Banned names in Sonora, Mexico

[name_m]Just[/name_m] read this article, which includes the complete list of banned names. Article is in Spanish, so if you don’t read it you’ll have to use google translate or the like. [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] being on the list is what caught my attention. The reason given for it being on the list is to protect children from bullying. I’m against naming laws for the most part, and this is why. A legitimate, beautiful name has been banned because of “bullying.” I’d be interested to read cases of little [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s living in [name_f]Sonora[/name_f], Mexico who have been bullied for their name.

Also on the list is [name_f]Zoila[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]. I’m not sure why, it must be a reference to a person or character I’m unfamiliar with. Can anyone enlighten me?

I think naming laws are a good thing - as they protect a child from being named Batman, Email, Burger [name_m]King[/name_m], Hitler or some other offensive, easily teasable and generally ridiculous moniker.

When countries stipulate the parents can only choose from a list of names - I find that too restrictive, but regulations that appy to individual cases are important to have to protect the children in question.

Right, but there’s that slippery slope from Batman to [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] or [name_f]Zoila[/name_f], as evidenced by this list. There’s nothing offensive about [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]. Whether it lends itself to teasing or ridicule is up for debate, in my opinion.

I agree about [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] being lovely and legitimate - plus, wouldn’t kids just think of [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]? “[name_f]Nyah[/name_f]-nyah, you’re named after a really clever person with super cool magical powers” just doesn’t seem very hurtful, in the event that any kids actually would tease a little [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] anyway.
But there have been a couple of incidences in Australia where I think naming laws have been a good thing - one little boy was almost named ‘4Real’ (if the parents didn’t choose another name before 3 months was up, he’d have been renamed ‘Forreal’). I think there’ve been a few Hitlers who’ve had to be renamed as well - which is a really good thing, imo.

I would be fine if we had some naming rules here in the US like “You can’t name your kid Batman” or “The symbols ’ - _ @ etc do not belong in a childs name unless it is part of the actual name in the culture it comes from…” etc.

Now I don’t agree with a government just arbitrarily deciding “I don’t like the name [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] so I’m going to put it on the banned list with ‘teasing’ as the reason.” I think that’s abuse of power.

I also don’t really agree with:

[name_u]Cheyenne[/name_u]
Gordonia – isn’t this just a girl version of [name_m]Gordon[/name_m]?
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f]
[name_f]Marciana[/name_f]

And as for [name_f]Zoila[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]…I don’t know. I tried to search but can’t really find anything :confused:

Yeah, I’m with you on those names, Dantea. Can’t figure out what’s wrong with them. Gordonia maybe. Gorda or Gordona would be a fat or very fat female.

Can we use symbols in the US? I thought we had to use letters only, but I may have just assumed that.

Half the kids born in my city have names like this – La’Nae , N’vaeh , De’[name_u]Shawn[/name_u], [name_m]Ty[/name_m]'Rone. I’ve also seen La-Nay, [name_f]Bree[/name_f]-[name_f]Anna[/name_f], Ju-li-si (went to high school with this girl. That’s joo-lee-see).

I think it’s special letters and accent marks that aren’t allowed in the US: æ ï ô ù, I’m not sure about ñ. Someone wasn’t allowed to name their son “@.”

I have a friend named Lady [name_f]Di[/name_f], I guess she shouldn’t go to [name_f]Sonora[/name_f]. However, some of the other names are “lol” worthy! It’s probably not just the playground where they are trying to protect these kids-- I don’t think I could hire someone named Scrotum or Benefits…

Hah… Realized Mexico had done it, because I just read an article five minutes ago about forbidding Facebook. Haha. I don’t mind them banning Batman, Burger [name_m]King[/name_m] and Facebook. But I’m mystified where [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and [name_u]Cheyenne[/name_u] come from. Sure [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is in [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], but it existed before HP.

Maybe [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is slang, like [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f] or something.

A perusing of several Spanish websites appears to give the explanation for the banning of the pretty (in my opinion) name “[name_f]Zoila[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]”: Because apparently it sounds to some people like the Spanish phrase: Soy la rota (meaning “I’m broken”).

I don’t think the government should have any business telling people what they can or cannot name their own children.

– [name_f]Nephele[/name_f]

But - even if [name_f]Zoila[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f] sounds like words that mean “I’m broken” - why would that be banned? It does sound a bit depressing, but not enough to be banned! That’s a bit extreme in my opinion… and don’t even start with me on [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]! That is probably the best female literary character [name_u]EVER[/name_u], next to [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f]! Who wouldn’t love to be named after a wonderful, brave, cunning character who saved her best friend’s lives with her intelligence?!? :stuck_out_tongue:

Government officials on a power trip. That’s why I’m opposed to government telling parents what they can and cannot name their kids. People shouldn’t be subject to the aesthetics of someone else on a power trip.

I also discovered that “[name_f]Zoila[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]” is a pun on the Spanish phrase soy la rosa, which translates to: “I Am the [name_f]Rose[/name_f].”

– [name_f]Nephele[/name_f]

Here’s an article in English about it that Appellation Mountain posted on Facebook: Mexican state bans baby names like Rambo, Robocop – Nancy's Baby Names

Some of the names on that list definitely show why naming laws/banning certain inappropriate names is necessary, in my opinion. I pity anyone who has to live with the name Burger [name_m]King[/name_m], Lady [name_f]Di[/name_f] (I love [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Diana[/name_f] and her name, but really?), [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Bond[/name_m]… not to mention Hitler, Virgin, or Panties!

But I agree it’s hard to draw lines- I don’t see anything wrong with [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] or [name_u]Cheyenne[/name_u] myself.

I can see where naming laws would be a good idea, but these are just too restrictive. What’s wrong with [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]? She’s a great character. Parents should have the right to name their kids whatever they want, as long as it’s not offensive or too ridiculous.

I can agree with maybe restricting especially cruel names like Panties (lmao) or Hitler. Otherwise though, I don’t really buy into the idea that an uncommon or unusual name is necessarily an invitation to bullying. I see it mentioned so much on here, but all through my life kids that had strange or “uncool” names didn’t get teased all that much, and if they did, they took it in stride. If anything, I’ve seen more adults make snide comments or judgments about people’s names than any child or teenager. Nothing is going to protect your child from mean people. You just need to help them out and teach them resilience.

I’m all for naming laws, but yeah, this one might be a tad bit restrictive, but I mean it’s not like they limited the parents to only a list of 10,000 names, they just took away a few so I don’t have a huge problem with it. I’m sure no one is going to die because they can’t name their kid [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], most people have a list of names, it’s not like they NEED to use that name, so I don’t have to much of a problem with it… plus I get the teasing thing. I knew two [name_u]Ariel[/name_u]'s who hated their name because they got [name_m]Little[/name_m] Mermaid references all the time.

I don’t believe parents should be able to name their kids whatever they, it’s not fair to the child. Their parents might think it’s cool to have a little Gotham or [name_f]Narnia[/name_f], but that sets the kid up for years of pain, or at least until their 18 and can change it to something more sensible.

I don’t know about anyone else, but when I was 7, I would’ve PAID my parents to name me [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]! [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] was my favourite book & movie then, I’d have loved to be a [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] (or even a [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nn [name_u]Harri[/name_u]/[name_m]Harry[/name_m]!).

I get naming laws, and I support them to an extent - there’s a fine line between [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and Voldemort. Voldemort should 100% be banned, but [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s a Shakespearean creation, and was for hundreds of years before [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] -what’s so wrong with it?

[name_f]Zoila[/name_f] can be spelled [name_f]Zoila[/name_f] or Soila. It means dirt. (soil) I know this because it is my mom’s middle name and we always thought it was strange and mean that her parents would name her that. She is a very wonderful person. Either spelling of the name is NOT a different way to spell the words “soy la”
It just means dirt.

Dirt? Spanish is my first language and I’ve never heard that. Is it slang?