Italian court bans parents from naming their child.....

Here in France, IIRC a judge also prevented some parents whose surname was Renault from calling their daughter Mégane, as it was felt that being called after a car would cause her to suffer teasing.

Not so long ago, you had to name children from the saint's calendar but times have changed, as illustrated by the fact that half the French population under 10 seems to be called Kevin, Steve or Ryan.

Judges ordering parents to name their kids specific names is heavy-handed and dictatorial, but I can sometimes see why the authorities might step in and have a quiet word with parents to save the child from humiliation/ridicule. I once taught a student called Jude Orange (this was in France, so he was effectively called Orange Juice). Why would you do that???

true, in italy is 17, i forgot. in the german speaking world it is definitely 13, and friday the 13th is just about the killer combination. in any case, venerdi would not have been my favourite name, irrespective of last name

In Spain, it is Tuesday the 13th.

Makes no sense at all the story does it??

Geraldinetheluckygoat, I think I know what your son's name is, as I chose the same name for my DS And he was actually born on a Friday too even though we liked the name regardless (but was chuffed to bits when he popped out on a Friday) - out of curiosity was yours born on a Friday too or you just liked the name?
Sorry for joining in like this - but for the record 13 is a lucky number in Italy so makes even less sense, as it would have been quite cool! 17 is the equivalent of 13 over there - the reason being the Roman numerals for 17 - XVII can be rearranged to say VIXI which in Latin means I have lived i.e. I am dead....sorry if TMI!

I think they can stop parents registering names they consider unsuitable here in France.......

The court banned them from calling the child Venerdi (Friday) because the last name is Tredici (13)!! Poor child, starting with such an omen -- completely understand the decision, especially in a slightly superstitious country such as Italy.

Oh he was a pope? Maybe fierce not the right adjective then! (blush]

Gregorio Magno

(Magno is not the surname, it's part of the first name imposed by the court. Mad!)

Friday is more sensible than 'baby' or 'seventh'. I don't understand their reasoning!

Friday is a little feminine sounding however, and Gregory the Great sounds quite fierce. Two very different styles!!

I prefer Gregorio to Venerdi, but tbh, I'm surprised a judge stepped in for 'Friday'. There are FAR more ridiculous names on those lists we had yesterday. Friday isn't so shocking. There are Tuesdays and Sundays out there. In fact, everyday except Saturday works OK, if you like that kind of slightly quirky but familiar thing.

Is the sur name Magno? Gregory the Great! I kind a like that too.

Can't believe the court got to name the baby! That's outrageous.

Gregory the Great sounds like he should have his own statue or portrait somewhere in Hogwarts.

I amre-reading Harry Potter at present, and pregnancy hormones are causing me to stop and think 'hmm, Cedric'.... Thank goodnes dh and/ or the firm hand of the law will be able to prevent such things.

Yes my DD has a school mate named Kristal.
And every other girl is named Asia.

In Spain there is a list of permitted names you have to choose from I believe. Includes the name Concepcion!

There's a reporter called Bimba di Maria, which literally means child of Mary.

Primo, Secondo et al were popular in farming families up north, apparently. One guy DP knows is called Settimo (seventh) who was - you've guessed it - the seventh child in his family.

There are some quite weird names by Italian standards at DD's school, how they got past the inspectors I don't know

I also heard of a family who had a Primo, Secondo, Terzo, etc etc.

I wonder who brought this case and how it got to court? Just seems totaly bizarre

This is silly. I live in Italy and know someone called "Bambino".

What about Sunday Roast (Rose)?
Lucky Nicole Kidman doesn't live in Italy then.

The registrar can refuse to register a baby with a strange name in Germany. They don't get to decide on the alternative though.

We were armed with baby name books are were a tad disappointed that we did not need them when registering our DCs Scottish names.

I'm surprised the priest baptised him with the name Friday. I thought it had to be a saint's name? [possibly ill-informed emoticon]

Anyway, looking at the Italian press, they've not called him Gregorio (which would be kind of OK) but Gregorio Magno (or Gregory the Great) which is, frankly, as ridiculous as Venerdi/Friday.

But surely calling your child Friday is not that different to Wednesday, April, Autumn, Summer etc.

Its not a great name but I don't think it would have caused ridicule or embarasment.

How utterly bizarre. And even more bizarre that the court chose the childs name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and Friday is not a bad name.

While I dislike many unusual names, I hate the idea of a court being able to ban them. A tad right wing, me thinks...

... and the Court chose his new name.