Court Takes Custody of Girl with Strange Name
Here’s one we haven’t seen out of the Westchester courts.
A New Zealand judge is tired of parents who give their children bizarre names, and he has given a 9-year-old girl named “Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii” an opportunity to change hers by ruling that she become a ward of the court.
Judge Rob Murfitt’s decision came during a custody battle between the girl’s separated parents. He expressed concern in his ruling at the “very poor judgment” the parents showed in naming the girl.
Murfitt said, “It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily.”
The girl’s attorney told the court that the name embarrassed her so greatly that she refused to tell her friends, instead insisting that people call her “K.”
The judge’s ruling was handed down in February, but wasn’t made public until it was published in the New Zealand law reports on July 24. In the interest of protection of her identity, the girl’s new name will not be released to the public.
Murfit also cited a list of strange names couples have given their children in his ruling. He said names that registration officials blocked included “Yeah Detroit,” “Keenan Got Lucy,” and “Sex Fruit.” However, names like “Number 16 Bus Shelter” and “Violence” have been allowed.
