Supposedly, here in Argentina, when you have a baby you have to choose his or her name from a list of "approved" names (mostly Catholic saints). This explains why I have met at least five Augustins in three months. My name, Julia, is very familiar to people here- I guess there was a Saint Julia. Juliana and Julieta are also popular.
I haven't met any Summers, Karas, or Dylans.
If you want to name your baby something different, you have to get approval from the government. If you are a foreign national, you have to have a letter from your embassy stating that the name you are choosing for your child is "common" in your native country.
What I think is interesting about this is the original reason behind the law (I guess it goes back for quite a long time)- an attempt to control the culture- and I think not just of the culture that they are trying to maintain, but the cultures that they are trying to keep out.
Indiginous names are not on "the list."
A holler out to my Aunts Mareda, Wynona, and Mozelle (may she rest in peace.)
A weekend jaunt to ancient Lima
9 years ago
1 comment:
Indigenous names are in the list, like Eyen, Nahuel or Miyen.
Law was intended to limit the madness of some parents naming their kids Table Gonzalez or Boca jrs. Lopez, as it happens in Uruguay.
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