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Australian journalist Kirsten Drysdale is currently living in a bubble of neonatal bliss, having recently welcomed her third child with husband Chris.
There’s just one problem.
Her son’s legal name is Methamphetamine Rules.
The Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages in New South Wales, Australia, let the name slip through the cracks during the submission process, although offensive terms are banned.
A spokesperson told news.com.au they have since “strengthened” their system to prevent this from happening again.
OK, mistakes happen, but why would Drysdale name her child Meth to begin with?
The Mackay-born TV presenter was working on a story for the ABC. WTFAQ program, which aims to investigate the answers to viewers’ burning questions.
“What can I legally name my baby?” » came up regularly.
While researching the story, which will air Wednesday at 9 p.m., Drysdale, then heavily pregnant, was trying to decipher the default name the registrar gives a child if the parents’ first submission is rejected.
She didn’t receive a clear response from the government agency’s media team, and as she was about to give birth, Drysdale decided it was the perfect time to take matters into her own hands. in hand.
“We asked ourselves, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted? Drysdale tells news.com.au.
“We thought the methamphetamine rules would surely be defeated, and when they are, we will be able to know what name the registrar chooses.
“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to that question.”
Imagine Drysdale’s horror when his first online submission listing his son’s fake name was approved “very quickly.”
A few weeks later, Drysdale received a real boost when the official birth certificate arrived in the mail, with “Meth Rules” listed as his son’s first name.
“I don’t know how it happened,” Drysdale said. “I don’t know if someone was overworked or if it was automated somewhere.
“Or maybe they thought meth was a Greek name.
“They didn’t really give us a clear answer.”
Fortunately, the Registrar admitted that this was a rare oversight and that Drysdale’s son’s real “normal” name should be approved any day now.
“Baby Meth’s real name…I’m not releasing it publicly, because I don’t want him to be linked to that,” she laughed.
“It’s a beautiful name and I can tell you it has nothing to do with class A drugs.
“We think it will be a very unique 21st birthday gift to tell him this story.”
A spokesperson for NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages said it had renovated its process as a result of the situation, in a bid to ensure such names do not slip through the cracks.
They added that names registered at birth remain on the register “forever, even if the name is formally changed”. However, in these “highly unusual” circumstances, the Registrar helped Drysdale correct the name.
“The Registry has since strengthened its processes in response to this very unusual event,” the spokesperson continued.
“The vast majority of parents do not choose a name for their newborn that is obscene, offensive or contrary to the public interest.”
Generally, names banned in most states and territories in Australia are those that are offensive or contrary to the public interest.
Swear words, sexual acts and insults of all kinds are also on the blacklist, as are official titles such as Doctor, Queen, King and Prime Minister.
Although there are clear restrictions, individual registrars judge names on a “case by case” basis.
WTFAQ airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ABC TV and ABC View.
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