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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what the government official would call our child?

59 replies

peanutfoldover · 28/12/2019 21:47

We are pregnant with no.2 and we cannot agree on a boys name at the moment, although I’m sure we’ll come to a happy compromise eventually. With our DD1 we chose a name before she was born and registered it as soon as it was possible.

However, out of pure curiosity I wanted to know what would happen if we never registered a name for this child (that won’t happen but, you know.... I was curious!). I checked out the rules: Turns out you have 42 days to register and if you don’t by then its a £200 fine and a government official will choose a name instead!!

THAT got me wondering if anyone has ever allowed this to happen and, if so, what name did the official choose?? Is there some kind of system for choosing a name in these circumstances? I assume this happens to some children by default if they are abandoned as babies or put straight into care etc, but I more mean parents who just don’t know and are happy for an official to choose for them and pay the fine.

It must have happened at least once for the rule to even exist right?!

OP posts:
YouretheChristmasCarcass · 28/12/2019 22:44

I have a feeling that if it happened they'd just give the child a 'generic' name like George, John, Mary, or Elizabeth as opposed to wracking their brain to find a name that 'fits' or is on some top 10 list.

Palaver1 · 28/12/2019 22:50

Fairenuff
That’s so funny

QuillBill · 28/12/2019 22:51

My mum’s friend is called ‘girl’ on her birth certificate but she’s in her 70s now so I’m sure that wouldn’t happen now.

sproutsgalore · 28/12/2019 22:53

Whoever programmed that name generator is daft.

TheDarkPassenger · 28/12/2019 22:56

Have you seen Jane the Virgin where they give up and jus call the bloody thing baby?

Shan

memaymamo · 28/12/2019 23:03

I’ve just had so much fun with that name generator! I really should get a bloody life

I'm impressed with that thing. I put in all the parameters and it came up with a short list that included both DH and DS's names!

FamilyOfAliens · 28/12/2019 23:40

a resident fun sucker makes an appearance. Do jog on.

Oh the irony.

Koalablue · 29/12/2019 01:00

I used that name generator for my dd and one of the suggestions was her actual name.
Next time we have to name a pet I’ll use that generator.

wonkylegs · 29/12/2019 10:14

@peanutfoldover crazy thing is even after all that palaver 6mths later it seems they are thinking of changing it again as they aren't sure about it
They may be a little indecisive the baby's brother has 6 names!

Original poster
peanutfoldover · 30/12/2019 21:32

I really hope we’ve made a decision with a name once WE’VE had this baby. (See what I did there? Hehe... expert level goading!) Otherwise that name generator will be put to good use.

But I’m definitely going to ask the registrar what they would choose in that situation.

Geronimo can only be said whilst shouting gleefully, it’s literally impossible to say it any other way!

OP posts:
QueenofLouisiana · 30/12/2019 21:48

The random name generator came up with DS’s name and his middle name. Impressive algorithm!

hellcarryingahandbag · 31/12/2019 08:21

@peanutfoldover how can “we” be pregnant? It’s biologically impossible for men to be pregnant. Yet another daft Americanism🙄

ThanosSavedMe · 31/12/2019 08:27

Not the point if the thread I know but I agree with @FamilyOfAliens

reefedsail · 31/12/2019 08:35

According to the name generator my fictitious son should be called 'North', 'Lake' or 'Kyle'?? Grin

trappedsincesundaymorn · 31/12/2019 09:00

I just tried it for a girl (no need really DD is in her 20's but thought it might be fun). One of the suggestions was Somerset...our home county...can you imagine Somerset from Somerset? Grin

PickettBowtruckles · 31/12/2019 09:05

I always thought that in that case they just used the years most common names, so Oliver/Olivia for example. No idea who told me that though so there’s a good chance I’m totally wrong.

Riddo · 31/12/2019 09:32

The name generator came up with DS's name as first choice and two DN's names 😂

ohprettybaby · 31/12/2019 09:46

I have an ancestor who was registered as 'Male' followed by their parents' surname. I assume that a child who hasn't been given a name would therefore be either 'Male' or 'Female' with the surname dependent on who was present at the birth registration.

MitziK · 31/12/2019 09:56

According to that generator, Shontae, Karis, Mona, Tanya and Kiki are all British male names.

I've just gone into the cat name generator. It suggests renaming DTwatCat #1 Mohammed.

The cat traits I entered were Dim, Clumsy and Lovable.

Maybe this isn't as useful as originally suggested...

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 31/12/2019 11:47

See what I did there? Hehe... expert level goading!

If you have to explain it....

😂😂😂

Original poster
peanutfoldover · 31/12/2019 20:01

Pleased it worked!

OP posts:
WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 31/12/2019 20:04

Hehe

iklboo · 31/12/2019 20:05

The random name generator picked DS's first and middle names on its list!

nicknames02 · 11/07/2020 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

hampstead1234 · 11/07/2020 08:58

I have known someone who registered on the 42nd day, but they chose the name.

Given some names that parents choose, especially strange or unconventional spellings, I wish the suggestion existed.

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