Child's Name Rejected

Spanish parents fight for right to name their son 'Wolf' 

New parents Ignacio and Maria are furious after being told that "Lobo" - meaning Wolf – was not an appropriate name for their newborn son. 

Like many new parents, Ignacio and Maria, from the Madrid suburb of Fuenlabrada had already chosen a name for their first son before he made an appearance in the world on July 12.

“We decided some months ago to call him Lobo, because of our love for this beautiful animal and because as a name it is unique and full of character. We want to bring our son up with values such as respect, love, equality, love of animals and nature, justice, kindness,” the baby’s father explained.

But he was informed by the Birth registry in Fuenlabrada that he could not officially name his son Lobo because it “was offensive to the child”.

“After ten days arguing with officials we were then told that it is because Lobo is a common surname and therefore not suitable as a first name,” he writes in the change.org petition calling for support. 

“That does not make sense as many people in this country have first names that match surnames. We think it is unfair that our right to name our son is denied on such criteria.”

The couple also point out that many first names in Spain are also animal names, such as Paloma (Dove), Leon (Lion) and Marta (Martin).

“So what is diffent about Lobo?” they ask.

The couple also argue that the name Wolf, is commonly used in other countries. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart achieved undisputed success with the name, so we can’t understand how Spain has decided it is offensive and could ‘stain’ the life of our beloved son.”

In the petition, that has already been signed by over 2,000 people, the couple ask: “Do you, like us, think it is unfair that the criteria decided by an official has more relevance when naming a child than parents who will educate, guide and love that child for the rest of their life?”


Do you think this couple should be allowed to call their son Lobo?

Comments

José said…
Hi Graham,

The Birth registry has admited the lawsuit of these parents and therefore they can call Wolf their newborn son, as last news.

I don't agree. In my opinion, it's miserable that a child had to suffer when he was at school and his classmates made fun of his name. Then, his parents won't be there to defend him and fight againts his classmates. It's possible that new parents feel proud themselves while their son was suffering bullying.

New parents said that the name of Wolf is the same than Dove, Lion or Martin but neither I agree. Anyway, I can't call my son hyena, snake, lazy, cockroach, savage, earthworm or plague. Government would ban it.

The name of new parents is Ignacio and María and I wonder why didn't they change their name? Mature people can change their name. It's easy. They would call Bear and Mole. In my opinion, children are not object of their parents but they are different person.

Eventually, the surname Wolf is in Spain already and I think that the name Wolf too.

See you.

Graham said…
Good morning José,

I might be on holiday but I still wake up early. You are a man of routine too - Saturday night is blog time.

I like the name "Wolf" and I especially like their reason for giving the child that name:

“We decided some months ago to call him Lobo, because of our love for this beautiful animal and because as a name it is unique and full of character. We want to bring our son up with values such as respect, love, equality, love of animals and nature, justice, kindness,”



The latest news is that the Birth registry has admitted the lawsuit of these parents and therefore they can call their newborn son "Wolf".

I don't agree. In my opinion, it's miserable that a child had to suffer when he was at school and his classmates made fun of his name. Then, his parents wouldn't have been there to defend him and fight against his classmates. It's possible that new parents would feel proud of themselves while their son was suffering bullying.

New parents said that the name Wolf is the same as Dove, Lion or Martin but I don't agree wither. Anyway, I can't call my son hyena, snake, sloth, cockroach, savage, earthworm or plague. The government would ban it.

The names of the new parents are Ignacio and María and I wonder why didn't they change their name? Adults can change their name. It's easy. They should call themselves Bear and Mole. In my opinion, children are not the object of their parents but different people.

The surname Wolf exists in Spain now and I think that the Wolf as a first name will eventually too.

Graham said…
* The surname Wolf exists in Spain now and I think that Wolf as a first name will eventually too.
José said…
Hi Graham,

I wish I could be in Inverness between 9 and 17 degrees. I'm in my village where there are between 14 and 33 degrees now in day, but temperature is down at night and we can sleep very well. About temperature in Madrid it's better we don't talk, you know that it's in the south of Segovia.

I can't play marathon with 30 degrees, if I was in Inverness, I would walk 10 kilometres, at least everyday. I suppose you must be doing races of 20 kilometres in day, although in other side, you may be drinking with drunks of Inverness and you and your friends drunks won't find the way to run.

Please, when you come back, bring us a Government because we have not got even. These politicians aren't in a hurry. There's a lot of heat in Spain. It's curious every party wants to be opposition, but they don't realize that whether there isn't government they can't be opposition.

See you.
Graham said…
Mr Saturday night! King of the blog! I'll reply tomorrow; I'm too drunk tonight LOL
Graham said…
Hello Mr Elm :-)

Blue skies have arrived in Inverness - at last! I should have gone jogging this morning but I was too lazy. My half marathon is this Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed for me.


I wish I could be in Inverness between 9 and 17 degrees. I'm in my village where it is between 14 and 33 degrees now during the day, but the temperature is down at night and we can sleep very well. It is better that we don't talk about the temperature in Madrid; you know that it's in the south of Segovia. (Another double subject mistake.... Madrid it is - WRONG , Madrid is - RIGHT)

I can't do a marathon in 30 degrees, if I was in Inverness, I would walk at least 10 kilometres everyday. I suppose you must be doing races of 20 kilometres a day, although on the other hand, you may be drinking with the drunks of Inverness and you and your drunk friends won't be able to run.

Please, when you come back, bring us a Government because we still don't have one. These politicians aren't in a hurry. There's a lot of heat in Spain. It's curious every party wants to be in opposition, but they don't realize that if there isn't a government, there can't be an opposition.
Montse said…
Hi, dear mates!! I see how you manage to keep this blog alive. Thanks so much you two for that.
Graham, I guess you will have finished your marathon...I hope you are satisfy with your job!
I agree with the idea that the administration has something to say about the name the parents give to her children in order to avoid they can suffer any kind of mockery from the rest of us but, where is the limit of all that?
The name "Wolf" is not usual in Spain but it doesn't seem an offensive name either. In fact, although my granny was named Angela everyone called her "Leona". Strange thing...
Speaking of the heat and summer, I love them. I have to admit that I get feel happier in summer, even though I am working!!! That's why I didn't care to travel to Egypt in July! Hahaha!!
I hope that we can meet after summer... When the temperature has lowered enough to avoid any fight among us!!😂😂
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

I have persisted with the blog for nine years now. If it weren't for Joe or yourself, I think I'd have thrown in the towel by now.

In the end, this couple have been allowed to call their son "Lobo". I kind of like the name.


I agree with the idea that the administration has something to say about the name parents give their children so that they avoid suffering any kind of mockery from the rest of us but, where is the limit?

The name "Wolf" is unusual in Spain but it doesn't seem an offensive name either...

Speaking of the heat and summer, I love them. I have to admit that I feel happier in summer, even though I am working!!! That's why I didn't mind travelling to Egypt in July! Hahaha!!
I hope that we can meet after summer... When the temperature has dropped enough to avoid any fight among us!!


We can arrange our next dinner on Whatsapp.
José said…
Hi dear mates,

This blog is the best creation of Mr. MacInnes and Scottish people, like the whisky, of course. This blog produces culture, while the whisky produces drunks. I prefer culture and another one needs to drink nonstop. If you wake up early on holiday, you must be earnest man, Graham. Who would say it? LOL

It’s good to know you again, Montse. I suppose that if you went to Egypt last July, you would buy life insurance, at least. Did you relax during your holidays? I’m scared you because of thinking only now. In my opinion, you have some genes from your granny Angela (Leona).

This week is the last of August and I don’t know what reason is why I’m thinking in that. It will be because September is after August or it may be because others people are on holidays, I don’t know.

See you.
Graham said…
Hi José,

You'll be glad to know I plan to have a dry month. I had planned to start on the 1st but I had a whisky at the airport and some wine on the plane to calm my nerves. The next day I finished all the beer in the fridge to cheer myself up. So my dry month started yesterday - no more booze until 3rd October. Have faith - I've done it before and I can do it again. :-)



This blog is the best creation of Mr. MacInnes and the Scottish people, like whisky, of course. This blog produces culture, while the whisky produces drunks. I prefer culture and the other one needs to drink nonstop. If you wake up early on holiday, you must be an earnest man, Graham. Who would have though it? LOL

It’s good to hear from you again, Montse. I suppose that if you went to Egypt last July, you would have bought life insurance, at least. Did you relax during your holidays? I’m scared you because of thinking only now. (Not sure what you mean with this comment) In my opinion, you have some genes from your granny Angela (Leona).

This week is the last of August and I don’t know the reason why I’m thinking about that. It will be because September is after August or it may be because other people are on holidays, I don’t know.

Montse said…
Come on, guys! I can tell there is something blue in the air... A little bit of post-holidays syndrome, perhaps? I think it is time we meet again, now that the weather is still warm, isn't it?
Graham, have you started to work yet?
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

We can organize a get-together whenever you want.

I have already started private lessons so getting back into some sort of routine.

Elena said…
I have chosen this article because it has rapidly caught my eye as, from my point of view, it is screwy and makes no sense at all.
It is hardly believable that nowadays things like this take place in our modern society because in previous years there were more limitations than today. I personally think that, as Ignacio and Maria claim, they should be allowed and free to call their soon whatever they wanted to. But, at the same time, I think we should never forget that our name is going to last forever and it is such a crucial and vital decision so as to come up with a name on the spur of the moment.
With this I am not saying that for Ignacio and Maria choosing the name of their soon has been a snap decision because as they mention, they have carefully thought about the characteristics behind the name and what it would represent. That denotes the importance they give to it.
What I mean is that, for example, when I was at school I had a classmate called Cristobal Colon and I personally think that in this case the reason to call him like that was not only because his parents liked the name but also for "making the joke". Sometimes family traditions also play an important role since my friend´s father was also called Cristobal.
Bearing all these considerations in mind, I think the Birth registry in Fuenlabrada should allow them to call him Lobo but I personally wouldn´t call my soon like that because I simply don´t like it. In my opinion, as long as Ignacio and Maria like it, since they are his parents, it should be reason enough to call him like that.
Graham said…
Hi Elena,

In the end, the couple were allowed to name their son "Lobo". I actually like the name and their reasons for giving it to him.

You will like the post on Unfortunate Names:
http://madteachergraham2.blogspot.com.es/2010/02/most-unfortunate-names.html

I wonder if you will get why they are so unfortunate.


I chose this article because it caught my eye as, from my point of view, it is screwy and makes no sense at all.

It is that nowadays things like this take place in our modern society because in previous years there were more limitations than today. I personally think that, as Ignacio and Maria claim, they should be allowed and free to call their son whatever they wanted to. But, at the same time, I think we should never forget that our name is going to last forever and it is such a crucial and vital decision that we should avoid coming up with a name on the spur of the moment.

...


Well done! I hope to see some more comments and maybe even a few tweets. :-)