Naming a baby is a huge responsibility. Parents take a lot of things into consideration when choosing their child’s name, and for a lot of people, uniqueness is a huge part of their baby name decision. No one wants their kid to be one of 10 other people in the class with the same name , but sometimes parents choose a baby name that raises eyebrows.
Take Australian journalist Kirsten Drysdale, who decided to give her newborn baby a name we have never heard before. His name, “Methamphetamine Rules,” shocked many people, except those who were supposed to be paying attention, Drysdale said. Offensive names are against the law in Australia, but somehow, Methamphetamine Rules made it to his birth certificate.
Drysdale works for Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
@denmouran Out of all the babies names you can choose they decide to choose the name meth #babyname #baby #choose #names #choice ♬ original sound - N3ro
As a seasoned journalist, she decided to test it herself.
Drysdale was set to give birth to her son and decided on Methamphetamine Rules as a clever moniker. She was confident that the crazy name would never make it through the channels, and she would be stopped and asked to name him something else. Drysdale told Australian website news.com.au about her little scheme.
“We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted? Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses,” she reportedly said.
It was just a joke.
@baldentertainmentnetwork #baby #mom #name #son #foryou ♬ Drift Night - Alfianie
Drysdale said it was just a little light-hearted fun, but she soon realized it was no laughing matter. When she checked the online submission, all the details were as she had submitted. Weeks later, she got the hard copy of his birth certificate in the mail. To say she was shocked is an understatement.
“I don’t know how it slipped through,” Drysdale said. “I’m not sure if someone was overworked, or if it was automated somewhere. Or possibly, maybe they thought Methamphetamine was a Greek name. They haven’t really given us a clear answer.”
The Registrar said it was a mistake.
“It’s a beautiful name and I can tell you has nothing to do with class A drugs,” she said. She plans to keep the story to herself for now and tell him when he turns 21.
No names like Meth’s will be slipping between the cracks anytime soon.
I know the story about my baby being voted the world’s cutest baby is hogging all the headlines at the moment BUT BOY do we have a more great stuff on the show for you tonight: pic.twitter.com/6vfyhM6PCq — Kirsten Drysdale (@KirstenDrysdale) September 20, 2023
A spokesperson for NSW Births, Deaths, and Marriages told the New York Post it reviewed its processes to prevent any further naming mishaps. Most parents don’t name their babies after things like drugs, which may account for the oversight.
“The vast majority of parents do not choose a name for their newborn baby that is obscene, offensive, or contrary to the public interest,” a representative said.
