This story is a true one and comes to you from New Zealand.
A Family Court judge has ordered a girl be put in court guardianship so her name – Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii – can be changed. The judge said he had concerns over the girl’s name creating a social hurdle for her as she grew up. The judge made written findings on the issue public after discovering other names some New Zealand parents had called their children. (Number 16 Bus Shelter, Violence, and for twins – Benson and Hedges)
Evidently the nine-year-old Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii was so embarrassed about her name she hadn’t revealed it to her friends. They call her “K”.
Parents must adhere to the following criteria when choosing a name for their child:
1. Must not cause offence to a reasonable person.
2. Must not be unreasonably long (less than 100 characters long including spaces)
3. Must not be without adequate justification, be, include or resemble an official title or rank.
4. Must not use punctuation marks, brackets or numbers.
A person’s name is such an important part of their identity. It’s something we carry with us throughout our lives. Growing up these days is hard enough without our parents saddling us with an embarrassing name. Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii? Hello!!! What were this girl’s parents thinking???? I’m so glad the judge had the good sense to rule she could change her name.
Violence – it’s not a name I’d want, but she has a possible future in a paranormal novel or movie.
Number 16 Bus Shelter – okay, so the bus shelter where your child was conceived might have great memories, but saddling your child with this name? Having a permanent reminder of the fact your parents have sex? That’s just plain icky!
Please parents, think long and hard when naming your child. Your choice is with them for life.
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July 26th, 2008 at 5:07 am · Link
That’s really sad when parents give their kids such ridiculous names. More to the point, it’s selfish and perhaps even cruel.
Still some kids are able to ride it out.
On this side of the world, there was a very famous philanthropist named Ima Hogg. Her name come from a poem her uncle wrote, though the legend here says her father gave her that name deliberately to draw attention to the family. He was a politician.
They say Ima wrote her name illegibly during her youth to disguise the name, but evidently she embraced it later in life because her name is prominent in the Houston, Texas landscape. Oil made the family hugely wealthy and Ima was very generous throughout her life. She is much loved in Texas, particularly Houston where several foundations bear her name.
I’ll settle for a plain name. LOL.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am · Link
This story has circled the globe, Shelley! It was headline material in Canada.
So sad, the way parents do this. How can a parent expect respect from a child (especially when they grow to adulthood!) when they’ve been labelled
Moxie Crimefighter
Pylot Inspecktor
Apple (cute as a nickname, but come on!)
or Moon Unit??
I’m glad that NZ judge had the good sense to act.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm · Link
Maria – that’s an interesting story. Ima must have been a very strong individual. I certainly wouldn’t want a name like this.
Wylie – I think it’s a form of abuse. I really do. I’d take a bet that the parents have very normal names.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:22 pm · Link
Much ado about nothing, I’m afraid. Talula, for short, is the simplest solution. I know I’d love a name like that. In fact now that it’s available I think I’ll take it.
July 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm · Link
Millar – I’m going to have to disagree with you on this subject and side with the judge. Children don’t like to stand out as different and this kid’s name definitely labels her as different. Surely you remember what it was like to be a kid? We’re nasty to each other. This sort of a name for an adult is entirely different. An adult who has a name like this is making a statement. I’d also say it’s a safe bet that the adult hasn’t grown up with the name from childhood.