Do you think it should be illegal to give your kids weird/unusual names?

[beebella]

I just saw on the interwebs that the actor, Darren Criss, named his new baby "Brother." That's his new son's first name. 🤦‍♀️

Can you imagine when the boy starts dating and his girlfriend/boyfriend introduces him to people and they say, "This is my boyfriend, BROTHER." 🥴

You can name your kid whatever you want, but at the same time, the line needs to be drawn somewhere and I think this is it. This is where the line should be drawn. 😂

Maybe I'm just being "judgy", but what do you think? Should it be illegal to name your kids certain things?

It should be illegal to name your kid (s) certain things

It should NOT be illegal to name your kid (s) certain things

*shrugs*

Results

[CrazyGirl2]

Okay, I do have an answer, but first I need to establish my bona fides to make this pronouncement. okay?
Right, so I have a friend who’s a nurse and works in the labor and delivery department! she has given me three great “name stories” in just her first year on the job. So w/o further ado I present: The “French” Name.

So my friend swaddled the newborn and handed it to mom. “do you have a name for your son yet” she asked. “Oh yes" says the new mother, “Lè'Monjèllo (pronounced: le moh-jhel-oh) everyone thought “huh? Nice name!” the next day, a very proud dad comes in with a toddler to meet his new brother. My friend walks in during the special family moment, and apologized for the intrusion. She did what she went in to do, and asked “wow, you must be the big brother, what's your name?” the boy replied “my name's Or’Rangejèllo” (pronounced Or-ange-el-oh) My friend thought well it’s not as nice as the baby’s name but to each their own. Then she couldn't get it out of her mind. She kept thinking about these two similar sounding, yet very different equally unusual names. Then as she was wheeling little LèMonjèllo, she noticed it written without the french accents! The two boys were named: Lemon Jello, and Orange Jello!
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The Superhero:
During one of the deliveries, the nurse practitioner announced “okay, we have meconium in the amniotic fluid!” Which means that the baby literally took a poop before it was born! Because the baby breaths the amniotic fluid, this can damage lung tissue and can cause respiratory problems in the infant, and in rare cases, it can be life-threatening. The mother hearing this says “what was that name you just said?” they were confused by mom’s question, and told her they didn't say any names. “Nah, I her y’all, it was like mercury of mer, wait mecu… that’s not it” “Meconium” the Nurse practitioner said to the mother. “Oooh Meconium, that’s a good name, That’s gonna be my baby name. That sounds like a superhero… Look out y’all here comes Meconium, he fin to safe the day! Yep, that’s my baby name a’ight”! The NP looked at her and said Mrs X you cannot name your baby meconium!” “Why not, he my baby, you need to mind your own business! Bitch!” with that, everyone in the room, tended to the baby to make sure he’d live long enough to realize his mother named him SHIT! But that is the name that went on the birth certificate!
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Lastly, The BIG Legal Problem!
So, it was by my friend’s account, a very easy, uncomplicated birth, with maybe 3hrs of labor at most! After the baby was cleaned, measured, weighed, a small blood sample from its heal, and swaddled, my friend hands the baby girl to the mother and ask the same question she always asks. “Do you have a name for your daughter yet” except instead on the usual elated “yes, we’ve decided to name her…” this mom seemed angry, like very angry! “You damn right! Her name, vagina!” My friend figured she misheard and replied “Oh Virginia, that’s such a beautiful name!” mom scowled “I ain't say no Virginia, I said VAGINA! She got I’m me through my vagina, she caused all mess of trouble, and she tore up my vagina gettin’ the fvck out! So her name is vagina, so she don’t never forget how much she fvcked up my life and my vagina, she lucky I ain't nasty, else her name would be PUSSY, or maybe TWAT if I want! Say something, I fuckin’ dare you , BITCH, I will slap the shit out you I don't give a fvck!!!” My friend said nobody said a word, after that not even to each other! They did what needed to be done, and GTFO! In the hallway, they were all freaking out “there is NO WAY that woman is a fit mother!" said the Nurse Practitioner! My friend asked, "but what can we do?" The NP asked “Do YOU think that is child abuse?” my friend snapped back “obviously!” “Then we call CPS like we are required by law to do. And, we call the police about her threatening you! Everyone, chart everything that was said, and make sure you clearly document whatever anger, or rage you witnessed, and if you heard the threat document that too! Especially you” she said to my friend, who received the bulk of this woman’s ire!

When child protective services (We call it DCF, meaning The Department of Children and Families) showed up, they spoke with the mother, and initially told her that if she insisted on naming the child vagina, that they would have no choice but to remove the child from her custody, prohibit her from seeing the baby, or removing the baby from the hospital, and that they would get a court order to give the baby a proper name, and go from there! Then the one my friend does not know recognized her! From what my friend understands (b/c they know all the social workers) the woman lost custody, and because she was in the system, and had lost custody of four other children! So that was her fifth child to enter foster care! She was actually in court ordered parenting classes when she had baby #5. So YES! There really is a point at which, it is illegal to name your child “that” (whatever “that” is). The police arrested her for simple assault, apparently THAT is assault! (It’s called battery if you hit someone. Assault is actually only a threat!) They issued her a summons, rather than cuffing her, b/c she JUST gave birth! but they had to call the police again multiple times and she was wheeled out in handcuffs very early in the morning, like at 3am! Of course the woman sued the hospital, and everyone who was in the room when the baby was born! Although she my friend is assured she did no wrong, and was only following the law, and hospital policy, the suit has not yet been dismissed. So it’s a bit of a nightmare for my friend. But I have faith that she will be fine! You can’t do that to a baby, name her vagina, then tell a nurse the baby is lucky that her name is not “Pussy”, or Twat, and threaten to slap the $hit out of a nurse, and just joyfully go home w/ your new baby in 24hrs!

I hope the first two gave you as many giggles as they did me, when I first heard them, and that the last one disgusted you as much as it did me! Some people shoud just never be parents!

Laura 🥰 🤗

[DryGermanGuy]

I think these stories are more urban legends. I have heard the Lemon jello/Orange jello in several variations already. 🤔

[CrazyGirl2]

@DryGermanGuy Does it really matter? I was told the three stories, sitting on her back patio, enjoying a really nice glass of White Zinfandel (wine), during a mild spring night. Not during sworn testimony during a trial where her testimony could put someone away for life. If you Google the name, you’ll see it’s not exactly UN-common! The meconium one I KNOW is true, b/c she told me the story THAT day. (it was during her OB/GYN clinical rotation in nursing school. And I KNOW the “Vagina” one is true, because I’ve seen the paperwork, regarding her lawsuit.

But who cares @DryGermanGuy, it’s JUST a story online about three crazy names. Maybe someone reading this will re-tell it when they answer the next person to ask a question about “what’s the craziest name you’ve ever heard anyone naming their baby” I don’t care if they get credit for it ¯\_(ッ)_/¯

You have a wonderful night and morning.
Laura 🤗

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Honestly, if the kid genuinely hates their name, they can get it legally changed. Most parents can also change their minds within the first year (saw this whole story on reddit about how a woman let her husband name their daughter after a homestuck character unknowingly and divorced him after finding out the lengths he took to hide it, she did change the kid’s name bc they were within the 12 month limit of the birth certificate). People often choose baby names based on 3 categories: inspiration, tradition, or just liking it. Inspiration goes to names of people that inspire you, be that real or fiction. Tradition speaks for itself: family names, or naming traditions in family - for example, in my family every girl is named after her great grandmother either middle or first name. And some people just really like the names the pick. I don't know who Darren Criss is, I’m sure I’d recognize him if you showed me a pic or something, but it’s not like he’s the first celebrity to pick out a weird name for his kid. Remember North West, Kanye’s daughter? Or Blue, Beyonce’s kid? These are people who live in and for the spotlight, of course they’re going to make public spectacles out of their kids too because they think that’s what the kid would want since that’s what they wanted when they were young. Is it bad parenting? I don’t think a weird name is a good judgement of whether someone is a good or bad parent, just that they want their kids to be special and probably seen as such to everyone around them. Besides, I doubt Brother Criss is going to grow up as a normal child anyway, his father is a very rich, powerful man. Who knows what his schooling is going to look like, and even then it’ll probably be with a lot of kids like him named special things by parents who were unspecial kids that became special adults who want their kids to feel special in a way they didn’t get to growing up. Let the kid and his dad be.

[KostasKouvalis]

Currently, THESE names are officially banned in the U. S.

@
III
1069
Adolf Hitler (Adolf, once a popular European name, is now banned worldwide).
Jesus Christ
King
Messiah
Queen
Santa Claus

Here's the full international list if you're interested.

https://www.lovetoknow.com/parenting/baby/illegal-banned-baby-names-u-s-world

I also read before that Asia Argento's legal birthname is Aria Argento, because the hospital wouldn't except "Asia". The U. S. obviously isn't as stringent.

It would be pretty hard to make a full official list as they'd literally had to go through every possibility, and people come up with some crazy names, especially celebrities. Celebrities can get away with much more. Though the blame lies more on the people who allow it. Maybe it should be at the discretion of whoevever's in charge of authorizing the name, but with the "First Amendment", it's kind of difficult, because people could argue that it's in direct violation of their first amendment rights. So there's nothing we can really do. At least the kid can change his name when he turns 18. In the meantime, he can just use a nickname

[handsomelad70]

If the U. S. banned "Billy Bob,"" Bubba"" Bobby Joe" and other such Southern-fried names, there'd be no fugly good ol' boys !!!1111111

[Kaneki05]

Tbf you can just call Brother, Roth instead. But yeah I agree and made a question upon this years ago with the dumb name Elon Musk and Grimes had for their baby.

I think any parent who names a child an obvious unjustifiable named should be done for child abuse as it's directly not thinking of the child, but themselves for their own gain while their child will suffer been a social pariah just from the name alone.
It's also very telling any further parenting will lack the capability of putting the child first just their own agenda.

[petitedollbabee]

It should be illegal to name your kid certain things, and it is. But people find ways around those laws.. I’ve heard of a kid with the name “sexy”. What the hell?

[Daniela1982]

I knew a guy called P. L. Smith. Found out later his initials stood for Passion Love. 😯😣🤣

[rosemilk]

someone's kid's name will not affect my life whatsoever... so shrug

[abc3643]

First, that's a violation of the First Amendment because naming your kid is also a way to express yourself and what you believe.

Second, it gives them character. For instance, the late, great Frank Zappa gave his kids weird names. If they could get over that, then they'd be better equipped to handle life's real problems.

Meanwhile,...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z1Ple-qYuU

[abc3643]

If I had kids and my wife let me do it, I'd name them:
Tax Deduction Offspring Unit #1
Tax Deduction Offspring Unit #2
etc,
That'd be their legal name on forms and such.
But, around the house, they'd have more mundane names like:
Squidbert
Spork
September
Rölf
Zima
good wholesome Biblical names... ;)

[Anonymous]

It should be illegal to name your kids certain things. I’ve seen some crazy ones where I work that no parent had any business naming their child. There will always be people that try to get around it but I think if each name was reviewed prior to being finalized it would cut down on that and if someone wants to name their kid something weird/bad at least limit that to only the middle name where nobody else has to see that. I know other countries (outside of America) already have stricter laws on that

[DryGermanGuy]

In Germany (and other European countries) it is. The law reads "to protect children from ridicule". A few years ago one civil registry office came into the news because a father there wanted to name his son Rocky, Rambo or Sylvester (all three were denied).

[SotiCoto]

Sounds like they never met children. ANY name can and will be turned into a term of mockery during school years. There is no point even trying to gatekeep it as it won't ever prevent the ridicule happening.
Speaking of which I went to school with a guy called Jack Gough, currently work with a guy called Richard Butt, my mother's current husband is called Kevin P Knoblett, and when I was over in Canada I encountered a guy named Randy Organ. I'd imagine any of them would have had LESS ridicule if they'd been called Rambo.

[dustybiker2]

What was wrong with Sylvester I wonder? (Not that I would go there)

[DryGermanGuy]

It's a bank holiday (Silvester = New Year's Eve), a cartoon cat and a Hollywood star. The father made it clear that he was a fanatic of Sylvester Stallone, wanting the son's name to reflect that and German civil registries are very hesitant to name children after celebrities, especially foreign celebrities.

[dustybiker2]

Ah. Gotcha. That's different then. Intent.

[KostasKouvalis]

@dustybiker2 "Sylwester" is New Years Eve in Polish, so I'm guessing it might only be banned in Slavic countries. I didn't originally make that connection, because of Sylvester Syallone, so I too was confused as to why "Sylvester" would be banned

[dustybiker2]

Huh. Interesting. Thanks for sharing that. I only know how to swear in polish and thats from the movie "Under the tuscan sun" lol

[Chevy1_kb]

No it's upto the parents what they want to name there kids am no pregnant and don't want kids am 35 but a still love them there cute nothing against them am just happy but I can say sometimes AV sat and thought if I was one I would call her this call him this I think of tuns of boy and girl names all the time but I don't want kids it's nice to think sometimes I like a good few ones one of my favourites is Rio or Jon or Tyron or Mickey or max or Jacob or Curtis or kit or levon or kahl or jesse for a boy for a girl I think Noelle or Patrice or Beatrix or Harriet or Arya or ygritte or Luna or Nadine or Sasha or sansa Emilia these are nemes that I think sound lovley uncommon names that are lovley they are special you have a child's name no one has ever been called common names that are used to much that to many kids have are still lovely but it feels nice to think a new name no one I know has is lovley

[SaoirseS]

Probably, but who would be the final arbiter of a kid's name?

I was given a name with four vowels that very few Americans can either spell or pronounce, that probably should be illegal but if it's a legit name in some country it's acceptable I guess.

[NamerOfStars]

I once read an account of a woman who named her three sons Christmas, Demon, and Mom.

I don't care WHAT your sexual politics are; naming a kid "Mom" is child abuse. How's he going to react when you go to the store and he hears dozens of kids calling him?

[dolemite58]

Ya I’ve always thought it needs to be within the realm of common sense, like if people are weirded out by it at a government office that’s reason enough. If I was a stand up comedian one of my jokes is I think it should be illegal for white women to name their own boys. There’s a growing trend of women naming boys after really dumb ideas they see in magazines, and they tend to end with the last syllable of “-aiden” for some reason.

[beebella]

I actually used to love the name Aiden when I was younger, but then it started becoming so common that it didn't feel like a cute/fun name to me anymore. 😒

[dolemite58]

Thank you for proving my point 😂

[noemiii]

It’s a biblical name. It’s not for just no reason. Nice try though.

[Apple1996]

Nah I like all the new interesting baby names. Basic baby names drive me nuts especially for boys

[KostasKouvalis]

But BROTHER? Come on

[Apple1996]

@KostasKouvalis I don't see a issue with that name lol

[KostasKouvalis]

Then name YOUR next kid that

[Apple1996]

@KostasKouvalis I needed some baby name ideas. Can't keep naming my kids after cartoon and Disney characters like I've been doing 😂

[KostasKouvalis]

Oh Lord, which ones? Also, you can have a unique name, without it being weird

[Apple1996]

@KostasKouvalis haha nah you'd be able to guess my kids names then

[KostasKouvalis]

Sooooo?

[KostasKouvalis]

My friend's wife wouldn't let him name his kid after a superhero, so he named him Damian after Damian Wayne

[beebella]

@Apple1996 Flynn and Rider are fine names, Apple. But I'm sorry, things like brother, sister, mom, dad, etc. should not even be allowed. 😫

[Apple1996]

@KostasKouvalis after a superhero would be cute

[Apple1996]

They're probably gonna give him the nickname bro 😂

[KostasKouvalis]

They might also think he's "Brother" as in Church Person

[dolemite58]

Exhibit A of why I think white women shouldn’t be allowed to name their boys 🤣 ur the main proponents of all the faggy names.

[Apple1996]

@dolemite58 my kids have old man names lol

[dolemite58]

Lies lol What old man names are cartoon and Disney character names? 🤣

[beebella]

@dolemite58 Eric, Gus, Kristoff, Carl, Donald, Chip, Dale. Lmao

[Apple1996]

@dolemite58 a lot of them lol my new babies name was most popular in 1905 😂

[KostasKouvalis]

@dolemite58 Black and Hispanic names are pretty bad too, but you're probably right that White people give way weirder ones.
Lord. Rain. Chastity. Rider. Aspen. Miracle. Wolf. Marmaduke. Blake (for a girl). That's just to name a few.

[Apple1996]

None of my kids are named those but good examples 😆

[dolemite58]

I was speaking in reference to the names she actually gave her own children you dork lol. And how dare you include the name chip on ur list by the way, that’s as queer as a $3 bill 🤣

[Apple1996]

@dolemite58 if I sense the baby is gay maybe I'll consider Chip as a option 😆

[beebella]

🤣🤣

[avery58]

@KostasKouvalis don't forget about Elon Musk naming his son X Æ A-Xii

[Apple1996]

@avery58 I've heard he's saying that is his kids name as a cover up to protect the kids real identity

[avery58]

@Apple1996 well that would make a LOT more sense then lol

[KostasKouvalis]

@avery58 WTF? Did he really?🤣

[Apple1996]

@avery58 a lot of celebrities probably do that and fake a ridiculous name

[avery58]

@KostasKouvalis whether it's the real name or a cover up one thing is for sure, Elon Musk is obsessed with the letter X.

[BCRanger10]

Borderline "yes". I'm talking about 1/10000000000000000000th of a millimeter.

This is a child, a human being you're naming. Not a mascot, not a joke, not a tribute to some movie or TV show you like.

[handsomelad70]

When I was younger, plenty of parents gave their kids hippie-sounding names. Today with us, it's misspelled or invented "African" names. Illegal, perhaps no, but these parents are ignoring the harm an off-the-wall name can inflict upon children.

[SotiCoto]

No. Of all the hundreds of stupid things people do that should probably be illegal, that is not even remotely on the list.

If anything it should be illegal to give children normal names. Names are meant to be unique identifiers, but they can't serve that purpose if you share your name with hundreds or thousands of other people.

[NathanDavis]

in Mexico is already illegal...

well, the judge can deny you from legally naming your kids, stupidly... lol

[dreamstar72]

I think it should be, because the child will have to live with that name not you. What you might think is funny might be painful to your child’s life. If you are so in love with the stupid name you can always change your own name to that stupid name

[Daniela1982]

I would have died if my parents named me Moon Unit or Dweezil. Why bother having an original name if you are known as she or he, or the weird one?

[avery58]

@Daniela1982 what about if they had given you an old lady name like Bertha, Mildreth or Gertrude? Still fine since they're legit names or no?

[Daniela1982]

@avery58 Something my grandparents would be named. 😫

[Astarlessnightsky]

In some european countries its the case.

I don't know in how many exactly i only know of France an Germany where this is the case.

[clampfan101]

Weird/unusual is an opinion, so it can’t really be justified as such legally. Luckily we’re allowed to legally change our own names eventually, and before then nicknames come in handy.

(I do agree about Brother being weird, though. lol)

[CrabCakes11]

I don’t think it should be illegal but it should be heavily socially stigmatized to give your kids terrible names

[sawno]

Shouldn't be illegal, but you can fix the issue by offering those kids a free name change.