What's In A Name

[Bazile]

Should the parents be allowed to choose what ever name they want for their child ?

"Jihad" in Arabic means "effort" or "struggle", not specifically "holy war".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41734079

[Bazile]

''In 2015 a French court prevented a couple from naming their baby girl Nutella after the hazelnut spread, ruling that it would make her a laughing stock. The judge ordered that the child be called Ella instead.//

lol

[Jackdaw33]

It used to be the case in France when the only permissible names were those of saints or other righteous people mentioned in the Bible and national heroes.

[goodgoalie]

You should see the given names some of the players in the NFL have !

[Old_Geezer]

Meanings change. I don't think one can claim that a word always have the same definition. Jihad mean war to many people today, and that is known.

I'm loath to allow government meddling where it isn't required, but I think calling a child something that will be interpreted as/known to mean, a Muslim war against westerners, may be one to consider very very carefully. It may be one of the exceptions which one should prevent a babe being lumbered with.

[Jackdaw33]

I much prefer the pidgin English method of naming children. In the South Sea Islands Prince Charles is known as 'Number One Picaninny, him belong Mrs Kween.

[Gromit]

Apparently ‘Bacon’ is an acceptable popular boys name in France.

[douglas9401]

Why no go the whole hog and use Bomby McBombface?

[albaqwerty]

50 odd years ago, in Scotland, you weren't allowed to call your child by an abbreviated name.
EG Bobby had to become Robert etc

(well, that's what I got told, don't know if it's true tho)

[woofgang]

Jackdaw that's not his name, that's a description of who he is.

[ToraToraTora]

PMSL doug!

[jourdain2]

I'm puzzled. Until very recently (and I'm not aware that it has changed) there was an approved list of names. In fact, even dogs have restrictions on their names, based on their year of birth. One year the names have to begin with 'A', next year 'B' etc. There are lists of suggested names up in vets' surgeries. Our little rescue dog had been named 'Hubert' because of this. We changed it officially to 'Tyke' when we got back to UK. Anyway, I'd be amazed if Jihad were allowed. Sort of thing the French get very upset about.

[Patsy33]

Baz, I 'know' someone who called their son Bisto. He was a laughing stock.

[Flonska]

I think there was a case that went to court in New Zealand when the authorities sought to stop one set of parents from naming their children Benson and Hedges.

[Peter Pedant]

hi Buh-zeel !
are you allowed to spell a name as you want ?

French Law USED to be ( Jourdan can say if it is still the case) that it had to be a saints name. - so Mandy was out but Amanda was in.

Vietnam ( well why not) the tax driver said - any word would do - so he was called 'addition' because he was ( an addition to the family)
er in Viet of course.

Didnt some of the pop stars name their offsprings
MoonBeam - LuLuTrixieBelle - I wanted to call my dog - MingMong - as Ming is Mandarin for Bright (it isnt but you know) - but yeah you know Ming doesnt have very polite connotations in English
and Mong is even worse

[jno]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/24/familyandrelationships.newzealand

[jourdain2]

I've not heard of any change in the French law, PP. I've sent a query out.

[Peter Pedant]

I was gonna point out Jackie that numba wun piccanin bilong Mrs Kween - was Prince Charles title and not his name. But he seems to think he is as well.
My brutha ( no relation to Prince Charles) gave his farewell speech in Bismilla when he left Vanuatu after a year there

[youngmafbog]

//Should the parents be allowed to choose what ever name they want for their child ? //

No.

[jourdain2]

Apparantly it is no longer an enforced list, but the vast majority of people (almost all the native French in fact) still adhere to it. The sate has power to refuse/change names which are felt to be deleterious to the child. Dogs still have the list!