Do you think we need this law in America?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071218/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_name

I mean, I have mixed feelings. However, a part of me feels that we just can't be trusted to name our kids what we want anymore!! But I'm against the government telling me what to name my child. Confusion!

I'm against this, too! I get that you carried the kid for 9 months, you should be able to name the kid whatever, fine. However, we should THINK about what we name our kids (ahem, Black people, ahem)! Is whatever we name them gonna have long-term implications? Will it affect their childhood? Their ability to get a job. YES, we should live in a world where names shouldn't matter, but we DON'T. We live in a society where CERTAIN names are almost guaranted resume wastepaper basket fodder. If you name a kid something unusual because YOU think it's cool, you put YOUR interests above your child's and are therefore SELFISH.
I'm sorry but that's how I see it. What, you gonna block me now?!

Okay, I was trippin' for a sec. I take back the "What, you gonna block me now?" statement, But everything else I stand behind.

Answer 1

As one of those Black people (ahem :D) I understand why you posted this question. My daughters are named Taylor and Sydney for a reason - to help get them past the initial stages of consideration for job applications, college entrances, and the sort. People DO look at names and pass judgement. People DO put the aforementioned papers aside when strange and unusual names appear on them.

I don't know if I would pass a law, but Pete honey, I KNOW of what you speak!

Answer 2

I'm with you on this, Pete. I don't think we necessarily need a governmental committee to decide if a baby's name is appropriate it or not, but then again some people need to really think before they name their kid. I think people make a judgment, right or wrong, based on someone's name and you really need to be careful before you put a name on your kid's birth certificate.

For example, when I worked in probation/parole, we had some guy in our database whose first name was "Teflon". For those of you who don't cook a lot, Teflon is the non-stick stuff on pots and pans. I also remember seeing a lot of examples of a first name and last name that shouldn't go together because they sound like not-so-great things (can't give examples of that here obviously).

The naming committees are fairly common in Europe though. Last year there was a case where a Swedish couple wanted to name their baby daughter Metallica. The committee turned the name down because it's illegal to name your child after a thing or object there.

Answer 3

Maybe just for the stars --

Phinnaeus & Hazel (Julia Roberts)
Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow)
Suri (Tom Cruise)
Shiloh (Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie)
Shepherd (Jerry Seinfeld)
Kingston (Gwen Stefani)
Banjo (Rachel Griffiths)
Kal-el (Nicholas Cage)


Seriously, what are these people thinking???

Far be it from me to judge since my 2 girls both have unusual names (nothing like the above!); but nothing that should hold either back or hinder their futures. But a panel should not be able tell me what I can or can't name my child. I agree completely with you Pete. People should think before they put such "labels" on their children.

Answer 4

I"m not for this law that's for sure, but I can understand the logic behind it. One of my friends was named "Jessie James" 1st and last name, he changed it to "Timothy Foster" on his 18th birthday, he hated it, because he didn't want to be named after someone else.

Friday is an odd name, but then again, Sunshine, or Suie (or whatever Tomkat named their kid) aren't much better. But the government shouldn't be involved in the decision that's for sure.

Also being given a different name for baptismal isn't all that's odd either, my baptismal name is "Ezekiel" But my name is Mark, and everyone calls me that... because that's my name.

Answer 5

Not American, but I don't think any country should have a law like that. That's such a silly law. It's like saying, "thanks for procreating, we'll handle the labels!" If that happened in my country, I would have a major issue - if I'm going to carry that child and then give birth to him/her, I will name that child anything I want even if it's an unusual name by society's standards. Lol, it beats having a classroom full of 10+ Gregorys or 10+ Georgias.

Answer 6

I Agree. A law like that would never fly in the US. I also agree that parents should take their child's future into account.... hey, maybe it's a natural selection of sorts. I won't elaborate on that, but it's something to think about...

Answer 7

i think if we're supposed to be the "land of the free" and all that it shouldn't matter what u wanna name your kid. I know that freedom of speech only protects us to a certain extent and u cross that line when it's gonna cause harm to someone but what harm was there in naming your kid a ridiculous name? I mean i don't think that's fair. I think the name was kinda dumb but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't want someone telling me what i can and can't name my child. Are they gonna tell those parents that they have to worship a certain God now?

Answer 8

no one should be able to tell you what you can name your kids. I see your points but it's a violation of peoples rights to say you can't name your child something and then go as far as to change it to something else.

Answer 9

No way! I do think that If parents stick a terrible name on their child that child upon turning 18 should be able to change that name without it costing a fortune..Mine named me something awful and I now cannot afford to correct it ...LOL
I made sure that I gave my children nice names just for that reason.

Answer 10

I'm just against that. Yeah, people shouldn't give their kids stupid names (for instance, this girl I went to high school with was named Stormy Summer). But the government should not tell us what we can or can't name our children.