Derbyshire County Council has defended a registrar who warned parents about the issues their son may encounter if they officially name...
Derbyshire County Council has defended a registrar who warned parents about the issues their son may encounter if they officially named him Lucifer 'due to its associations'
A couple won the battle to officially name their son Lucifer
after a registrar reportedly told them he "wouldn't succeed in life"
if they chose it.
Dan and Mandy Sheldon went to register their four-month-old
son last week when the council office was able to reopen after lockdown.
Dad Dan said the pair had been really excited but when they
handed over the forms to name him Lucifer Sheldon, he said the council
registrar at their local office in Chesterfield looked at them in "utter
disgust".
She allegedly tried to bar them from using the name because
it has been used as a moniker for the devil, and 37-year-old Dan told The
Sun : "She told us he would never be able to get a job, and
that teachers wouldn't want to teach him.
"I tried to explain that we are not religious people,
and Lucifer in Greek means 'light-bringer' and 'morning' but she wouldn't
listen."
The official informed them New Zealand had banned parents
from using the name and advised them to register a different official name but
refer to him as Lucifer at home.
The parents were asked to step outside while she checked if
she was allowed the register the name and Dan said it was eventually approved
but through "gritted teeth".
"Honestly, we just thought it was a nice name - a
unique one," he added. "We didn't expect to get so much grief about
it."
Dan, a plant hire company boss, says he was
"gobsmacked" with the response and has lodged an official complaint
over they way he and Mandy were treated.
A Derbyshire County Council spokesperson said: "Our
registrar felt it was her duty to ensure the couple were aware the name Lucifer
had negative connotations and that their son may encounter issues with the name
through his life due to its associations.
“Acknowledging that the couple were unhappy with her advice,
our registrar correctly contacted The General Register (who govern the
Registration Service in England and Wales) to seek their advice.
"They agreed she had acted correctly in advising the
parents, with the best interests of the child in mind.
"Despite the advice, the couple said they still wished
to proceed and name their son Lucifer, and the registrar continued with the
registration.
"We apologise if they were offended but it is the job
of our registrars to advise in these matters as sometimes people are not aware
of certain meanings or associations around certain names."
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