Should parents be able to name their children anything they like?

Updated: 3:53PM Wednesday February 4, 2009

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A Bay of Plenty baby will always know where she comes from regardless of where she travels in the future.

The baby girl who was born at Tauranga Hospital on January 11 has been given the name Zealand-New by her grandmother Sharron Te Moni.

The little girl's full name is Zealand-New Sharron Phyllis Atareta Davoren.

Should parents be able to name their children anything they like? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:

Sharon New Zealand (Hunterville)
Wednesday February 4, 2009 Actually the only part I didnt think of untill the letter arrived from the deed poll office was it came addressed to Miss new zealand.

It has given numerous people much mirth and shows my loyalty to Our Beautifull Country.
Is there anyone else out there who has changed their surname to New Zealand?

Sharon New Zealand (Hunterville)
Wednesday February 4, 2009 I think parents have the right to name their children whatever they like. If the child doesnt like it they can request their parents change it, OR when they turn 18 they can change it themselves. There is such a thing as a Deed Poll Office where for a fee you can pretty much choose whatever name you like and as you can see I have used it to change my name in 1998 to Sharon New Zealand.

I kept Sharon as my parents did name me that and I like it, I dropped my middle name and it cost me $75 and for the following reason. My grandmother Rhona Esma Crombie/Bailey was born into the Exclusive Brethren Religious Sect and she refused to tell us who our bloodline Grandfather was (My father Eddie and his brother Gordon had the same father) so I grew up with the adopted family name of Gabolinscy, which was Rhona's 2nd Husband Norris's name. It means nothing to me, and talk about being teased, That name was hell to grow up with.

I wanted a name that was True to Me. I was born here and I love the place. If anyone knows who my real Grandfather is/was Id love to know. She died without ever telling us although I did ask her when I was 15, she slapped my face and told me it was none of my business.

Carolyn (Maketu)
Monday January 19, 2009 I feel sorry for the child with a name like that, Don't these people think of the time when the child grows up! People can be cruel. maybe the child if not happy and is getting flak might change it by deed poll?

Fiona Mc (Mt Maunganui)
Thursday January 15, 2009 "Bucklands Beach" said it all really and I couldn't agree more. What a great thing to celebrate! 4 kids at 20, conveniently a beneficiary because she and the father (of all 4) don't "live together" - the laugh is on us taxpayers. And yes like too many others we hear of, it's a stupid name that will only result in ridicule for this poor child.

Sans (Manurewa)
Wednesday January 14, 2009 I think its just stupid to name a child such a silly name. Obviously it will be shortened to Sharron eventually as this poor child will not be able to cope with the teasing she will get at school.

On a different note, the article says the mother is a beneficiary, a mother of four and her and the father live apart? wtf? whats that about? so she can collect the benefit? somethings not right there. just my opinion/observation.