WOW!

[bunnsidhe.livejournal.com]

DAMN!

 I started a hot topic with the Danish baby name list. I have to say Denmark is not the only country with such a rule and Denmark is a liberal country so it does seem a bit weird--but that's how it is. I found this website where people have put their views and it might describe it a bit better:

http://thebabynamewizard.ivillage.com/parenting/archives/2004/11/my_baby_my_name_choice_or_not.html

Comments

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Those guidelines do seem a bit too strict, 7,000 names doesn't sound like enough. It also doesn't really seem to take ethnic diversity into account.
Otherwise it's ultimatly quite reasonable to have some guidelines, because [potential] parents often seem to have an 'all about me' attitude toward naming and not think very far ahead. Often read birth announcements and wish somebody had stepped in. Just standardising spellings would be a start.

[p-inkjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree that it's too strict, but Denmark isn't exactly an ethnically diverse country, so they don't really have to worry about that.

[lostrocket.livejournal.com]

"Parents can't routinely use a boy's name for a girl, turn a surname into a first name, or choose any name likely to elicit incredulous stares."

The first problem I have with name laws is that no one has the same idea of "acceptable". I mentioned this in the other thread, that to me there's nothing wrong with Ryder or Seven, names someone else had indicated should be restricted. I wouldn't use either but I don't think they're problematic.

*lone ducks some more* My second problem is more related to that quote. I hate the binary gender system, and I don't think people should name based on restrictions that are a product of binary gender. I think restricting names by gender not only reinforces an artificial concept, it could also negatively impact babies who are born without a clear gender. Whether you choose a girly name, a unisex name, or a boys name for your daughter, there's still no guarantee the name will fit her. Names should be evaluated on individual aesthetics, not on ideas of gender.

The only rule I can think of right now that I believe should exist in naming, is not to name children after diseases (intentionally or not).

[bunnsidhe.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not in more rural areas but Copenhagen is very diverse
(So was Dublin even when I lived in Ireland). They have expanded the list for more ethnic names.
Europe has seen a wave of immigration recently.

[hitzpink.livejournal.com]

Omg.. from reading the post before this one (names snagged from local birth announcements), I'm starting to think these rules might not be a bad idea.

[tigress-oils.livejournal.com]

re: point two--THANK YOU.