Plain Jane: Judge Orders Name Change for “Talula Does the Hula”

A New Zealand judge, Rob Murfitt, has taken custody from parents of a nine-year-old girl so that he can chose a better name than Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.” It is clear that these parents should be under psychiatric analysis, but there is an interesting question of whether you can lose custody, even briefly, for picking a bad name.

It is not clear what Tulala Does the Hula From Hawaii is, but she previously went by “K.” Judge Murfitt (a name that could also be reexamined, particularly to remove the superfluous t), cited other names that he finds unacceptable, including Fish and Chips, Yeah Detroit, Keenan Got Lucy, Sex Fruit — which were blocked by public officials under a New Zealand law barring offensive names.

It appears that Yeah Detroit is offensive but not Number 16 Bus Shelter and Violence, which were allowed. (I will not ask the significance of the Number 16 Bus Shelter to the arrival of the child).

it is a good thing that the Lear family named Crystal Chanda Lear outside of New Zealand.

I must admit that Tulula Does the Hula Turley has a nice ring to it, but we went with Madeleine instead.

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