The Rules of Naming Your Child in Finland

That's right - naming your new baby is something a lot of parents are excited for - or are incredibly stressed about.
Our friends recently had a baby and upon leaving the hospital - you are given a birth certificate without the child's name on it.  Finns typically name their child once they learn the child's characteristics and personality...it's not often that it's planned ahead - like North Americans tend to do.
So our friends had picked out the first name already - but it wasn't registered through the Magistrate yet.
The Magistrate sends everybody information about what is okay and not okay to name your child.

You're probably thinking, "It's my child - it's none of their business what I name my children!"
Yeah you're probably right - go freedom of speech.  However, Finland has come up with these regulations of naming your child - so the child will not have "issues" or be embarrassed when they get older - and to eliminate confusion with other people who may have the same name.

Here's the rules (from what I can remember) - and I'll try and give the best examples that I can:

• A last name cannot be used as a first name.  (I.e. "Jameson, Ainsley")
• Your children's first names cannot match each other within 1 family.  (I.e. Siblings cannot be named "Paul" and "Paul")
• Siblings can have the same middle (or "second name" as it's known here) name.  (I know someone who has the same middle name as her two much younger sisters!)
• It is possible to name a child after yourself, like "Olli's daughter" - Olli being the father.  This is a very old Finnish way of doing things...it's not very common these days.
• The name given has to be a real name - not an object or name of something else.  (I.e. "Chocolate bars" or "Facebook".  Facebook was done in Egypt!)
• If the name is not approved by this council, when you register your child's name (and then can get a Kela benefits card for your child if you qualify) - you have to pick a new name.
• You cannot "make up" a name.  (I.e. "Nevaeh" is a popular name in North America...guess what it means?  "Heaven" spelled backwards.  And in case your'e wondering, yes Nevaeh is super popular!)
• Your child cannot have more than 3 first names.  (I.e. "Sarah-Jane -middle name- Smith" is acceptable - but not "Robert-Jason-Carl-Junior -middle name-Smith")
• No foul language or swear words for first or middle names... (Thanks to "Dominique D." for reminding me!)
• The name cannot embarrass your child when they get older or be overly foolish.  (I.e. "Taluah Does The Hula While Sipping On Kaluah" - there was an instance of something similar to this and the courts in Hawaii (?) had the parents change the name...and that was just the first name!)
• Boys cannot be given a girls name and vice verca (Thanks Pasi!).  There are very few and rare unisex names.

Remember- the purpose of these regulations is not to offend you or limit you in any way - but to protect the child from humiliation and embarrassment as they get older.

Just bear in mind all the forms people have to fill out as they get older - and the limited spaces available on the paper...and all the times they have to pronounce their names or announce it publicly - and if it's a tongue twister - it's not fun for anybody to learn or say!

Just in case you don't know what I'm talking about:

• Passport documents
• Drivers License document
• Bank accounts
• Credit Cards or student loans
• Travelling Visas
• Booking appointments (in person or on the phone) for doctors, specialists or reservations at a restaurant
• Registering for school or conferences
• Applying for jobs and submitting resumes
• Business cards
• Giving speeches or presentations in front of groups and having to introduce themselves
• Getting married and having to say their full name (and the spouse has to say it too!) during the ceremony

So - what will you name your kid?!