What happens if you try to name your son “Friday” in Italy, “4Real” in New Zealand, “Metallica” in Sweden, or “@” in China? You risk running afoul of the law.
Italy is one of a number of countries with laws on the books intended to
prevent parents from giving children names that might subject them to
shame or ridicule. To judges in Genoa, Italy, the name Friday—which
a couple tried to give their newborn son a few months ago—con-
jured up demeaning images of Robinson Crusoe’s manservant.
Plus, that day of the week is also associated with bad luck.
Scandinavian countries have some of the strictest laws gov-
erning first names. Kirsti Larsen went to jail because the name
she wanted to give her son (“Gesher,” the Hebrew word for bridge)
was not found on a list of approved names for Norwegian tots. Nor-
way’s law reaches back to the 1800s and protects children from names
that would look or sound strange. Under Swedish law, tax authorities can nix
a name they think could become troublesome for a child or first names that
“have the character of a surname.” (Though they did relent just last year and
gave Michael and Karolina Tomaro approval to name their daughter Metallica.)
In Denmark, names must pass muster with the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs and the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs. Parents who don’t want to tangle with the approval process can simply choose from a list of approximately 7,000 preapproved monikers (3k male, 4k female). France had laws on the books until 1993; Germany still does: names must reflect the child’s gender and not expose him/her to ridicule. Quebec has recently relaxed its own government involvement in the name game, while Venezuela is considering regulations to curb names such as Hitler, Nixon, or Yusnavy.
Chinese authorities took a slightly different tack: the parents of young @ will have to choose a different name because the @ symbol simply doesn’t appear in the Chinese language.
And little 4Real? Though the government put the kibosh on using a name with a digit in it, the parents insist they’ll call him 4Real anyway; meanwhile, if the state won’t reconsider, they’ll simply register their son’s official name as “Superman.”
Sweden
France
Germany
Quebec
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