Monday, December 29, 2008

Kooky Names

Source: Times Online

I love stories about people changing their names to something ridiculous or burdening their kids with a nominal monstrosity. It all comes back to that unforgettable Johnny Cash track A Boy Named Sue; the classic case of a child being traumatised by being given a shitty name. I heard something a while ago about a family court ruling that makes it illegal for parents to give their names these hilarious names, after a Ma and Pa in New Zealand named their daughter Taloola Does The Hula From Hawaii. The judge reportedly said:
The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgement 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 handicap unnecessarily.
Other names that were blocked include Fish'n'Chips and Sexfruit, but curiously Number 16 Bus Shelter was allowed.

Now an article has reported on a survey about the 46,000+ UK citizens who changed their name by deed poll in 2008. There's some really cool names here. For instance, a guy called himself General Ninja Ant and Aron Brown called himself Aron Mufasa Columbo Fonserelli Ball In A Cup Boogie Woogie Brown and Daniel Westfallen is now Happy Adjustable Spanners. Garry Fisher is now feeling a bit bashful after renaming himself Mc Lovin.

Of course, celebrities love giving their kids bizaare names. Here are a few of the classic cases of the celebrity parents and their kids:

Audio Science
- Shannyn Sossamon
Bluebell Madonna - Geri Halliwell
Calico - Alice and Sheryl Cooper
Camera - Arthur Ashe and Jeanne Moutoussamy
Jermajesty - Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza
Lark Song - Mia Farrow and Andre Previn
Memphis Eve - Bono
Moon Unit (I like this one) - Frank Zappa
Sage Moonblood - Sylvester Stallone and Sasha Czack.

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