The naming of a baby in Denmark
 

... it may not be as easy as you'd think. This article tells of the process involved:

http://www.iht.com/articles/542741.html


I found it interesting as an example of a cultural difference -- saw it used for laughs on SNL's Weekend Update last night.

I know a Danish couple who had to go through the whole process to give their daughter a perfectly normal girl's name, with no double-entendres or peculiar meanings, because it was a Swedish name and not a Danish one.

Here is the link for approved first names:
http://www.hum.ku.dk/navnef/index.htm

pigenavne are girls' names
drengenavne are boys' names

There are also laws on last names to protect rare Danish last names.

Sorry, I didn't get to read the article. The link given to the IHT says it's no longer available. Anyway, I checked Katherine's list of approved baby's names.
It's with interest I am reading it about these Danish cultural differences as I've got a Danish friend. Well, yes, his name is definitely on the approved baby name list and so is his brother's.
I think I'll ask him about the name-picking procedure.

Also, I have noticed that some of my Danish friends in their late 20's/early 30's are naming their kids some "old" Danish names. A new trend perhaps, to avoid having 5 Jacob's and Lene's in the same class?

My mother actually ran a-foul of this law on naming children. She was an American visiting in Denmark when I was born (1969). She wanted to name me Kirsten. The doctor evidently heard 'Christian', which of course is a boys name -- not allowed on a girl child. So they compromised on 'Christy' (not Christina or Christine) and so it was.

Is your father a Danish citizen? If not, this makes no sense, because the law only applies if at least one parent is a Danish citizen.

Not to mention that it begs the question of why your mother didn't just correct the doctor's mis-hearing.

On second though, I apologize for my last posting. That's your family's story, and it's not my place to question it. I'm sorry.

No offense taken, KT, an honest question...

My dad was an American, but wasn't listed on the birth certificate as they weren't married and he was no longer with my mom. Therefore, they probably assumed it was a Danish man. However, as for correcting the mistake, I think it was a matter of linguistics -- Mom spoke very little Danish, and probably wasn't exactly very coherent and logical at the time, having just given birth :)

The parent's have a very romantic story, if you want to read it... they are back together again after 30 years...

http://members.fortunecity.com/green...hotoalbum.html