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The Baby Name Police Strike Again

By John Mesirow

The name police, in addition to residing in Sweden, also reside in Australia. Today's installment involves a couple who wanted to name their child "Ned Kelly." If you're wondering why that name would be a problem, click here for more information on this notorious Australian. Per The Daily Telegraph:

The [New South Wales] Registry [of Births, Deaths and Marriages] can reject a name for a number of reasons under the Registration Act 1995. Reasons include that the name might be obscene or offensive, is too long or includes ``symbols without phonetic significance.''

And if the Registry thinks a name is a problem but it doesn't fit in any of the offending categories, check out this catch-all provision:

The Act also bans ... names ``contrary to the public interest for some other reason.''

That seems to cover EVERYTHING! Here are a few other names that shared Ned Kelly's fate:

- Post Master General

- Chief Maximus

- Jesus Christ

- a blank space

- the child's Medicare number

- the number seven

Check out these names that made the grade:

- God Bless

- Metallica

- Fully Hektik Sik

Here's the source.

Full post as published by Legal Juice on September 22, 2009 (boomark / email).