Why do some countries regulate baby names?

[klr]

Strange but true.

Iceland
Yes: Elvis
No: Carolina

New Zealand
Yes: Number 16 Bus Shelter
No: Yeah Detroit

Germany
Yes: Legolas
No: Matti

Sweden
Yes: Metallica
No: Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116

Japan
No: Akuma (means Devil)

Portugal
No: Mona Lisa

Denmark, France, Spain and Argentina also strict

These and other oddities here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21229475

[Svartalf]

Actually, we aren't so strict anymore... used to be that only saints name from the calendar and historical names were acceptable, now, pretty much anything goes unless the baby office deems it's going to cause major inconvenience to the baby (like if it were named something peculiarly ridiculous), but we have Kevins and Stevens and Elrics and even more exotic things going.

[klr]

Actually, we aren't so strict anymore... used to be that only saints name from the calendar and historical names were acceptable, now, pretty much anything goes unless the baby office deems it's going to cause major inconvenience to the baby (like if it were named something peculiarly ridiculous), but we have Kevins and Stevens and Elrics and even more exotic things going.

Whoa! Kevin and Steven are "exotic" in France!

[Svartalf]

In English form? certainly.
Kevin has no French counterpart, and Steven is Etienne or Stéphane... but "Steven" is Made in USA.

[Bella Fortuna]

Very timely - I just found out about Iceland's naming laws and was reading about them last night. Seems very strange to me.

[klr]

In English form? certainly.
Kevin has no French counterpart, and Steven is Etienne or Stéphane... but "Steven" is Made in USA.

Actually, Kevin isn't even an English name - it's an English form of an Irish name.

As I should know.

[Bella Fortuna]

In English form? certainly.
Kevin has no French counterpart, and Steven is Etienne or Stéphane... but "Steven" is Made in USA.

Actually, Kevin isn't even an English name - it's an English form of an Irish name.

As I should know.

I knew that.

[Svartalf]

In English form? certainly.
Kevin has no French counterpart, and Steven is Etienne or Stéphane... but "Steven" is Made in USA.

Actually, Kevin isn't even an English name - it's an English form of an Irish name.

As I should know.

I know too, after all I used to teach French in a St Caoimhin Scoil back when I was in Dublin.

[Coito ergo sum]

Brazil, too, has strict naming rules.

These kind of laws make me viscerally react: Um...Minister of Names... how 'bout "go fuck yourself?"

[Bella Fortuna]

Yeah, I can understand wanting to preserve languages and stuff, but don't tell me what I can call myself or what I can call my child.

[Svartalf]

I still feel sorry for poor Moon Unit Zappa.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yeah, I can understand wanting to preserve languages and stuff, but don't tell me what I can call myself or what I can call my child.

I can't even understand "wanting to preserve languages." Language is cultural. It's like "wanting to preserve southern accents" -- I mean -- they change like the weather. If there is one thing I don't want our government to do is try to "preserve" language, culture, social mores, and the like.

[Bella Fortuna]

I still feel sorry for poor Moon Unit Zappa.

Yes... I am somewhat compelled in cases where children have been given dreadful 'joke' names.

[Coito ergo sum]

I still feel sorry for poor Moon Unit Zappa.

I am quite certain it hasn't hurt her a bit. I always found her kind of hot.

Now, Dweezil, Diva and Ahmet Zappa on the other hand....

@Bella -- the thing is, I think "Moon Zappa" - sounds kind of nice, actually. The "Unit" bit I don't like so much. But, I don't think naming a kid Moon is too bad. There are kids around named Apple, January, and that kind of stuff. Moon sounds o.k. by comparison, lol.

Goddammit, Bella! Is that a recent picture in your profile???? Do you ever plan to age? Or are you leaving that up to the painting in your attic...? You look 25, for fuck's sake.

[Bella Fortuna]

Praise be to the crappy webcam, which glosses over a multitude of sins!