July 10: My Thought for the day - Names

Saw this story today, and wanted to share it you.

HANOI, Vietnam (July 7) - After nearly two decades of ridicule, a father has agreed to change his son's name from "Fined Six Thousand and Five Hundred" - the amount he was forced to pay in local currency for ignoring Vietnam's two-child policy.
Angry he was being fined for having a fifth child, Mai Xuan Can named his son Mai Phat Sau Nghin Ruoi after the amount he was forced to pay - 6,500 dong, or 50 cents, said Dai Cuong village chief Nguyen Huy Thuong.
In 1999, local government officials tried to persuade Can to change the name because the boy was constantly being teased by classmates at school. But Can, a former People's Committee official, refused to back down, Thuong said. They appealed to him again recently, and this time it worked.
"I told him that as his son is growing up, he should have another name - not that weird name - and he finally agreed," Thuong said.
The son, now 19, finally got a new name: Mai Hoang Long, which means golden dragon.

Now, this is an over-the-top case but my thought for day regards names. Why do people feel the need to be creative about naming their children?

I don't understand why people name their children such unusual names. I have heard that they want to instill individuality in their children. I believe that making a child feel individual & special is very important, but this should be done through their activities, accomplishments & nurturing not because their name is off-beat. I understand not wanting to name your child the same thing as EVERYONE else, but don't force them to wear a completely inappropriate moniker. When I hear about celebrities naming their children Apple, Banjo & Pilot Inspektor (just to name a few) it concerns me. So often the people of my country follow celebrity trends in these matters. However, I don't think we can expect to raise stable, well-adjusted kids when we start them off in this way. Most children base their opinions of themselves off the way their peers see them. And let's face it, they probably already have fights at school waiting to happen.

Well, I warned you that you never know what I'll think of next.
Have a great day. Be Good & Stay Real!

~Rebekah~