An Australian journalist, Kirsten Drysdale, recently entered the joyous phase of newborn parenthood, celebrating the birth of her third child with her husband Chris. However, there’s an unusual twist.
Her son’s official name is “Methamphetamine Rules.”
Despite strict regulations against inappropriate names, this particular one slipped through the New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages monitoring system.
The Registry later stated to news.com.au that they had made efforts to fortify their system to prevent future such lapses.
But the bigger question remains: Why would Drysdale choose such a name in the first place?
The TV presenter from Mackay had been working on a segment for the ABC’s WTFAQ show, which delves into viewers’ intriguing questions. One recurring query was about the legality of baby names.
During her research for the upcoming segment, a then-pregnant Drysdale wanted to understand the default name given by the Registrar if an initial name choice is declined.
Despite her attempts, Drysdale couldn’t get a straightforward answer. So, seizing the moment, she decided to experiment by choosing a name she believed would be declined.
Drysdale remarked to news.com.au, “We assumed ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ would be rejected. We wanted to see what alternative the Registrar would pick. It was just a quirky way to find the answer.”
To her astonishment, the unusual name was swiftly approved online. The realization hit hard when the official birth certificate arrived, featuring ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ as the baby’s name.
Drysdale expressed her disbelief, speculating whether someone might have mistaken “Methamphetamine” for a Greek name or whether it was an automated oversight.
Fortunately, the Registrar acknowledged the oversight and immediately assured a change to the baby’s name. Drysdale has opted not to disclose her son’s genuine name publicly but confirmed it’s far removed from any illicit substance references. She joked that sharing this story would be a memorable gift for her son’s 21st birthday.
A representative for the NSW Registry emphasized the anomaly of this situation and stated their commitment to preventing such occurrences. The representative also noted that while names remain on the register indefinitely, the Registrar assists Drysdale in this exceptional situation.
In Australia, offensive names or those against public interest are not allowed. This policy includes swear words, inappropriate terms, and specific official titles. Despite the rules, names are usually assessed individually by registrars.
