Country Won't Let Couple Name Son '4real'

[Kor37 9]

Country Won't Let Couple Name Son '4real'

AP

Posted: 2007-06-21 11:33:47

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (June 21) - New Zealand authorities have blocked a couple's bid to officially name their new son "4real," saying numerals are not allowed.

 

Pat and Sheena Wheaton said they decided to name their new baby "4real" shortly after having an ultrasound and being struck by the reality of his impending arrival.

 

"For most of us, when we try to figure out what our names mean, we have to look it up in a babies book and ... there's no direct link between the meaning and the name," Pat Wheaton told TV One on Wednesday. "With this name, everyone knows what it means."

 

But when the parents filed the name with New Zealand's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, they were told names beginning with a number were against the rules.

 

The government office has opened negotiations with the parents about the name under a policy that says all unusual names must be given case-by-case consideration.

 

"The name has not at this stage been rejected," Registrar-General Brian Clarke said in a statement Thursday. "We are currently in discussions with the parents ... to clarify the situation."

 

Clarke said the rules are designed to prevent names that are "likely to cause offense to a reasonable person." Satan and Adolf Hitler were proposed names that have been declined, he said.

 

If no compromise has been reached by July 9, the baby will be registered as "real," officials say.

 

New Zealand law requires all children born in the South Pacific nation to be registered with the BiZealand (AP) - New Zealand authorities have blocked a couple's bid to officially name their new son "4real," saying numerals are not allowed.

 

Pat and Sheena Wheaton said they decided to name their new baby "4real" shortly after having an ultrasound and being struck by the reality of his impending arrival.

 

"For most of us, when we try to figure out what our names mean, we have to look it up in a babies book and ... there's no direct link between the meaning and the name," Pat Wheaton told TV One on Wednesday. "With this name, everyone knows what it means."

 

But when the parents filed the name with New Zealand's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, they were told names beginning with a number were against the rules.

 

The government office has opened negotiations with the parents about the name under a policy that says all unusual names must be given case-by-case consideration.

 

"The name has not at this stage been rejected," Registrar-General Brian Clarke said in a statement Thursday. "We are currently in discussions with the parents ... to clarify the situation."

 

Clarke said the rules are designed to prevent names that are "likely to cause offense to a reasonable person." Satan and Adolf Hitler were proposed names that have been declined, he said.

 

If no compromise has been reached by July 9, the baby will be registered as "real," officials say.

 

New Zealand law requires all children born in the South Pacific nation to be registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry within two months of birth.

 

 

 

These parents are idiots. I already feel sorry for this child. This is not a puppy they are naming. Its a human being who has to go through life with this idiotic name...

[MrPsychic 1]

Are the parents 4real?

Edited June 21, 2007 by MrPsychic

[Angela 1]

I can just imagine the carers at the old folks home calling little old 4real.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

I think they should have had the parents change their names to GetReal.

[Gummy 0]

If they were allowed to name the kid "4real", he/she better learn how to fight by the time school starts.

[KIMIMELA 1]

On a forum, yes, but for a name, NO

[Odie 0]

Lets get 4real. The kid will get picked on, and will have problems finding a 4real job. I am glad to hear they can't name their child 4real even though real will still have the same results as 4real.

[BakulaBabe 2]

I agree with Kor. Idiot parents like them need to realize that children aren't pets, and that kids with ridiculous names will be picked on mercilessly. How would they like to be stuck with a stupid name like that?

[trekz 7]

Maybe the parents should suggest foreal and say it rhymes with loreal

 

I agree with posters who note that the parents won't always be around when their kids are stuck with really stupid names that will cause problems (especially with spelling) and get them teased with nicknames. :(

[jadziaezri 0]

well they are kiwis. sorry its like usa v canada

[Odie 0]

UPDATE:

 

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a baby, 4Real!

Wed Aug 8, 2007 6:10AM BST

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand couple is looking to call their newborn son Superman -- but only because their chosen name of 4Real has been rejected by the government registry.

 

Pat and Sheena Wheaton say they will get around the decision by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages by officially naming their son Superman but referring to him as 4Real, the New Zealand Herald newspaper has reported.

 

The Wheatons decided on the name after seeing the baby for the first time in an ultrasound scan and realising their baby was "for real".

 

They decided 4Real was the best way to write it, but the name was rejected because the registrar said a name had to be a sequence of characters.

 

Pat Wheaton said he was considering appealing against the decision through the courts, but whatever happens he won't be budged on his choice.

 

"No matter what its going to stay 4Real," Wheaton told the Herald, "I'm certainly not a quitter".

 

A spokesman for the Department of Internal Affairs, which operates the registry told the Herald discussions with the Wheatons about their son's name were continuing.

 

The baby is now two months old, after the Wheatons first applied to register his name in later June.

[Kor37 9]

This child should already be looking into divorcing his parents..........

[youbroughtheryouRiker 2]

Not to mention legally changing his name to "Michael"

[Bethlehem 7]

The parents need to have their names change to 4lackofcommonsense