Court rules girl has right to use her given name
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) - A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities.
A court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used. It means "gentle breeze."
The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.
Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.
In Blaer's case, her mother said she learned the name wasn't on the register only after the priest who baptized the child later informed her he had mistakenly allowed it.
"I had no idea that the name wasn't on the list, the famous list of names that you can choose from," Bjork Eidsdottir said in an interview earlier this month, adding she knew a Blaer whose name was accepted in 1973.
Bjork Eidsdottir had fought for the right for the name to be recognized. Blaer told the court she had no problems with her name.
Given names are even more significant in tiny Iceland that in many other countries: Everyone is listed in the phone book by their first names. Surnames are based on a parent's given name. Even the president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, is addressed simply as Olafur.
Blaer had been identified as "Stulka" - or "girl" - on all her official documents, which led to years of frustration as she has had to explain the whole story at the bank, renewing her passport and dealing with the country's bureaucracy.
Her mother's suit marked the first time someone challenged an Icelandic names committee decision in court.
A court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used. It means "gentle breeze."
The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.
Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.
In Blaer's case, her mother said she learned the name wasn't on the register only after the priest who baptized the child later informed her he had mistakenly allowed it.
"I had no idea that the name wasn't on the list, the famous list of names that you can choose from," Bjork Eidsdottir said in an interview earlier this month, adding she knew a Blaer whose name was accepted in 1973.
Bjork Eidsdottir had fought for the right for the name to be recognized. Blaer told the court she had no problems with her name.
Given names are even more significant in tiny Iceland that in many other countries: Everyone is listed in the phone book by their first names. Surnames are based on a parent's given name. Even the president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, is addressed simply as Olafur.
Blaer had been identified as "Stulka" - or "girl" - on all her official documents, which led to years of frustration as she has had to explain the whole story at the bank, renewing her passport and dealing with the country's bureaucracy.
Her mother's suit marked the first time someone challenged an Icelandic names committee decision in court.
It is me or is the mom kind of hot?
 @Jim330rifle Is it me, or is it irrelevant whether there are pretty women in the world?
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Ok, someone has to say it... I think that KATU posted the article as more of a "lack of cultural diversity" piece. The fact that a country is still rather homogeneous and has tight controls on immigration and its historic cultural identity bothers a lot of people (especially here in self-loathing-white-guilt Portland). It seems that the push is to have no borders and no more homogeneous countries or cultures. We have been watch the European countries cultures erode after decades of loosely controlled immigration. France, Germany, England, all becoming empty shells of what they once were. It became obvious when they went to the Euro and discarded their individual, culturally rooted currencies.
Some people say that's bad while other say that it is a good thing. What seems to be demonized though is any country that demonstrates concern about maintaining their cultural identity, especially if it is white and European.
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Have at it.
i use to work with Mr.Balls
She has an awesome name!
still the best name of anybody I ever met was a highschool teacher I had named Mr. Head, first name Richard. we picked on that poor guy so much I would almost feel bad if he wouldn't have lived up to it.
 @franksbeans I had a supervisor once named Dick Short didn't help him much when he had to fill out a form that had last name, first
 @OrThinker  @franksbeans So he wasn't a Richard?  Short, Richard doesn't seem so terrible ..
 @OrThinker  @franksbeans I worked for a company that had a sales consultant come in by the name of Dick Warn.
I think names should be temporary at birth subject to change at will of the named. Too many kids are given wierd names that cause teasing and embarassment. "Moon Unit" might be happier being Bob or Joe, but it would be his choice.
 @OCJohn You can change your name in court at 18 years of age.
 @OCJohn You're probably thinking of Dweezil.....her brother.
 @OCJohn Moon unit was a girl
In some cases, I can't name the specific ones because I will be accused of profiling or worse, some type of rule should be made in  naming kids.  When the kid can't even pronounce the name their parents gave them, let alone spell it, something should be done.  Although, upon hearing some of these names, a description of the person isn't necessary, which makes it easier to put out an all points bulletin.
Definitely we can guess on some of these names, even if mispronounced or mispelt by the single parent giving birth!
Yup! Definitely of interest to those in the KATU broadcast area!
@jpk....do you own a dog? does it cower in a corner when you walk by?
Had dogs in the past. They were cute and the kids and I enjoyed having them around. Now, I wouldn't have an animal unless I could claim them as dependents on income tax returns.
 @jpk I've been to Iceland 2x, planning a 3rd. I live in Portland. So yes, this was of interest to this KATU News reader. :-P
@SkyGuy79 @jpk Likewise, I am from Iceland so it's very interesting to me! ;)
Great that you've been there several times, but are you planning on naming a child there?
Seems like a no brainer to me. Glad you waisted thousands of dollars trying to figure that one out.
HAHAHA NO YOU CANNOT CALL THIS PERSON, THIS! how DARRREEEE YOU!
 @MustacheRide What?
It soon will be like this in the US. I re-cahnged my name back to my birth name..it created a lot of issues..I found my biological parents, found out about all the lies that lead up to my adoption, and Well the state is not a happy camper.. Oh and to Washington State, Who th hell are you to say I ca no not have my Photo Album? Your not getting it, It is my Personal property. NOT YOURS! Good job to mom for hiding this from the state .
@lee986321....don't they limit how much time you can spend on the internet there at the group home?
 @Solipsist01 That wasn't a very nice thing to write.
 @lee986321 Yep losing your freedom one law at a time...
Now I know where Oregon Officials go to work when they leave here.
 @Pointblank except that they make so much money on Pers they actually never work again if they ever did
 @Pointblank And here I thought it was the people from KATU forums that went to work there...
Man, you nailed it on that one.
It is becoming apparent that minding ones own business is becoming an exception and not the rule. Whether it is a government entity or Joe Shmo. Kinda like common sense among the populace, where'd that bad boy run off to?
@HarryReams Common Sense did not run off to someplace. Sadly, I must report that he died quite some time ago. Here is a link to one of his many obituaries:
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http://northdallasgazette.com/2011/06/22/obituary-of-common-sense/
...and we thought OUR gov't was intrusive..! Â Â :-)
Only in a nanny state. If I want to name my kid Yashenawanadruggeduphoocker I should be allowed to do that.
 @RalphCramden PRICELESS!
 @RalphCramden Look Ralph, if you're going to write a post like that during the morning hours, warn me, would you? There's coffee everywhere now, and, I may have ruined my keyboard.
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Good day to you sir.
 @Torino_v2  @RalphCramden I think Ralph owes several people a keyboard at this point :)
@brendan @Torino_v2 @RalphCramden I have had a coffee proof one, $47.99 at Costco after sale price. So Mr. Ralph didn't owe me any thing...I have to thank you two for my New Year laught :)
 @Torino_v2  You're so right - that racist name IS hilarious!
 @gofigure  @Torino_v2Â
How the hell did you get racist out of that?
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It would appear you are a racist if you can glean racism out of a name.
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My guess is that if someone observes a "black cloud" in the sky, doesn't like "black" cars, doesn't like Mexican music, doesn't like Chinese food, or dislikes rap they are racist.
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You really are pretty pathetic in your personal hunt to try and find racism in every statement.
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All you do is cheapen the word racist that at this point is already so cheap that it means nothing. What are you going to do when you run out of words to dilute the meaning of?
@gofigure@Torino_v2
So a slightly oblique reference to prostitution is an ethnic jibe in your book? I donât see it myself, even when I try reading it backwards and forward. Could you perhaps explain to this simple minded person the perspective you drew upon?
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Yashen, Yashan, Yoshon are hebrew words, I am not sure where you thought these words came from.Â
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I am not so sure I even care.
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 @Torino_v2Â
Sorry dude. I guess a disclaimer is appropriate.....8-}
 @Torino_v2  @RalphCramden well maybe you should look at those new water proof ,spill proof Keyboards, they have came down in price :)
Drip dry!