Should an independent body decide a child's name against his parents' wishes?

Question

Reuters reports today that an Italian family named their son after the day he was born, which is Friday. After 15 months, a tribunal has ordered that he be called Gregory because they want to protect him from the stigma attached to the man in the Robinson Crusoe story. They say the name is going to cause him pain in society also, that he ought to have a Christian name.

The choice of Friday may be unusual and the world may think whatever it feels, but whose child and why does it matter what others think? I am certain that is where their interest in that child ends. He would not be privileged to turn to them for anything if the need arose.

Answer 1

I agree...I think this is one time where the government overstepped it's boundries.

My step-grandson was born on Sunday with his middle name reflecting that.

If the name was unsuitable to the individual...they could change it legally when becoming of age!

Answer 2

I believe that anyone may name their own child what they wish, as long as it's not a horrible name. I think that Friday is a cute name for their child. I would love to meet someone named Friday. I mean if this is such a big deal, how come they let the Adam's Family name their daughter Wednesday? That alone could influence people to name their children the days of the week. I think that the courts had absolutely no right to tell this couple that they had to rename their little boy. He was babtized as Friday for crying out loud! He should be able to keep his name Friday, no one else has any right to tell the family otherwise.

Answer 3

If one looks hard enough you could probably find a stigma attached to every name. Naming a child must squarely fall on the parents shoulders. What a parent names a child is more of a reflection on the parent than the child.

Answer 4

While I have an opinion on this, you are trying yo project your ideas on another country's culture.
There are some countries where there is a list of approved names, and some countries in Europe where calling a child by a name such as "Friday" qualifies as child abuse and is punished as such

Answer 5

No. The case in question is typical of societies that have no clear separation of church and state. It is a case of appalling idiocy even for Italy.

I like the response from another person here who says he wants to name his kid "Control Alt Delete". Now that's pretty cool! Even better, if you have a son and want him to grow up tough, name him "Sue" or "Betty". He'll have to get tough quick with a name like that.

Answer 6

Yeah, I think this is just another example of far to much interrference of the government in family life.


And besides, no one reads Robinson Crusoe anymore, I mean, I've read it and it's a good book and all, but people don't read long old books like that all that much anymore.

I'm just me, and me is a bookworm wierdo.

Answer 7

Here in the Philippines I have niece named saddam , and it okd. I think it depends on the Country, naming your'e child "Bin Laden" maybe banned in the US, also naming "America" on children on Iran would also be banned there...

I think these only shows, not we are not yet in the 20th century...

Answer 8

I have always said that people should have numbers for names:
-they are unique by definition
-they are not offensive
-they are independent of culture or religion

however, most people think that numbers are impersonal.

Answer 9

I'm gonna name my kid "Control Alt Delete" as soon as I legally change my last name to Delete.

Answer 10

Hell No. Its their kid. They have the right to name it what ever they want. If the kid doesn't like it then when they are 18 they can get it changed.