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Icelandic Girls Can't Be Called Harriet, Government Tells Family
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/26/iceland-strict-naming-convention-cardew-family ^

Posted on 07/01/2014 8:30:42 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Authorities reluctant to renew passport of Harriet, 10, as name is not on approved list of 3,565

You can be Aagot, Arney or Ásfríður; Baldey, Bebba or Brá. Dögg, Dimmblá, Etna and Eybjört are fine; likewise Frigg, Glódís, Hörn and Ingunn. Jórlaug works OK, as do Obba, Sigurfljóð, Úranía and – should you choose – Vagna.

But you cannot, as a girl in Iceland, be called Harriet.

"The whole situation," said Tristan Cardew, with very British understatement, "is really rather silly."

With his Icelandic wife Kristin, Cardew is appealing against a decision by the National Registry in Reykjavik not to renew their 10-year-old daughter Harriet's passport on the grounds that it does not recognise her first name.

Since the registry does not recognise the name of Harriet's 12-year-old brother Duncan either, the two children have until this year travelled on passports identifying them as Stúlka and Drengur Cardew: Girl and Boy Cardew.

"But this time, the authorities have decided to apply the letter of the law," Cardew, a British-born cook who moved to Iceland 14 years ago, told the Guardian. "And that says no official document will be issued to people who do not bear an approved Icelandic name."

The Cardews could get round Harriet's problem by giving her an Icelandic middle name. Photograph: Tristan Cardew The impasse meant the family, from Kópavogur, risked missing their holiday in France next week until they applied to the British embassy for an emergency UK passport, which should now allow them to leave.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: iceland
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To: nickcarraway

She’s a ringer for one of my g/daughters.


41 posted on 07/01/2014 9:35:37 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (1 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psalm 50 v 10)
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To: nickcarraway; KC_Lion

South Korea even has such laws, but that doesn’t keep celebrities and everyone from being known by westernized nicknames.


42 posted on 07/01/2014 10:09:08 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: TChad
Karl is on the approved list so I'm happy with it.

But then Þjóðvarður is on the list too.

43 posted on 07/01/2014 11:02:36 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (The IRS: either criminally irresponsible in backup procedures or criminally responsible of coverup.)
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To: nickcarraway

Heaven forbid a country tries to preserve their language and culture....What a concept!


44 posted on 07/01/2014 11:07:22 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: KarlInOhio
Karl is on the approved list so I'm happy with it.

I noticed that Bambi is an approved male name. Hmm.

On the other hand, Barack is ilegal, and Mohammed is illegal, so this policy does have some positive aspects.

45 posted on 07/01/2014 11:20:51 PM PDT by TChad (The Obamacare motto: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.)
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To: nickcarraway

The Althing (oldest Parliament in the world) in Iceland has to approve every new word that enters the Icelandic language as to not dilute it with English/ foreign sounding words. It is said the Icelanders can read the Old Norse Sagas in there original versions because the language has changed so little over a 1,000 years.

Norway up until about 10 years ago had an approved names list too, then the Muzzies got offended and they dropped it. I think Denmark has an approved names list too.

Icelanders also have their fist names listed first in the phone book.


46 posted on 07/01/2014 11:25:53 PM PDT by bjorn14 (Woe to those who call good evil and evil good. Isaiah 5:20)
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To: KarlInOhio
But then Þjóðvarður is on the list too.

I would be tickled to give my kid a name like that, with the old "eth" and "thorn" letters. He might not like it as much...

47 posted on 07/01/2014 11:43:59 PM PDT by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

Kill’em quick, while their numbers are small.


48 posted on 07/01/2014 11:44:21 PM PDT by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
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To: nickcarraway

Cute girl, but this is a message for her father: their country, their rules. Don’t like it? Leave.


49 posted on 07/02/2014 4:03:48 AM PDT by OldNewYork
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To: nickcarraway
I can understand Iceland's desire to protect their unique heritage. Why don't the parents pick one of the approved names and then nickname her Harriet? If Harriet ever moves to another country, she could have her name legally changed if that is her desire. That would be a hassle but fighting the name list is going to be a hassle too.

Despite my strong Scandinavian heritage, my wife and I used Biblical names for all our kids. As a group, however, they are referred to as the "Viking Horde" despite their Jewish-derived names.

50 posted on 07/02/2014 5:06:54 AM PDT by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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To: Army Air Corps

“Thanks to this, I shall complain a wee bit less about bureaucracy here in the US (even the DPS offices).”

No, oppose even more strenuously else we arrive at this and then worse.


51 posted on 07/02/2014 5:18:44 AM PDT by all the best
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To: Jack Hydrazine
From what I hear RIcjy and David dont approve of this naming convention madness either


52 posted on 07/02/2014 6:02:27 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

I have to wonder how the icelandic Naming Convention rubs up against the mooselim culture or vice versa.

CAN Mohammad possibly be on the icelandic approved names list?...


53 posted on 07/02/2014 6:04:33 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill)
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To: DisorderOnBorder

Actually their naming is based on the first name of the father. If Karl Svenson (Karl son of Sven) has a son and names him Jahn his last name will be Karlson. A daughter named Greta will have the last name of Karlsdottir.

Family gatherings must be a riot.


54 posted on 07/02/2014 6:33:56 AM PDT by MisterArtery
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To: OneWingedShark

I guess that would mean any derivative of Mohammed or Ali would be out?


55 posted on 07/02/2014 6:37:30 AM PDT by Woodman
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To: nickcarraway

Latrina ?


56 posted on 07/02/2014 9:24:51 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: nickcarraway

To be clear, the family can name her whatever they want. But she has to have an official, approved, Icelandic name to use on official documentation.

Iceland has what is called a “closed class” system of names, where there is an approved list of names designed to keep the integrity of the nation’s culture and history. Other countries use similar systems, for example, unless its changed recently, Germany allows you to choose any name, but under the condition that there are at least 5 living people in Germany with that name already - this prevents people just making stuff up out of whole cloth, and also prevents people from going back and using archaic names long since disused.

IIRC, Jewish temple names would be another example of “closed class”.

Most places have a generally “open class” system, such as the United States, where you’re free to use almost anything you want as a name. Of course, try naming a child something offensive (e.g., “Adolph Hitler”) and see how fast the unwritten rules come into play. Similarly, there are other “open class” societies that have “banned names” lists, often derogatory names that are used for superstitious reasons but cause problems later in life.


57 posted on 07/02/2014 9:34:48 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: MeshugeMikey

They probably get an exemption.


58 posted on 07/02/2014 8:00:37 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

In Iceland....as is elsewhere...


59 posted on 07/03/2014 5:55:30 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ( "Never, never, never give up". Winston Churchill)
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