Editors Blog

Number 16 Bus Shelter is one of several barmy first names allowed by New Zeland registrars along with Midnight Chardonnay and Violence, though they did stop short of Sex Fruit and Fish and Chips for twins.

This Kiwi name nightmare came to light after the authorities, suffering a rare outbreak of common sense, banned the name Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. family court judge said the name "makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap."

Of course we've been here before. Dead old rocker Frank Zappa named his daughter Moon Unit and his son Dweezil, while David and Angie Bowie named their son Zowie. And of course we've had Apple Martin and River and Leaf Phoenix plus the appalling Peaches and Pixie. NB: The real Phoenix family name was Bottom.

This may be OK in celeb circles where the abnormal is the norm, but it won't help when it comes to getting a job in regularville where it's likely that someone with a daft first name may well not make the interview cut on that fact alone.

It would never happen in France or Italy. There, there are rules on what first names may be used. and you're pretty much stuck with saints. And, from a PC HR let's show discrimination le port point of view, surely that's a practice that should be adopted here.

Personally I think we should all be allowed to choose our own names from the age of 16 - from an approved list of course. Satsuma Charlton is appealing don't you think?