Government approved names?

[jzmtl]

"Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/03/iceland-name-fight.html

Came across this the other day, is this really the case? I guess I just find it unbelievable to have a list of government approved names that you can call your baby.

[nuphoria]

How bizarre!
Seems like a such a basic right which unless you go out of your way to be offensive, bares no reference on other people or a government.

Never heard of that, or a similar ruling in another country. Celebs would be in trouble, calling their kids stupid nonsense like Apple, Moonbase, River... when you're 18, at least you can change it to whatever you like here and pretend you had normal parents!

I had mates when I was kid who were raised by hippies - most of them adopted regular names when they got older; Sunshine starting calling herself Sarah for example. Can't say I blame them either

[Steinar]

Up until fairly recently, names had to government approved in Norway. If the name was deemed a problem, the child would only registered as "Boy Surname" or "Girl Surname" in official registers. So, even though I don't know the actual rules for Iceland, I wouldn't be too surprised.

[Gareth]

considering some of the truly stupid things parents call their kids these days I'm not so sure it's a bad idea.

[enki_ck]

I think I read somewhere that France has that too.

[AHB]

Honestly I can't see anything wrong with approved names really.. You can still name your girl Chili and your boy Hjalte here..

[Carlos]

Yes, that's for real! We also have that list of accepted and rejected names. And, as we are a very modern country, we even got it at the internet. Just see the pdf on this page http://www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_registral/registos-centrais/docs-da-nacionalidade/vocabulos-admitidos-e/

So, this is the dramatic entrance. The real deal is a little more elaborated. When you're going to register a newborn you submit a name. IF the official there find the name to be... "funny" he/she will check the list. If the name is on the rejected list, you have to change it. If the name is not on the list, you can submit it for approval, which will be decided by some commission. Then a new name will be appended to that list, either with an approved or not approved tag on it.

[nuphoria]

That's very interesting. It would be such a strange thing to try and standardise here, being so multicultural... almost endless list!

[jzmtl]

That's very interesting. It would be such a strange thing to try and standardise here, being so multicultural... almost endless list!

That's what came to mind first. I guess it could work for some since the Scandinavian countries aren't as diverse.

[ironraven]

If the name is on the rejected list, you have to change it. If the name is not on the list, you can submit it for approval, which will be decided by some commission.

My mind boggles. If you want to name your son Suzie-queen, that's between you, your mate, and in 13-16 years your undertaker.

I really just don't know how to respond to this idea of a government approved list of names. That's somewhere down there with having to have a license to possess a radio or not sealing envelops so the postal service censors can examine the contents or not being able to carry a pocket knife.

[Gareth]

Joking aside, while I can see why society might not emotionally scarred children with ridiculous names, I wouldn't actually want to seek permission to give my child whatever name I choose.  The name in the initial article sounds perfectly fine and shouldn't be an issue IMO.

However the parents who call their kids the like of "Unwanted" and "Google" really do need a good talking to.

[AHB]

That's very interesting. It would be such a strange thing to try and standardise here, being so multicultural... almost endless list!

That's what came to mind first. I guess it could work for some since the Scandinavian countries aren't as diverse.

About 10% of the danish population is of a different ethnic origin, so I don't how we're not as diverse..

Edit..
Here's the list starting with an A and there's 298 pages, multicultural names included..
http://www.familiestyrelsen.dk/samliv/navne/soeginavnelister/godkendtefornavne/advanced/

[dks]

So you can not name your child Ahb then??

 

[AHB]

So you can not name your child Ahb then??

 

Wouldn't even if I could..

[jzmtl]

About 10% of the danish population is of a different ethnic origin, so I don't how we're not as diverse..

10% is really nothing compare to Canada. 

[AHB]

About 10% of the danish population is of a different ethnic origin, so I don't how we're not as diverse..

10% is really nothing compare to Canada. 

Then let me know if any names are missing on the list..

[Grant Lamontagne]

I can't wait for the next round of government cutbacks when they decide maintaining that list costs too much and from then on every kid has to be named Edward.

Even the boys.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

[Carlos]

Name restriction is so much a liberty issue as introducing words in each language is. The thing is that some countries integrate the names as language vocables while others don't. See I'm Carlos because this is a portuguese name, I could not have been named Charles, Carl nor Karl. So the primary reason for this restriction is to keep names coherent with other language words, rather than avoiding one to choose stupid names...

But talking about that, once in a while we get a few "weird" samples from our brothers across the ocean (they don't have restrictions there)... some rough translations:

Paulo Puns Dá => Paul Fart Giver
Sete Chagas de Jesus e Salve Pátria => Seven Wounds of Jesus and Save Motherland
Sete Rolos de Arame Farpado => Seven Rolls of Barbed Wire
Chevrolet da Silva Ford =>  ...
Restos Mortais de Catarina => Deadly Remains of Catherine

these are real names.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Given the trend of stupid celebrity baby names (Apple, Moxy Crimefighter etc) I have to wonder if a legal name registry is not such a bad idea.  Maybe rather than make it illegal to give your kid a stupid name parents who want to saddle their kids with something dumb could pay a fee for names not on the list that goes into a fund that could be used to pay for the kids' therapy in 15 years.

Def

[enki_ck]

Penn should get slapped at least once a day for that one.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, I agree.  While I understand that celebrities these days only remain relevant by being more outrageous than last week's outrageous celebrities, I really think there should be a line with the well being of their children safely perched on the opposite side from public shenannigans.

Def

[dks]

It all gets quite weird internationally.
For example Pippa, short for Philippa a name used worldwide, here is the same word as pipe which is the word used by all (slang but widely used) for BJ.

So a girl with the name Pippa will be surprisingly popular... 

[dks]

UPDATE:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/9839677/Iceland-teenager-wins-right-to-use-her-name-Blaer-that-officials-said-was-not-feminine.html

Iceland teenager wins right to use her name 'Blaer' that officials said was not feminine
A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities and Iceland's strict law on names.

[nuphoria]

Here's what the proper news is saying about it today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21229475

[dks]

Here's what the proper news is saying about it today

I thought that all news coming out of the UK were controlled by Rupert Murdoch and were all the same.. 

[nuphoria]

Here's what the proper news is saying about it today

I thought that all news coming out of the UK were controlled by Rupert Murdoch and were all the same.. 

Nope, that's the beauty of the BBC - it's not perfect but it's it not commercial