Raise your hand if you know (or are!) an Aryaveer,Ahana, Samaira, Qutdsiya, Hridhaan, Dhairyav or Akaay. And don’t hate your parents. They grew up with Rahuls, Rohits, Nehas, Aditis, Salmans and Kirans. All they wanted was a name that would make their kid stand out. How were they to know that every other parent wanted the same thing?
Parents globally have been picking unusual names, hoping it offers their child an edge. Japanese parents have named their children Akuma (Devil) andHaato (Heart) since the 1990s. In December 2023, the Japanese set down new stipulations in the Family Register Law that restricts parents from giving their kids kira-kira (shiny, flashy) names. The decree, which goes into effect in two years, requires all first names to be pronounced the way they are read – no wordplay, no outlandish puns.
Russia passed a bill in 2017, prohibiting parents from registering baby names that included numerals, symbols, obscene words, titles or abbreviations. It’s a response to babies being named Air Traffic Controller, Lexus, and Lettuce.
India has no laws when it comes to naming children. It means that our unconventional names are as diverse as our common ones. See how some Indians have given theirs the live, laugh, love treatment.
Denne historien er fra March 02, 2024-utgaven av Brunch.
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Denne historien er fra March 02, 2024-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Staying well within range
Driving from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar in an XC40 Recharge at night means going against the odds but it's not dangerous
Forget demure, forget mindful
Women are expected to dress their age. But why should arbitrary numbers dictate anyone's choices? Wear what you want, when you want
Bubbling under, boiling over
The year's best food yet, from Bandra to Seoul, from old names and new, from starters to afters
The new spin doctors
Come for the hooping, stay for fire poi, dapostar, leviwand and more. India's newest subculture blends art and athletics, meditation and showmanship, public and private. And it looks great on the 'gram
Shall we put a label on this?
What is high fructose corn syrup? Is red dye good? Dieticians and nutritionists break down the confusing stuff we see on food labels
Pho heaven's sake, explore!
There's more to Vietnam than the Golden Bridge or Ha Long Bay. Discover limestone cliffs, rice terraces, and local foods that haven't made it to the 'gram
No. Wait. She did what?
These mean girls are self-centred, bratty, and can make your life hell. But they stole the show. Read on, loser. And tell us how it wasssss
Are you seeing spots too?
Jyoti Bhatt's serigraphs use traditional symbols in modern ways, creating art that is slyly clever and full of little stories
Leave us to our own devices
Instead of banning gadgets, restaurants should ban people that are actually disturbing the peace
Siam Siam, but different
The reason Indians feel instantly at home in Thailand is because their mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions so closely mirrors our own, creating a comfort zone abroad