diversity takes precedence over local sensibility in nearly all cases in european law.

if this couple want to call their son venerdi they will probably be able to.

Answer 3

I’ve been to many countries around the world, not to mention the countries I’ve lived in. Each nation has its own culture, which affects its rules. I cannot say that things are wrong, just because they are different from what I’m used to.

Still, I love America. & I value my freedom!

Answer 4

Friday is nothing compared to names like Cadillac and Plaxico and Peerless. Friends of my brother named their sons Beau and Arrow, I knew a Parslee and a Summer.

What's the big deal over Friday?

Answer 5

i visit accept as true with the guy earlier me: no person is born to be a slave for somebody. Slavery is between the main- if not the main- disgusting issues in the international. Whites have been at a decrease point slaves additionally, they have been called indenture servants.

Answer 6

is it freedom to be able to give your child a name like Friday or Placenta (yes, I know someone who named her child that), or something equally insane?

what you gonna name your kid, since you have all this freedom? MallowCup? Jock Strap?

please - this is a non-issue.

Answer 7

Freedom is great.
Friday is a cool name.

Answer 8

Wow.

Is it really that big of a deal if the kids name is friday?


Wont it confuse him, if his parents call him friday, but everyone else will know him as Gregory?

Answer 9

Although its an odd name it is not without precedent. Yes, I appreciate my freedom. Thank you for sharing.

Answer 10

I saw that! Unreal!

Yes, I do. It irks me when I see people attacking America here, whining about our government. Were we to live in a Communist country, we'd be thrown into prison for making such comments.
In Sweden, one has to paint one's house a government approved color. A baby's name has to be submitted for approval before you can name your child.