http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,186803,00.html?
NEVAEH and Narnia are okay.
But not Gummy Bear, Coca Cola and King John I.
The Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages has seen
it all when it comes to parents picking weird names for their
newborns.
But the registry, which is under the department of Justice and
Attorney-General in Australia, has had to draw the line when it
comes to some odd choices, reported The Courier Mail.
Attorney-General Mr Kerry Shine said: 'Parents are able to
(determine) their own spelling when choosing a name for their baby.
However, in Queensland, there are certain regulations governing
what the name can be.'
According to the rules, the name cannot:
Interestingly, Mr Shine said all of the names rejected were
requests by adults to change their name.
Nevertheless, several names given to newborns raised eyebrows
among registry officials.
Not one, but 17 babies were named Nevaeh - heaven spelt
backwards.
And three mothers chose Hermione for their daughters,
inspired by the lead female character in the popular Harry Potter
books.
At Mater Mother's Hospital, midwife Julieanne Wilkinson said
they recently had an Alani - Inala spelt backwards - as well as a
Fenix and a Chilli.
Added Ms Wilkinson: 'Another mum named her baby Kyson, because
her name was Kylie and he was the son of Kylie.'
Similarly, in New Zealand, Family Court Judge Rob Murfitt also
expressed dismay at parents giving their children bizarre
names.
Officials had to say no to Sex Fruit, Twisty Poi, Stallion, and
even a Fish and a Chips - for twins.
But they gave the green light to Number 16 Bus Shelter, Midnight
Chardonnay and Violence.
More than just a matter of the law, Queensland University of
Technology psychology lecturer Marilyn Campbell believes that
parents who give their children unusual names are risking doing
serious psychological damage on them.
Said Dr Campbell: 'Your name is such an important part of your
identity and when you're always having to correct people saying it,
and when you're having to spell it, it can be quite degrading.
'The stranger the name, the more frustrating for a child who
thinks, 'Why did my parents do this?'
Child psychologist Paula Barrett agrees that strange names
create a sense of 'social anxiety' for the child.
'Most children don't like to be different. It's all about
fitting in when you're a child,' she added.
