I had a friend in college named Bill; don't know if he was related to the Texans. His first evening aboard ship in the summer of '61 he took a seat in the wardroom, and a young officer across the table introduced himself, "I'm Joe Pigg, p- i- g -g.'  Bill immediately responded,"I'm Bill Hogg, h- o- g- g."

Bill had to quickly produce his ID card to avoid a serious altercation.

"Stephanie" is NOT a weird name.  I;ve had a few "Stephnies" in my class and none were picked on. I've also had a "Muhammed," a "Poindexter," and a "Daisy," among my students.  I am unaware that anyone picked on them for their names.

Fact is, bullies will ALWAYS find a reason to pick on weaker kids.  Names can be labeled as "weird" by bullies, whether they are "weird" or not.

So why there is any reason to legislate against "weird" names other than another reason for Government to control our lives is beyond me.

These criticisms of first names and the ways in which they can be used to pick on children can also be applied to last names, though I am sure that no government -- not in New Zealand and not in Germany -- would ever consider banning last names because of their "weirdness" or the way in which they could be used by bullies. (Though most of us are probably aware that many of our ancestors' last names were significantly changed and Anglicized in spelling and pronunciation when our ancestors arrived in the U.S.)

For instance, I was the only child in my class, from kindergarten to 12th grade, who did not have a German last name. Was I ever picked on because of that? Yes, of course. Did I ever wish I had a German last name, and did I ever want to get rid of my last name and replace it with something else? No. I took pride in my last name and I took pride in the fact that I was different from all the other children in my class. (Just a couple of weeks ago, a clerk at a store commented on what she perceived to be my weird last name, so even now, as an adult, I still experience people commenting on how they consider my last name to be weird and strange.) When it comes to "weird baby names," in my experience, it is the weird last name, not the weird first name, that leads to a child being bullied and picked on by other children. But I am sure that no government is going to start banning weird last names for the sake of the welfare of the child.

Jul 31, 2011 -- 12:05AM, Beautiful_Dreamer wrote:

GC, my name was used in making fun of me, but wasn't the reason I was being picked on.

This is the crucial discernment one has to make, I think, for understanding such legislation.

Jul 31, 2011 -- 7:40AM, costrel wrote:

But I am sure that no government is going to start banning weird last names for the sake of the welfare of the child.

By definition, a name you inherit is one that has precedence and hence is viewed as legitimate - whether first or second name. Of course, if you want to change your (or your child's) last name from the inherited default, again laws apply... typically, you need to convince the officials that your old surname carries negative connotations or is discriminated against.

Generally, surnames are not allowed to extend indefinitely. There have been a couple of name-legislation reforms in Europe, related to equality of male and female name inheritance, acceptance of other EU countries' practise, etc. - it's perpetually changing.

As indicated, for first names, child welfare is the crucial criterion in questionable cases of first names. Not in cases where relevant precedent or other rules already settle the issue. If you want to call your child "Piper Alpha" or "Chipotle", you run into problems... not if you want to call it "Rasputin Wolfgang Maria Nahuatl".

Jul 23, 2011 -- 12:18PM, Mlyons619 wrote:

Who determines what baby names are "weird?"

Why is it Government bureaucrats feel the need to micromanage the lives of citizens ESPECIALLY given the fact that these bureaucrats can't manage themselves?

I couldn't agree more.    More government meddling.   

what gives them the right to determine what you name your child.   That weird name may have been passed down through the generations, might mean something to the parent.   When the child is older he/she can change it if they don't like it.