# Judge Rejects "Obscene" Name Change - wtf? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 29, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666 "2008-06-29T17:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/61 "2008-07-02T22:52:01Z")
**elmwood** , can you [thread=474098]step in here[/thread], please? I’d like some evidence of your claims. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/62 "2008-07-03T22:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=aldiboronti] From [LawProfessor.com](http://www.lawprofessor.com/name-change/are-there-legal-name-change-restrictions/) (This is in reference to the US) [/QUOTE] With due respect to the professor, despite all the rules listed in the rest of this thread, there are real live people who have acquired names that don’t fit the rules. A week or two ago, newscasters everywhere were giggling over the drug-dealing bust of God Lucky Howard. Here in Anderson, Indiana, two men gave a judge a song-and-dance about admiring Judge Donald Phillippe. They were both granted that name, with different middle initials. Then both faux Donald Phillippes filed to run against the judge in the next primary election. It didn’t get far. The three Donalds were called into the chambers of another judge, and Donalds 2 and 3 were persuaded to back out. There are even reports of a chap whose driver’s license and other papers identify him as Trout Fishing In America. He wanted a clean break from his past life. Now, back to **Fuck Censorship**. Some of you are misusing the words obscene and profane. Obscenity is tightly defined in the courts. Stuff like prurient content, community standards, and yadda, etc. When “fuck” is used in a way which is clearly not sexual, as it is here, it cannot be obscene. Profane means specifically a religious sort of offensiveness. “Fuck the Dalai Lama” is profane. “Fuck Censorship” is vulgar. Some would say it’s offensive, surely. It’s not sexual or anti-religious, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/63 "2008-07-03T23:38:43Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] You are not allowed to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater to use a tired, but apt, example. [/QUOTE] Well, of course you can… if there’s an actual goddamn fire in the room. What? This is the DOPE we’re supposed to be pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/64 "2008-07-04T18:50:55Z")
I think that he might have got away with it if he’d asked to change his name to “Fuck Government legislation to prevent some writings from appearing in public domain"as some people find the word"Censorship” used in public very offensive,as in why dont you Censorship off? If I owned a racehorse I’d like to call it "He’s coming up to overtake the leader"just to make things difficult for race commentators but I expect that they’ve got rules about it. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/65 "2008-07-04T20:27:40Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] If I owned a racehorse I’d like to call it "He’s coming up to overtake the leader"just to make things difficult for race commentators but I expect that they’ve got rules about it. [/QUOTE] “She’s The Fastest takes the lead, followed by Always Comes In Second and I’m Number Three…” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/66 "2008-07-04T20:42:06Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] If I owned a racehorse I’d like to call it "He’s coming up to overtake the leader"just to make things difficult for race commentators but I expect that they’ve got rules about it. [/QUOTE] [Yes](http://www.jockeyclub.com/registry.asp?section=3#six). Specifically rule 6 (F) 1 and possibly rule 6 (G) which trumps all other rules regarding names. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/67 "2013-05-02T13:45:36Z")
Bumping this thread. Just learned that, in New Zealand, baby names “must not cause offense to a reasonable person, not be unreasonably long and should not resemble an official title and rank.” > **[No, you can't call your baby Lucifer: New Zealand releases list of banned...](https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/world/asia/new-zealand-stange-baby-names/index.html?hpt=hp_t4)** > > New Zealand releases list of banned names ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/68 "2013-05-02T16:48:51Z")
So no Weedlord Bonerhitlers? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/69 "2013-05-02T17:03:08Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumping this thread. > > Just learned that, in New Zealand, baby names “must not cause offense to a reasonable person, not be unreasonably long and should not resemble an official title and rank.” > > [http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/world/asia/new-zealand-stange-baby-names/index.html?hpt=hp\_t4](http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/world/asia/new-zealand-stange-baby-names/index.html?hpt=hp_t4) I think a lot of other countries have laws like that. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/70 "2013-05-02T18:09:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think a lot of other countries have laws like that. Yep, I think Iceland is one of the most draconian regarding what you can name your kids: > **[Icelandic Naming Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Naming_Committee)** > > The Icelandic Naming Committee (Icelandic: Mannanafnanefnd; pronounced \[ˈmanːaˌnapnaˌnɛmt\])—also known in English as the Personal Names Committee—maintains an official register of approved Icelandic given names and governs the introduction of new given names into Icelandic culture. > The Naming Committee was established in 1991 to determine whether new given names not previously used in Iceland are suitable for integration into the country's language and culture. The committee comprises three ap... ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/71 "2013-05-02T20:26:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think a lot of other countries have laws like that. Yes. Several are mentioned in this very thread. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/72 "2013-05-02T21:38:43Z")
What’s most interesting about the New Zealand list is that many of the names on it are fairly common in the U.S. Just looking through the directory of my very large company, there are multiple people with the first names King, Queen, Prince, Baron, Justice and Justus, and 13 named Princess. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/73 "2013-05-02T21:57:22Z")
I went to college with Brad Clitlick. The college newspaper published letters-to-the-editor over his name. California is pretty informal when it comes to “AKA” names. You just use the name, and it’s okay. A bank officer might refuse to issue a checking account under the chosen name. But I bet if you shop around, you can find a bank that will go along. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/74 "2013-05-02T22:00:46Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I went to college with Brad Clitlick. My mom used to work with a woman whose last name was Bullcock. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/75 "2013-05-02T22:07:20Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > What’s most interesting about the New Zealand list is that many of the names on it are fairly common in the U.S. Just looking through the directory of my very large company, there are multiple people with the first names King, Queen, Prince, Baron, Justice and Justus, and 13 named Princess. Obama Country, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/76 "2013-05-02T23:12:28Z")
If I ever have a son I am so naming him Lucifer. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/77 "2013-05-02T23:16:36Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > (Note added emphasis.) > > Really? 😕 :eek: > > (IOW: Cite? 😕 :eek: ) > > -FrL- > **[French name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_name)** > > French names typically consist of one or multiple given names, and a surname. One given name, usually the first, and the surname are used in a person's daily life, with the other given names used mainly in official documents. Middle names, in the English sense, do not exist. Initials are not used to represent second or further given names. > Traditionally, most French people were given names from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints. However, given names for French citizens from immigrant comm... … if the birth registrar thinks that the chosen names (alone or in association with the last name) may be detrimental to the child’s interests, or to the right of other families to protect their own family name, the registrar may refer the matter to the local prosecutor, who may choose to refer the matter to the local court. The court may then refuse the chosen names. Such refusals are rare and mostly concern given names that may expose the child to mockery. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/78 "2013-05-02T23:23:06Z")
Your freedom is important but you need a Government to protect you from your own stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/79 "2013-05-02T23:24:31Z")
[Motherfucker Jones!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhm9RSDIp00#t=0m30s) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/80 "2013-05-03T00:52:17Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Obama Country, indeed. Wow. Most racists these days hide their opinions a little better than that. Good for you! Stupid fucker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666.md?page=5)