What to name a child? In Italy, a court can decide By Philip Pullella
1 hour, 34 minutes ago



ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court has ruled that a couple could not name their son "Friday" and ordered that he instead be called Gregory after the saint whose feast day he was born on.

"I think it is ridiculous they even opened a case about it," the family's lawyer, Paola Rossi, told Reuters by telephone from the northern city of Genoa on Tuesday.

Friday/Gregory Germano was born in Genoa 15 months ago. The parents registered him as Friday in the city hall and a priest even baptised him as Friday -- unusual in Italy since many priests insist that first names be of Christian origin.

"We named him Friday because we like the sound of the name. Even if it would have been a girl, we would have named her Friday," the boy's mother, Mara Germano, told Reuters.

When the boy was about five months old, a city hall clerk brought the odd name to the attention of a tribunal, which informed the couple of an administrative norm which bars parents from giving "ridiculous or shameful" first names to children.

The tribunal said it was protecting the child from being the butt of jokes and added that it believed the name would hinder him from developing "serene interpersonal relationships".

The Germano family appealed but lost their case this month and the story was carried on the front page of a national newspaper on Tuesday.

When ordered to change the name, the parents refused and the court ruled the boy would be legally registered as Gregory because he was born on that saint's feast day.

"I really doubt this would have happened to the child of parents who are rich and famous," the boy's mother told Reuters, recalling that some famous Italians had given their children unorthodox names such as "Ocean" or "Chanel".

The appeals court ruled against Friday because it recalled the servile savage in Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe and because superstitious Italians consider Friday an unlucky day.

"I am livid about this," the boy's mother said. "A court should not waste its time with things like this when there is so much more to worry about."

"My son was born Friday, baptised Friday, will call himself Friday, we will call him Friday but when he gets older he will have to sign his name Gregory," she said.

I tend to agree with the mother of this child. What the hell difference does it make to a court what a parent chooses to name their child?

I would guess there's more to this story.

my sons last name is different than mine or the wife's. confused the shit out of sooooo many paper pushers and desk jockies.

at least here you can name your kid anything as long as it is not vulgar.

I would guess there's more to this story.

Hmm.. I can't imagine anything else that would make it ok.

Hmm.. I can't imagine anything else that would make it ok.
Agreed.

Here in NZ a child is registered with the courts after the birth and a form is handed over stating the name. Under NZ law the registrar of the court can refuse certain names / names which are offensive / liable to bring shame on the child.

I personally don't have a problem with the law as it stands.

I thought my daughters friends were called Apee, Apoop. but it was close.

What to name a child? In Italy, a court can decide By Philip Pullella
1 hour, 34 minutes ago



ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court has ruled that a couple could not name their son "Friday" and ordered that he instead be called Gregory after the saint whose feast day he was born on.

"I think it is ridiculous they even opened a case about it," the family's lawyer, Paola Rossi, told Reuters by telephone from the northern city of Genoa on Tuesday.

Friday/Gregory Germano was born in Genoa 15 months ago. The parents registered him as Friday in the city hall and a priest even baptised him as Friday -- unusual in Italy since many priests insist that first names be of Christian origin.

"We named him Friday because we like the sound of the name. Even if it would have been a girl, we would have named her Friday," the boy's mother, Mara Germano, told Reuters.

When the boy was about five months old, a city hall clerk brought the odd name to the attention of a tribunal, which informed the couple of an administrative norm which bars parents from giving "ridiculous or shameful" first names to children.

The tribunal said it was protecting the child from being the butt of jokes and added that it believed the name would hinder him from developing "serene interpersonal relationships".

The Germano family appealed but lost their case this month and the story was carried on the front page of a national newspaper on Tuesday.

When ordered to change the name, the parents refused and the court ruled the boy would be legally registered as Gregory because he was born on that saint's feast day.

"I really doubt this would have happened to the child of parents who are rich and famous," the boy's mother told Reuters, recalling that some famous Italians had given their children unorthodox names such as "Ocean" or "Chanel".

The appeals court ruled against Friday because it recalled the servile savage in Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe and because superstitious Italians consider Friday an unlucky day.

"I am livid about this," the boy's mother said. "A court should not waste its time with things like this when there is so much more to worry about."

"My son was born Friday, baptised Friday, will call himself Friday, we will call him Friday but when he gets older he will have to sign his name Gregory," she said.
days of the week are more of a girl's name, unless you're a character in "Robinson Crusoe".

I am glad we are able to name our children anything we so choose here,but dang some people need a good smack upside the head for some names they choose


I wonder if when this baby is older if he will be able to change his name legally if he so chooses to go with Friday instead of Gregory

days of the week are more of a girl's name, unless you're a character in "Robinson Crusoe".

I know guys who are called Terry, granted their names are actually Terence, and I know girls named Terry.

Both girls and boys can be named Charlie. Both are acceptable. My point is it is a parents right to name their child anything they choose. When the court can tell these people that they can't name their child this or that, where does it end. What will they not like next and prevent us from doing?

Give em an inch and they'll take a mile. Be careful with what you let the courts dictate. That's all I'm saying.

I know guys who are called Terry, granted their names are actually Terence, and I know girls named Terry.

Both girls and boys can be named Charlie. Both are acceptable. My point is it is a parents right to name their child anything they choose. When the court can tell these people that they can't name their child this or that, where does it end. What will they not like next and prevent us from doing?

Give em an inch and they'll take a mile. Be careful with what you let the courts dictate. That's all I'm saying.
I definitely agree. A stupid name isn't a matter with which they should be concerning themselves. There are criminals out there for the courts to deal with, and they've done something much more serious than name their child something "unacceptable". For some reason this seems to be a pattern in Catholic countries. I believe I read a similar story from Mexico.

I definitely agree. A stupid name isn't a matter with which they should be concerning themselves. There are criminals out there for the courts to deal with, and they've done something much more serious than name their child something "unacceptable". For some reason this seems to be a pattern in Catholic countries. I believe I read a similar story from Mexico.


What if someone in the States named their child "Jackass?" Do you think the government should be able to step in? I do, and I'm pretty sure Jackass would appreciate it too.

Now, "Friday" sounds pretty benign to you and me, but remember we're talking about another country and another culture. If that country considers Friday to be a universally offensive name, then I don't think their courts are out of order. Unless you're very familiar with that country's culture and people, I don't think we're in the position to pass judgment on their courts.

Also, be wary of can-you-believe-this articles that only present one side of the story. All quotations in this article come from the parent's side.

Genzo, are you Italian?

Genzo, are you Italian?

I certainly see your point and agree with it to a degree. I like to think that any parent with 1/2 a brain would no be naming their child Jackass. There are of course cases of idiocy no doubt.

The statement about the origin of the story and the viewpoint of the article are certainly noted. But in a way aren't we subject to the same one-sidedness even here in our news articles. It is always best to hear both sides of the story but sometimes the only to get the other side talking is to have one side tell their version and then wait for the other side to retaliate or defend their position.

I am not Italian, my family is of German origin.

I named my middle child Alysha but somehow her birthcerificate reads Alissia. It seemed my mom didn't like the spelling and somehow did this. Alysha writes her name like I and my wife wanted it but legally to keep things simple she is really Alissia.

I named my middle child Alysha but somehow her birthcerificate reads Alissia. It seemed my mom didn't like the spelling and somehow did this. Alysha writes her name like I and my wife wanted it but legally to keep things simple she is really Alissia.

That's like my sister. Except she didn't like how my parents spelt her name and in high school started spelling it different. Not to mention my parents didn't spell any of their kids names right except one. But then again Arabic doesn't transliterate to English very well.

As for the Friday name, Leper is right. You have to take society's consideration on why the name was banned or why it may be offensive.

It would be extremely unusual for Italians to name their children with non Italian names.

Whereas here I find people calling their children TV names of late. Very sad :(