Published: 20 Oct 09 13:44 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22766/20091020/
Swedish tax authorities have decided to continue their fight to bar a Stockholm-area mother from naming her child Token.
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Skatteverket is indeed wasting our skattepengar.
Actually it is probably more synonymous with what you would call the only minority group representative in a film. Or something you spend in arcade game establishments.
They should be stepping in to stop stupid names being assigned to children though. As greecee61 mentions. Apple and Peaches etc are only going to cause emotional issues for the kid later.
I mean look at what happened in New Zealand - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6937327.stm
Poor kid
Moreover, kids are not toys to please their parents. The kid is going to be a mature person in the future and he will have to live with the Swedish meaning of Token rather than its English meaning. The mother can keep a dog for that purpose and please herself n her English buddy !
I do think somebody has to step in when parents go beyond the realms of stupidity when naming their children. It isn't fair to the poor child when she has to write down (and remember) the 11 names of the Chelsea football team on any offical forms. Plus there is the issue of other kids finding it hilariously amusing and taking the pee out of the poor kid for all childhood.
It's bad enough to go through school with a name that rhymes with something amusing, let alone actually having a stupid name. I don't think it is wrong for parents to be creative and try new names or the such like, but when a child is to be named something clearly stupid like Token (I mean seriously, what?!), someone needs to look after the interests of the poor kid. "Oooh what's your middle name...?" "er...Token..." "Buwahahahhahaa"
I don't think "Fifi Trixiebelle, Heavenly Hirani Tigerlily, Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa or Little Pixie Geldof would have been too unhappy if someone had stepped in and stopped those abominations. If people go beyond the realms of stupidity then someone does need to say hey, think about the poor kid here!
I am british and think it is an insulting name. It is not à gift, the dictionary states " a thing that you give which expresses your feelings or intentions, although it might have little practical effect" - hardly an affectionate name for à child.
And kids aren't all as evil as you guys seem to remember. Sure, some can be. But the kids that are mean will find something to be mean about no matter what, and dealing with that is part of life and growing up for everyone, both made-fun-of kids and the ones that make fun of others (although usually we all do both at some point in our childhoods or even adult lives).
I think the limit should be drawn at the obscene. Nobody should be named Vagina or Clitoris, for instance. But as for Token, it's her middle name and she might actually love the special meaning that her parents meant for her.
And to me token is not a positive name either. When I hear token I think of a fruit basket given to your coworker as a token of your appreciation or of a token black person in a TV show.
It's apparent that these people are not native Swedish speakers and I'm guessing they're not native English speakers either. If they want a similarly crazy name why not go for Award, Tribute or Legacy? Or Present if they really want to get literal. These names would be allowed, some maybe with some convincing. Naming your child a nutter won't be allowed though.
@kenny8076: Is Kenny supposed to rhyme with skinny? And I don't believe the tax authorities handle cases of rape or housing and job issues. But I realise this is a common slur tactic. :)
We live in a crazy world, its surprising to me that that some government official of no moral-standing can decide what name one can chose for a child.
You all say Apple and Peach but in the old days, people were called Dick and Fanny on a regular basis.
You should go to Thailand, people are called, Pepsi, Phone, Pan Rocky etc...
People should be able to do what they like. Their choice, not the nosey general public!!!
Not even Stalin decided what people were allowed to name their children, did he?
The name is not one of the best I must admit - but that is my opinion just like everyone else has one. Bottom line the child is not mine. If the child dislikes her name she can always have ti changed legally.
hmmm pretty interesting ... thanks for the info.
Us of A ... thats so cutee :)