by Jennifer M
(Currents April 2001, Children's Corner Column)

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet . . . ."
  (--Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Act II, Scene II)

Too bad the German Civil Registry (Standesamt) authorities are not more familiar with Shakespeare or they might not be as strict as they are in approving names for children. Many Americans are not aware that the authorities have the last say over what you name your child in Germany.

If your painstakenly and often sentimentally chosen name goes against the German naming codex, your choice can be refused. Exactly this happend to Victoria and Guido W a week after the birth of their daughter on December 29, 2000. They excitedly filled out the paperwork for their baby's birth certificate, entering the name Gillian Jordan, only to receive a phone call a week later informing them that their chosen name was being refused. Guido seemed to take this setback in stride; being German and used to the system, perhaps he was not as surprised as Victoria that the authorities rejected the middle name Jordan, saying it was a male name. Victoria, on the other hand, was not about to give up so easily. After several calls to the Civil Registry Office and to the American Consulate and several calls between the Consulate and the Civil Registry Office, the final word was spoken: Jordan is a male name in Germany and, therefore, cannot be used as a name for a female. The solution: Gillian Hana-Jordan W, which was accepted by the Civil Registry Office and which also suited Victoria and Guido - now Gillian's initials are the same as her father's!

Why does this naming codex exist and what purpose does it serve? I spoke with the Civil Registry Office in Wandsbek and this is the information they gave me. In 1875 the government took over the administration of registering births, deaths and marriages from the church, and with this new responsibility also instituted the naming codex. It exists to prevent parents from giving their children names that would be embarassing or would contradict good taste or would go against custom. The main rule is that male and female names must be kept separate. The only exception, allowed as a compromise with the church, is that boys are allowed to have the middle name Maria, but only if a masculine name precedes (Klaus Maria Brandauer or Rainer Maria Rilke, for example).

The catch is that this naming codex is very subjective - there is no written law governing the naming of children. If a Civil Registry Office authority rejects a name, they must state exactly why. If you find yourself in disagreement with the decision and are unable to convince the authorities to change their minds, your only course of action is to go to court (Amtsgericht). Then the judge will decide, and what he or she says will be final. This codex, however, only applies to German citizens; if neither you nor your partner is German, then you can name your child whatever the laws of your country(s) allow(s).

The moral of the story, which Victoria and Guido learned all to well:

      "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
      Thou art thyself, though not a [Jordan].
      What's a [Jordan]? It is nor hand nor foot
      Nor arm nor face nor any other part
      Belonging to a [baby]. O be some other name."
      (Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Act II, Scene II)