Blaer

Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:18 pm

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/iceland-bans-girl-from-using-birth-name-legal-battle-ensues/article6905368/

Article in a nutshell: A girl was "mistakingly" named Blaer, which is not on the approved name list in Iceland. Officials state it is because the meaning “light breeze” in Icelandic "takes a masculine article". So, no gender bender names in Iceland. WDYT? How would you feel if your country instituted an "approved" name list for you to select from?

Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:55 pm

I've read about this kind of situation in other countries too. Technically, the US has rules like this too, but they're more like "you can't use numbers or symbols." Nothing like "you can't name a girl John or a boy Sue" though I think some of us wish there were rules like that for the extreme cases.
I would hate to have a list of approved names to choose from. I'm sure none of the names I like would be approved because they're either gender benders or just plain weird. And I don't do well with someone telling me what I will and won't do.

Fri Jan 04, 2013 4:07 pm

Because of the language rules in Icelandic, it makes perfect sense to me that they need to have certain names on girls and certain names on boys. Names get conjugated in to the possessive form, and therefore the list of names corresponds with the language rules. It's not a law that says, "You can't name your kids anything. Here's a list of 20 names to pick from," it's a language law that names need to be able to follow so people can speak properly in Icelandic when conjugating names in to the possessive forms. English doesn't have gendered nouns, I feel like people get all crazy up-in-arms over this topic because many unilingual English speakers don't see nouns as having genders but, to me, this law makes sense.
The Blaer in question was only baptized with the name Blaer, it was never her legal name. The mother knows it wasn't on the list, she appealed, and it was rejected because it doesn't correspond with the language laws. Honestly, in my opinion, this is why you do your research.

I read in one article, though, that there's a female character named Blaer in a prize-winning Icelandic book, so I'm interested to see how the name was conjugated there, because obviously it *can* be done if there was a whole book about a female Blaer. Then again, maybe the book was written entirely without having to use the possessive form of the name. And I'm also curious about how the name has been conjugated with the girl so far in her life... I wonder if the people who know her tweaked the language to accommodate, or if they just conjugate in the masculine form.

I'm totally in favour of name laws. The countries that do have a pre-approved list will always let you appeal, the list is *constantly* getting added to, the lists are for preservation of the language, and for the well-being of the child. I mean... I can see there being problems when giving a child a name that does.not.conjugate. in the language.
I think most countries with pre-approved lists (and you can always appeal) are countries with languages that have gendered nouns. In English it wouldn't make as much sense to have this kind of a rule (though a law to protect the child's integrity would be pretty nice sometimes).

Lu-
Seraphine, Eulalia & Edmund, Marius

Fri Jan 04, 2013 4:48 pm

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/iceland-bans-girl-from-using-birth-name-legal-battle-ensues/article6905368/

Article in a nutshell: A girl was "mistakingly" named Blaer, which is not on the approved name list in Iceland. Officials state it is because the meaning “light breeze” in Icelandic "takes a masculine article". So, no gender bender names in Iceland. WDYT? How would you feel if your country instituted an "approved" name list for you to select from?

I think it's a good thing, actually, to preserve that part of their heritage. I heard this on NPR the other day.

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my nephews: Alec, Jackson, Elijah, Hayden, Eric, Atreus, Nicholas, Isaac, Samuel
my niece: Rubie

Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:20 pm

I read the article, and I thought it was interesting, I was like why is Blaer a 'masculine article'. Thanks Lucy, I now get it fully. I definitely agree somewhat, if it is that the name is a masculine noun then I can see the reason for not using it on a girl, that is technically confusing the language. It's a personal reasonable law, and it makes for better named children.

I would definitely support some type of naming law for my own country. I would be the first person to actually come up with clauses and wording of this law. It would reduce the instances of person's using misspelled names, ultra-smooshed names, and just plain terrible names. I'm so tired of hearing kids names and going ugh, why, why, why?

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Dani - Name Lover, TV Addict & Current Workaholic.

Current Faves: Eden &Tristan...

Angel baby 05.04.13

Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:18 pm

I agree with Lucy, (except I know nothing about Icelandic language) even in Spanish, though, it seems like that might could be an issue, considering all the gender specific rules/words/conjugations etc. I don't know... It's been years since I studied another language, lol.

Anyway, I would be very interested to know how that book handled it too... Basically, they either butchered the language or they skirted the issue entirely.

*BRIANA LEIGH*
Proud aunt to *Jason*
Puppy mommy to *Holly Golightly* & *Huckleberry Finn*

Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:19 pm

1. I read the article yesterday... I feel the same way about it today - Blaer should be able to go by her given & chosen name, Blaer. I think it's lovely.

2. I would NOT appreciate an "approved name list"... No, not a fan of that idea at all.

Maria, aka Ree: Mom to James, Aaron, Evan & Jeannie

Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:47 pm

As much as I dislike some of the naming trends out there, I do feel that parents should be allowed to name their children whatever they want. I don't like boy names on girls, but they shouldn't be legally banned IMO.

Lucy, I see what you're saying... but I disagree, mostly because I don't like that so many languages have such an inflexible, built-in gender binary when a lot of people experience gender on a spectrum. If a person wants to change the pronouns that others use to refer to him/her, I'm open to that. But it would complicate that situation further if the very fabric of the language prevents gender-bending, and you'd have to change your name before changing your gender pronouns (I'm assuming there's no neutral pronoun option in Icelandic).

But I guess that's opening a whole other can of worms.

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~ Jocelyn

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