We live in a society where people name their children after some bizarre and unexpected things. Some celebrities may have taken this trend a little too far by naming some of their children; Apple, Tu Morrow, Blanket, and one of the most unique, Pilot Inspekotr. With all these “original” names being given to children, why was it wrong for one couple to name their child after one of their favorite condiments?
A baby born in the French city of Valenciennes was recently named after the popular spread Nutella. Her name was Nutella until a local judge decided that it was in the child’s best interest to rename her Ella.
“The name ‘Nutella’ given to the child is the trade name of a spread. And it is contrary to the child’s interest to be wearing a name like that can only lead to teasing or disparaging thoughts,” proclaims the judge, according to Time Magazine.
The child who was born in September, was brought into court, and renamed Ella after her parents decided to not show up to the court hearing that was supposed to be in November.
While the United States is very open to creative and unique names, other countries around the world are not so open. Pamela Redmond Satran, author of The Baby Name Bible and co-creator of Nameberry.com states that many countries even have laws protecting children from be subject of odd names.
“In France, Napoleon outlawed names that might subject a child to ridicules” states Satran, who goes on to say that in Germany you cannot name your child with an ambiguous sexual name that does not indicate a gender, “You couldn’t name your daughter Wyatt, the way Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis did.”
When it comes to this particular case Satran expresses that “The Ella part is fine, the Nut part, not so much. Being named after a dessert food, however delicious, is probably not the way to go. I wouldn’t want to be named pudding or popsicle, either.”
Do names really matter, would they lead kids to discrimination and open for abuse and ridicule? While it may not be the case every time, many of these children do attempt to re-name themselves as soon as they are able too showing that it may indeed lead to this behavior.
Photo: Alamy
