A nine-year-old girl was placed into court guardianship in New Zealand so her name could be changed after her parents called her Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii, it emerged this week. Judge Rob Murfitt said the name had set her up with a "social disability and handicap".
In his written ruling, he listed other names that were prohibited by registration officials. They included Stallion, Yeah Detroit, Fish and Chips, Twisty Poi, Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit.
The fact that they were not allowed seems quite reasonable until one reads examples of names that were permitted. They include Midnight Chardonnay, Number 16 Bus Shelter and, the judge added, "tragically, Violence".
An ex-colleague once told me he was thinking of calling his daughter Nirvana. I told him it was a bad idea as she would be associated with Kurt Cobain blowing his brains out. My colleague took deep offence and stormed off but I wasn't being facetious, just trying to get him to thing about the consequences for his daughter of his desire to be different.
Peaches Geldof, whose sisters are called Fifi Trixibelle, Pixie and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lilly said her strange name had haunted her all her life.
Have you been given a strange name you don't like? Or do you know of any bizarre names you'd like to share?
