SimplyMom: In The News

Posted by Mary

So, what do you think about those parents in New Zealand, who lost custody of their little girl because of her bizarre name?

Family Court Judge Rob Murfitt commented, “The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgment which this child’s parents have shown in choosing this name. It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and a handicap, unnecessarily.”

And the offending name? Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.

No mention was made of the last name, so let’s go with Smith. Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii Smith. Would that even fit on a driver’s license?

Anyway, Judge Murfitt became aware of the name during a custody battle for little TDTHFH, and he settled it by having the court take custody of the nine year old until her name could be formally changed.

The little girl was apparently embarrassed by the moniker, which made her the target of much teasing. She told people her name was “K” to avoid revealing her given name (if she could even remember all of it).

Now, I’ve always known that a name is one of the first gifts a parent gives a child. And, of course, it’s also one of the longest lasting. That’s why parents should consider the name seriously, and remember that the child will have to live with it all her life. (Well, at least until she can have it legally changed.)

Fortunately, my parents seemed to put some thought into my name. My first name is Biblical, and it’s my mother’s name as well, while my middle name is the name of my mother’s favorite apostle. (Yes, my mother had a favorite apostle.) I haven’t always been enamored of my name, but at least it never embarrassed me (and I learned to embrace my middle name, especially when Paul McCartney wrote a song with the very same name in the title. No, “Michelle” wasn’t an apostle. Try again.)

When I had my children, I tried to put the same kind of thought into naming them. And for the most part I’m pretty pleased with their names, and I think they are too. The one exception? My oldest son, who has his father’s first name (which he likes) and my middle name (which of course was as masculine as the apostles). He’s not too crazy about it.

But he certainly lucked out compared to others. According to Murfitt, names like Number 16 Bus Shelter, Midnight Chardonnay and “tragically, Violence,” were all allowed in New Zealand.

And let’s face it, New Zealand has no monopoly on the weird name phenomenon. We need only look as far as Hollywood – where Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter Apple can have a play date with Brooklyn Beckham, Shiloh Pitt and Suri Cruise. Or in the world of music, where Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie, the children of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, push half-sister Heavenly Hiranni Tigerlily (daughter of the late Ms. Yates and Michael Hutchence) on the swing.

But was there really a point in saddling poor little “K” with that Hula name? What were her parents thinking? Did they even try calling it out the front door? “Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii!” Dinner!” The meal would cold, and the neighborhood would be laughing.

After all, full sentences include a noun and a verb. Full names don’t.

( Add your comments )

Recent Entries:
· The Pill's 50th Birthday
· Superwoman of the Day: Hungry Girl
· Breast Cancer: Reduce Your Risk

[ READER COMMENTS ]

SimplyMom: In The News

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.