French courts seem to be looking after the best interest of their children when a judge ruled that a couple could not name their child 'Nutella.'
According to French media, the court rejected the decision of a couple that wanted to name their child after the popular brand of chocolate hazelnut spread. The child, who was born in Valenciennes on September 24, was renamed by the court 'Ella' stating that 'Nutella' name would not be in the interest of the child, the New York Post reports.
According to a report from the French daily La Voix du Nord, "the name 'Nutella' given to the child is the trade name of a spread" and that "it is contrary to the child's interest to be wearing a name like that can only lead to teasing or disparaging thoughts."
French parents can choose whichever first name they please, unless officials decide otherwise.
Registrars in France usually check the newborn's name. If they think that the name is contrary to the interests of the child, they will contact a prosecutor. A family court then can rename the child. New York Post reports.
According to Washington Post, the French adopted a law in limiting names acceptable for new parents since 1993 — the list of names relied heavily on Francophone versions of the names of Catholic saints.
Another case was also presided over when a couple tried to name their child "Fraise" or strawberry which they deemed could also have a negative impact on the child since the word is part of an idiomatic French phrase, "ramene ta fraise", translating to "get over here." Similar to Ella, the child intended to be Fraise is now called "Fraisine."
According to Washington Post, France is not the only country that restricts parents in naming their child to whatever they prefer. In New Zealand, parents are not allowed to name their kid "Number 16 Bus Shelter," "Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116," "Bishop" or "Mafia No Fear," among other banned first names. In Iceland, Spain and Germany, baby names must indicate the gender of the child. Sweden has blocked the names "Metallica," "Superman," "Veranda," "Ikea" and "Elvis"; and Japanese parents can't name a child "Akuma" ("devil").
