Maistraatti is requiring a perustelut for our baby's name

[misu]

We chose three names for our baby, of which the first two were accepted, but maistraatti sent a letter asking for a "nimen rekisteröinnin perustelut" for the third name. It's an American name, an uncommon one but also not unheard of. There's no one with this name turning up in the väestörekisterikeskus database, however, which is why my husband thinks they're requiring this.

I have no idea what they're looking for exactly or what I'm supposed to write. Am I supposed to write some sort of defense of my name choice or provide some sort of proof that it's a real name? How? There are people with this name - it's not outlandish or crazy or anything, just uncommon (but then so is her first name but it was accepted because it's Finnish). There was even a Nickelodeon kid's show where the lead character has this same name as her first name. Anyone had this happen before? What am I supposed to say to maistraatti? Ugh, I did not expect this to happen.

[Rip]

Basically you want to make them think that is a reasonable name in your country of origin.

[betelgeuse]

I have no idea what they're looking for exactly or what I'm supposed to write. Am I supposed to write some sort of defense of my name choice or provide some sort of proof that it's a real name? How? There are people with this name - it's not outlandish or crazy or anything, just uncommon (but then so is her first name but it was accepted because it's Finnish). There was even a Nickelodeon kid's show where the lead character has this same name as her first name. Anyone had this happen before? What am I supposed to say to maistraatti? Ugh, I did not expect this to happen.

Because Finnish law requires names to be Finnish.

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1 ... 94#L6aP32b

Exemptions allowed:

• religion
• connection to foreign state and name is acceptable there
• other valid reason

Basically you want to make them think that is a reasonable name in your country of origin.

Exactly.

[misu]

Basically you want to make them think that is a reasonable name in your country of origin.

But how would one do that? There's no US equivalent of etunimitietokanta that I can ask them to search. Am I supposed to give them anecdotal evidence of all the people I know with that name and they'll just believe me? Can I just write down URLs and direct them to mainstream popular US-based baby name websites where the name is listed? Or am I supposed to write down my personal beliefs on why I think it's a reasonable name in my country?

[betelgeuse]

Basically you want to make them think that is a reasonable name in your country of origin.

But how would one do that? There's no US equivalent of etunimitietokanta that I can ask them to search. Am I supposed to give them anecdotal evidence of all the people I know with that name and they'll just believe me? Can I just write down URLs and direct them to mainstream popular US-based baby name websites where the name is listed? Or am I supposed to write down my personal beliefs on why I think it's a reasonable name in my country?

Suggestions:

• Ask the US embassy for a statement
• Ask the people you know to give copies of their IDs that have the name

[CH]

Call the maistraatti and ask what kind of explanation they want?

I would assume it would be enough to explain that although it is an uncommon name, it is in use in your country and give, say, a photocopy (or link) of a list of names with that name listed. But... call and ask.

[betelgeuse]

Are there any celebrities with that name? It's fairly good evidence, I'm thinking.

Celebrities often use "artist" names so they might not be so good evidence about legally acceptable names.

[Pursuivant]

Something along the lines:
"I am an American, and there are people named "Spongebob" in my family."
Should do it...

As for it being a real name... Wikipedia/facebook etc. Googling medical/science publications etc...

[Flossy1978]

My son's first and middle name aren't Finnish. He was born in Finland and is Finnish. We were never questioned.

[Snorri]

My son's first and middle name aren't Finnish. He was born in Finland and is Finnish. We were never questioned.

Wonderful..

[biscayne]

I used to think that this idea of countries having lists of acceptable names for babies was just inteference. However, while working in the maternity hospital in Slovenia, a woman named her twins "Rubber and Pencil" (that's eraser for Americans) perfectly legally as there was no naming law. They introduced a law pretty soon after that. Generally I'd be against the State telling you what you can and can't do in personal matters, but the poor sod of a child has to go around with the name for the rest of it's life......

[Upphew]

I used to think that this idea of countries having lists of acceptable names for babies was just inteference. However, while working in the maternity hospital in Slovenia, a woman named her twins "Rubber and Pencil" (that's eraser for Americans) perfectly legally as there was no naming law. They introduced a law pretty soon after that. Generally I'd be against the State telling you what you can and can't do in personal matters, but the poor sod of a child has to go around with the name for the rest of it's life......

We have some of those funny names here too. Mine Field: http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miina_Kentt%C3%A4

[Pursuivant]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... rules.html

Dunno, but if I was a judge and a kid named "bush shelter 16" came in accused of killing his parents, I'd rule "traffic accident"