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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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PadstowGirl · 14/09/2024 10:31

Dragon though! 😄
See I think that would sound gorgeous with a Welsh accent!

PadstowGirl · 14/09/2024 10:26

SonicTheHodgeheg · 14/09/2024 09:22

The reasoning sounds like homophobia to me but happy to accept that there may be cultural angles that I don’t understand because I’m not from Brazil.

Lots of countries have lists of “approved names”’ and it seems to work. We don’t in England but I think that culturally our tolerance for names is quite narrow compared to the US where yooneeq spellings like Tragedeigh seem to be surprisingly popular and not a class marker like in England.

Yeah, my first thought was homophobia too.

Funnily enough years ago some of my extended family had issues with the name "Gabriel" I can remember one of my aunties telling me we were setting him up for a life of bullying as it might be shortened to "Gay". 😞

I'm not a fan of the state censoring names, it's a slippery slope to homogenisation.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 14/09/2024 10:25

Well, I've got a very normal name that has become a slur so no-one can guarantee you won't be safe from bullying at any age because of your name whatever it is.

Original poster
sel2223 · 14/09/2024 10:25

Sorry to those not able to open the article without paying, I think it must depend which country you are in

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/09/2024 10:22

RandomMess · 14/09/2024 09:17

I'm sure in France you have to pick off the approved list. It's not such a bad idea really.

Only if Jimberly is the list.

TinaYouFatLard · 14/09/2024 10:10

When we registered our twins the registrar told us they’d had to refuse a couple who wanted to use a name in their native language that was pronounced ‘cunt’ - glad for child that decision was made.

StolenChanel · 14/09/2024 10:09

The example of this Brazilian couple is terrible. I would understand if someone was naming their kid Pyjama or something, but naming your child after a black leader is perfectly acceptable, whether it sounds like a ballet step or not.

The problem with the courts getting involved is the line can’t be drawn. If there is a cultural name that reads as something else in another language, are the courts going to stop parents from said culture naming their child that?

UtterlyOtterly · 14/09/2024 10:07

I have met some children in the course of my career whose names have made me think an approved list would be a good idea.

StuckOnTheCeiling · 14/09/2024 10:03

That particular example seems OTT, but I agree that some limits are fair. Someone needs to watch out for the child.

Though someone I know just named their newborn son Dragon…

Edenmum2 · 14/09/2024 10:00

Mintgum · 14/09/2024 09:48

There was once a story of a couple that got talked out of a baby name they wanted.
The mum wanted to call him superman because he came out like superman.

I hope they just named him Clark instead

Persiancarpet · 14/09/2024 09:57

It's quite common in other countries. In Iceland for example you need permission to use the letter C in a name as C isn't in the Icelandic alphabet and it is usually only permitted to foreigners where C would be the usual spelling. I think Iceland also has a list of acceptable names and norway and italy too I think.

The UK is quite relaxed, numbers and symbols are not permitted and just a few other unacceptable names like swearwords and words like Devil.

JeremiahBullfrog · 14/09/2024 09:51

"This name sounds like another word that doesn't even refer to something bad and isn't frequently used outside of one particular context" is a bad reason for banning it, yes.

Kids get bullied for their haircuts, their shoes, their hobbies. Imagine if courts started banning some of these?

Mintgum · 14/09/2024 09:48

There was once a story of a couple that got talked out of a baby name they wanted.
The mum wanted to call him superman because he came out like superman.

Newsenmum · 14/09/2024 09:24

Like others, I don’t really get this example but I do wonder about name laws. Germany is too strict imo but some things do seem cruel.

SonicTheHodgeheg · 14/09/2024 09:23

Spenditlikebeckham · 14/09/2024 09:16

Some bizarre names are allowed.. At least that was a proper name. Ds's mate has just called his ds Chancie after the phrase he used to place bets..

Yikes. I suspect that his classmates will address cards and invitations spelled as Chansey the Pokémon.

CocoapuffPuff · 14/09/2024 09:22

I believe Iceland has a (big) list of acceptable names. As someone who was given an effing stupid name by hippy parents (thank crunching for middle names, I use mine) I applaud a law that prevents adults being dicks over their kids names. Change your OWN name to Faeriedust, mother.

SonicTheHodgeheg · 14/09/2024 09:22

The reasoning sounds like homophobia to me but happy to accept that there may be cultural angles that I don’t understand because I’m not from Brazil.

Lots of countries have lists of “approved names”’ and it seems to work. We don’t in England but I think that culturally our tolerance for names is quite narrow compared to the US where yooneeq spellings like Tragedeigh seem to be surprisingly popular and not a class marker like in England.

Original poster
sel2223 · 14/09/2024 09:18

I've heard in some countries they ban 'Royal' words as names like Prince, Princess, Duke, King, Saint

Don't think that's a bad thing

OP posts:
RandomMess · 14/09/2024 09:17

I'm sure in France you have to pick off the approved list. It's not such a bad idea really.

Spenditlikebeckham · 14/09/2024 09:16

Some bizarre names are allowed.. At least that was a proper name. Ds's mate has just called his ds Chancie after the phrase he used to place bets..

Original poster
sel2223 · 14/09/2024 09:16

Yeah the headline is a bit misleading as it's not the actual Pharoah they have issue with, it's that the name in Portuguese sounds like a ballet move.

OP posts:
TriggerWarning45 · 14/09/2024 09:15

I dont think this name is an issue. I remember a couple in India calling their kids COVID and Corona.

OurChristmasMiracle · 14/09/2024 09:15

If the bar will be “could be subject to bullying” i strongly suspext that a lot of names (or spellings of then) could be ruled out. (I say this as a mum who one child’s name is spelt in the less used version)

Rosybud88 · 14/09/2024 09:14

I like the name they chose but generally I don’t think it’s the worst idea to intervene on some name choices.