Parents have won a battle to call their baby a ‘banned name’ after the registrar tried to stop them.
Having a child is an important moment in anyone’s life – but it also comes with a ton of responsibility that you sometimes cannot prepare for.
One of these is naming your child, as this is likely going to stick with them for life.
Naming a child requires time and consideration, as you don’t want to make any blunders.
Yet for one couple who were set on their baby’s name, they found they almost couldn’t use it.
People have been divided on the controversial name choice – some say they don’t see the fuss.
Defending the parents, one person writes: “It’s beautiful.”
Another adds: “Coolest name ever.”
“I love that name,” a third shares.
However, others have taken to the comments and called out the parents, with one saying: “Just because you like something doesn’t mean that’s what is best for your child. That was a selfish move on the parents’ part in my opinion.”
In agreement, a second pens: “Why on earth would they give their son this name! They have obviously never given a thought to what he will go through.”
Dan and Mandy Sheldon welcomed their son into the world and four months later, went to register his name.
They told The Sun how they were ‘excited’ to get him registered. However, they were met with looks of ‘utter disgust’ when the couple revealed his name.
Despite insisting on the name, the couple were slammed by the registrar and subject to some harsh remarks.
Dan claims: “She told us he would never be able to get a job, and that teachers wouldn’t want to teach him.”
The dad explains that neither he nor Mandy are religious and that the name in Greek means ‘light-bringer’ and ‘morning’.
But this fell on deaf ears and the couple were told that the name was illegal in several countries such as New Zealand – while being deemed inappropriate in countries like Germany and Switzerland. However, it is not banned in the UK.
The registrar asked them to leave the room as she checked for herself.
“We were gobsmacked with her behaviour,” Dan says. “Eventually she did it, but it was through gritted teeth. Honestly, we just thought it was a nice name… a unique one.
“We didn’t expect to get so much grief about it.”
This incident has caught the attention of Derbyshire County Council, who have apologised for the incident.
Their statement, via The Sun, reads: “We apologise if they were offended but it is the job of our registrars to advise in these matters as sometimes people are not aware of certain meanings or associations around certain names.”
The couple wanted to name their child Lucifer – which is the name that was given to the devil when he was an angel before he fell from heaven and ended up in hell.
In more modern versions of the Bible, Lucifer goes by Satan.
Appearing on This Morning – with baby Lucifer – Dan reiterates that he can understand why people would look at the Christian meaning of the name – but they chose the Greek meaning.
“It depends which part of history you look at,” he comments.
“The UK does not have laws banning specific names but those which contain obscenities or numerals can be rejected by a registrar,” per The Independent.
“New Zealand, which has tougher restrictions on naming children, had Lucifer on a list of banned names published in 2013, along with ‘Christ’ and royal titles such as ‘King’, ‘Prince’ and Princess’.”
