Naming yourself and your children in Finland
In Finland, you don’t have the freedom to name yourself or your children whatever you want, unique names must be first approved by the state’s naming board.
Males cannot take female names and vice versa, unless you had a sex change. Finnish names that have another meaning are rejected, unless already they’re already established names. You can’t have two capital letters in your name without a hyphen. Officials are often reluctant to change a Finnish name into a foreign name. If you change your name more than once, it immediately goes to the naming board for approval.
Here’s some examples of names that have been rejected by the Finnish state…
Alexanteri Suuri, Banaani, Mefisto, Tiltsi, Pasithea, Ziiki, Maloo, Jools, Glorious, Toro, Mayhem, Taikuri, Arsenal, Hulk Hogan, Elmostiina, Gioia, Eldan, Kapu, Answer, Leiah
In a free society of course, you’d have the freedom to name yourself whatever you wish. Names like “Ziiki” obviously have some sort of cultural meaning, and even if it doesn’t, it’s still a nice name. I personally hate how we all share the same names, we’re all unique individuals yet there’s gazillions of “Phil’s” out there. I really like how the African-American community have embraced unique names, often from African languages or derivatives there of. I couldn’t even imagine how a diverse nation like the U.S. would handle the approval and rejection of names.
In a free society people have the freedom to do stupid things, like naming their kids “Hulk Hogan”. But if you’re parents plan to do that, you’re doomed from birth whether you’re name is “Hulk Hogan” or “Joe”, a state naming board won’t make any difference. And by the way, what’s wrong with the name “Leiah”?? There’s much worse Star Wars names out there I can think of. (although I do know a Finnish dude named “Jaba”)
Info from Kuukausiliite
