No dot-com for son, says China

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A registry office has banned a computer programmer in Xian, central China, from giving his son a name with the dot-com suffix, according to a report on Thursday.

The father, Mr Zhao, said there was a good linguistic reason for using Zhao.com as 'com' sounds like the Chinese word kang, meaning 'healthy and safe', said South African news service Independent Online . It reported that the local registry office refused his request because the name was 'unacceptable'.

Mr Zhao is not the first parent to attempt to name their child after a computer term. In February this year, an American named his son version 2.0, according to the BBC. It reported that the father Jon Blake Cusack did not want to name his son 'Junior' or 'II', so instead decided on the name Jon Blake Cusack 2.0.

Cusack 2.0 is joined in version number by Linux creator Linus Torvalds' daughter. Although Torvalds has spared her the permanent suffix 2.0, instead naming her Patricia Torvalds, on his personal Web page he refers to her as Linus v2.0.

Talkback

I think that they should be able to name the children whatever they wish. Since forever, the names have changed in how a second is dealt with. With all the kings and queens, the strange usage of roman numerals, got into the population, and then suddenly JUNIOR was used more for a second, and now if they want a 2.0 in their childrens' names, i think it should be allowed...because it's their kid. Why would it be wrong? There's absolutely no reason.

via Facebook 31 December, 2004 21:32
Reply

Well, that's Communist China for you. I prefer Feudal Japan yourself.

via Facebook 31 December, 2004 22:45
Reply

Thank God for some sanity! At least there was some chinese official who wasn't willing to bow down to some nut who's intent in messing up his kids life from birth!! All the PC brigade who will whinge about civil rights to chose sons name; yep - a agree as long as the parent isn't so self centred that he marks his kid out for ridicule just so he can keep up with the jones or stand out from the rest. they have no right to have kids.

via Facebook 1 January, 2005 16:55
Reply

While that may be your opinion... You have no right to say what is sane or not to a particular person.

This is extending too far, and soon all rights will only be viable within a "culturalized" view i.e. a view that conforms to the public.

That is a form of oppresion, and continuing to allow even small and ridiculous (I do agree that the name is ludicrous) cases like this will do nothing but further elevate the problem.

In a hundred years we may all be forced to pick from a specific pool of names if that sort of logic is applicable. Or we may not be able to paint our houses or cars the color we want.

A man should be able to name his child whatever he wants. Period.

via Facebook 4 January, 2005 07:14
Reply

Maybe we should just follow the traditional Balinese way of naming most male children: first, second, third.... Saves a lot of hassle don't you think?

via Facebook 5 January, 2005 17:33
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