A couple from Britain finally got their wish to name their newborn son what they wanted, after the moniker they chose was initially “forbidden”.
Becoming a parent comes with a host of responsibilities and decisions to make, and choosing a name for your little bundle of joy can be one of the hardest.
Finding a name that perfectly suits your new baby can be tough, with many couples taking months to decide and some names even causing massive disagreements.
However, one couple found that they were almost banned from giving their child the name they’d picked, because it was so controversial it even left the registrar in “utter disgust”.
The couple’s baby name left people shocked. Credit: Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Dan and Mandy Sheldon had a clear vision for what they wanted to call their baby son, but found that others – including the registrar – were not as happy with it.
The couple had gone to register their little boy when he was four months old, once Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, but told The Sun that they were stunned to be met with disdain from the registrar.
Dan explained: “We were really excited to go and get him registered but the woman looked at us in utter disgust. She told us he would never be able to get a job, and that teachers wouldn’t want to teach him.”
So, what was the name that created such a strong reaction?
Well, Dan and Mandy had decided to name their little one Lucifer.
While the name is often associated with the devil, the pair revealed that it also has a much more pleasant meaning.
“I tried to explain that we are not religious people, and Lucifer in Greek means ‘light-bringer’ and ‘morning’ but she wouldn’t listen,” Dan revealed.
The registrar suggested that one less offensive approach might be to give their child a different ‘official’ name but call him Lucifer at home instead.
She also pointed out that the name Lucifer is actually illegal in some places including New Zealand, and is linked to the devil’s angelic name before his fall from grace in Christian theology, meaning it is also prohibited in many Christian-majority countries, including Germany and Switzerland.
The UK’s stance on the name was unclear at the time, so the couple were asked to leave until it could be investigated.
Dan added: “We were gobsmacked with her behavior,” but revealed that the registrar eventually relented and let them have the name they’d originally wanted officially registered on their son’s birth certificate, confirming: “Eventually she did it, but it was through gritted teeth.”
The father said that although the occasion was supposed to be a “joyous” day, ended up being “very hurtful”.
Although the name may strike chills in the spines of the God-fearing, Dan has remained steadfast in their choice of ‘Lucifer’, adding: “Honestly, we just thought it was a nice name… a unique one. We didn’t expect to get so much grief about it.”
Derbyshire County Council also shared a statement on the incident, saying: “We apologize if they were offended but it is the job of our registrars to advise in these matters as sometimes people are not aware of certain meanings or associations around certain names.”
One thing’s for sure, there won’t be too many other ‘Lucifers’ in his school!
