Tallulah Doesn’t Do the Hula Anymore…Luckily for Her!
By Heather Faucher | Posted on May 28, 2009 | Filed Under Name Change
Photo courtesy of HawaiiPictures.com.
Remember that case in New Zealand last year where the judge, furious with parents who saddle their unfortunate children with outlandish names, made a 9-year-old girl a ward of the state so she could change her name? For years, poor Tallulah Does the Hula From Hawaii (no, you didn’t read that wrong!) had been telling her closest friends to call her “K.” Too embarrassed to admit her real name, she is only one victim of a growing bizarre name trend. One which judges like Judge Rob Murfitt take great exception to.
“The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgment which this child’s parents have shown in choosing this name,” he wrote. “It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily.”
New Zealand law prohibits names that would cause offense to a reasonable person, among other conditions, said Brian Clarke, the registrar general of Births, Deaths and Marriages. According to him, officials usually talk to parents who propose unusual names to convince them about the potential for embarrassment. Sometimes, however, those parents just won’t listen to reason.
In his ruling, Judge Murfitt cited a list of other unfortunate names, including ones which registration officials blocked like Fish and Chips (twins), Yeah Detroit, Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit. Others that unfortunately made it through included Number 16 Bus Shelter and Violence.
It would be one thing if wannabe comedian parents were saddling themselves with these ridiculous names—the jokes would all be on them. But no, they’re burdening their poor, innocent tots with the ridicule and embarrassment that is inevitably thrown their way. While of course there are much harsher forms of child abuse out there, this really isn’t a laughing matter for most of the children stuck with these outlandish names. Names are very important in just about every society, and they’re also one of the very few things we use each and every day of our lives.
Of course, plenty of parents in the U.S. give their kids ridiculous names–Pilot Inspektor, Moxie Crimefighter, Jermajesty, Moon Unit, Sage Moonblood, and that’s just counting some of the celebrity parents. Minors who don’t want to be the butt of their parents’ failed jokes can take a page from the kid formerly known as Tallulah’s book: get thee to an attorney or judge quickly so he or she can help you get a name change. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck hiding your secret shame and using your preferred nickname until you’re 18!
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Tags: crazy baby names, crazy names, Name Change, Name Changes
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