Can a dumb name be considered child abuse?

Some parents in New Zealand are being labeled as child abusers for giving their children horrific names that subject them to humiliation and mental cruelty.

Take the family who named their child Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. Family Court Judge, Rob Murfitt, stated his concerns in a written decision after a custody hearing in New Plymouth.

He was so disturbed at the effect on the nine-year-old that he ordered her temporarily placed under court guardianship so a suitable name could be chosen.

"It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap," he said.

The girl, who had not had her birth officially registered in New Zealand, had not revealed her name to her friends.

Meanwhile, Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages Brian Clarke released a statement. "The names Fish and Chips, Masport, and Mower, Yeah Detroit, Stallion, Twisty Poi, Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit have not been registered.”

Fortunately, they were rejected for registration at some point in time.

Clarke said names can be declined for registration if they may cause offense to a reasonable person, are long (generally more than 100 characters) or resemble an official title or rank. Names using numerals will also be declined. Legislation gives the Registrar-General authority to decline a name or combination of names; the applicant can appeal the decision and request a court review.

"Where, in my view, a name cannot be registered we will normally discuss this with the parents or guardians before giving our decision. Often when we explain the situation to parents we can agree on an acceptable name to register,” says Clarke.

So if the Registrar-General rejects Toofus The Doofus, mom and dad can appeal the decision. Mom and dad probably think its within their legal rights to name their child whatever they want. Unfortunately, the business of giving a child an unusual name is common in the U.S.

It appears to be a new trend among the wealthy; giving a child an unusual name. At least wealthy celebrities don’t have to send their children to a local public school where they would be tormented by their peers for their names. It’s easy for a parent to give their child a horrible name because they won’t have to live with it, the child will.