Comments on: Authoritarian naming

By: Laird

Laird — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:54:30 +0000

That’s been my experience, Brian.

By: Brian Micklethwait (London)

Brian Micklethwait (London) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:46:15 +0000

Another point worth making is that it certainly makes a big difference in the online world whether you have a name like Rob Fisher or Michael Jennings, or on the other hand a name like Perry de Havilland or Brian Micklethwait. There being only one each of the latter two persons, but many Michael Jenningses and many Rob Fishers.

I greatly prefer ego-googling that gets me and me only.

If I had been born into one of the many Smith or Brown or Jones families, I would appreciate having a strange first name, to separate me from the pack.

By: Brian Micklethwait (London)

Brian Micklethwait (London) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:41:20 +0000

The situation in France is that they used to have an approved name list but they got rid of it. Some time around or just before 2000, I think. I caught the subject being discussed on QI (which is a British telly comedy quizz show).

The most popular boy’s name in France is now Kevin, not a name on the old list of course. Pronounced Ke-veen. On my last trip to Brittany, where I have friends, I met a Kevin.

By: renminbi

renminbi — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:16:35 +0000

To clear things up about the Females:
one of them rhymed with Tamale and other sounded like Fem-malay.

By: Julie near Chicago

Julie near Chicago — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:05:57 +0000

renminbi, the thing is, those names are considered OK by the culture that produces them, and in which their owners are immersed–indeed, they’re liable to be accused of imitating honkies or some such if they have nice American names like “Linda Sue”–and although “Latrina” might be unfortunate to those of us with knowledge of relatively obscure words in English (the military and the camping crowd of course know that one well!), I can see its sense myself: “Trina”–a well-accepted nickname in the larger society, as for instance derived from “Christina.” Now stick a “La” on the front, as in for instance LaToya Jackson. It sounds right! And if “Chumley” is properly spelt “Cholmondely,” why not spell “Roney” (“Ronny”???) as “Romney”?

Besides, what is stupider than naming your daughter Ashley (or Ashleigh?), Courtney, Shirley, Beverly…all veddy dignified British patronymics, but Americans seem to love doing it! Then there are people who name their daughter “Stanley” … and I b’lieve there’s some actress whose name seems to be “Glenn” ….

Or, as Alisa pointed out, one might name one’s son “Sue.”

Well, like you (I suspect) I value the English language and hate to see it bent badly out of shape. But while certain subcultures have irritating naming styles, I have to admit that “Antwone” makes a lot more money than I do…and so does Ms. Jackson, come to that.

And besides, it’s not the State’s business to dictate righteousness–not even in the matter of naming styles. Cure far worse than disease, so forth. :>))

By: renminbi

renminbi — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:52:07 +0000

Sorry for double post-thought I had been smited.

By: renminbi

renminbi — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:50:38 +0000

We have in the US an ethnic group which comes up with odd names for girls. E.g.- two named Female, one with the accent on the second syllable,the other on the last. One Romney (this was years ago) but pronounced “Roney” since “the M is silent”. Best one for abusiveness-”LaTrina”. I don’t think this kind of child abuse should be permitted. People have a right to screw up their own lives but not their children.

By: renminbi

renminbi — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:40:44 +0000

I have friends who have taught in urban schools here, in the US. Some of the names used by one ethnic group are quite abusive. Two girls named”Female”,one with the accent on the second syllable, and the other, the last. One had a student named Romney (this was years ago)”.Correct” pronunciation was “Roney” she explained since the m was silent. The worst example was “Latrina”. We have here an ethnic culture severely challenged on literacy and common sense.
I don’t favor name lists,but I can’t see allowing egregious abuse.

By: Nick (nice-guy) Gray

Nick (nice-guy) Gray — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:24:17 +0000

Because Islam Is EVIL!!!!!

By: Jaded Voluntaryist

Jaded Voluntaryist — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:20:50 +0000

Monoi, Jihad is a very common given name in the Islamic world – so why should your Western sensibilities prevent Muslim parents from naming their children whatever they please?

Would you like it if your children were forced to have Islamic names? So why is the reverse OK?

By: monoi

monoi — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:58:08 +0000

I had a quick google, and in fact, there is no forbidden list in France.

That said, the state registrar can refuse a name if he believes it to be detrimental to the well being of the child. His decision is not final however, and it can be appealed to a judge.

Honestly, and as much as I wish the state to be reduced to the smallest entity possible, it is something I can live with for the reasons I gave.

Also, I do believe that parents who come up with outlandish names do that for their own selfish reasons (if not utter idiocy), so if there is a small possibility to stop them, I am happy.

That retard calling her son jihad being a prime example.

It also appears to me that it does not stop you from calling your child whatever you want, just that it might not be on his official papers (which could be argued are just instruments of coercion created by the state so do not count anyway!).

My german brother in law (born in 1956) is called Adolf…as it was the name of his godfather. He lived it down pretty well.

By: James Waterton

James Waterton — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:50:31 +0000

As some may know, I live in Vietnam (though not for much longer) and am married to a local (for much longer, I trust). When we had our daughter, I found out that if a child is to receive Vietnamese citizenship, they must have a Vietnamese name somewhere in the mix. First, middle or last name – at least one has to be of Vietnamese origin. Even though we always intended for her to have a Vietnamese name, I remember how infuriating it was to have some bureaucrat tell you what you can and can’t name your child. A friend of mine in a similar situation to myself had to change the name he and his wife were planning to give their daughter because it lacked a Vietnamese name. If he didn’t they would not have been able to register the child as a Vietnamese national, despite the fact she was born in Vietnam to a Vietnamese mother. This to me is deeply, deeply wrong.

Society has a collective interest in the well-being of children, and it is reasonable for the state, as society’s agent, to oversee an action which can have serious life-long consequences for the child.

This could be – and of course is – used by any statist to justify any number of government intrusions into family life (not to mention civil society at large). Rich Rostrum, I have no doubt that you are a sincere libertarian/classical liberal/small government type, however I don’t really understand why you are applying the logic of the statist to the very narrow field of naming conventions. It could just as easily be used to prevent things like homeschooling, which I assume you wouldn’t support.