Venezuela to limit choices for children's names
Today's New York Times reports on a proposed Venezuelan law that would limit parents of newborns to a list of 100 names established by the government, with exemptions for Indians and foreigners
This proposed law is a response to the widespread practice of Venezuelan parents naming their children things like Hengelberth, Maolenin, Kerbert Krishnamerk, Githanjaly, Yornaichel, Nixon and Yurbiladyberth.
Honestly, I can understand some of the impetus for this. I've often thought that county clerks should be able to impose a 5-day 'cooling off' period for parents who want to give a child some kind of non-standard name. But a heavy-handed law allowing only one hundred names is going way, way too far. Of course, it's Hugo Chavez's Venezuela...
This proposed law is a response to the widespread practice of Venezuelan parents naming their children things like Hengelberth, Maolenin, Kerbert Krishnamerk, Githanjaly, Yornaichel, Nixon and Yurbiladyberth.
Honestly, I can understand some of the impetus for this. I've often thought that county clerks should be able to impose a 5-day 'cooling off' period for parents who want to give a child some kind of non-standard name. But a heavy-handed law allowing only one hundred names is going way, way too far. Of course, it's Hugo Chavez's Venezuela...