Would You Sell Naming Rights to Your Baby?

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

11 Jul 2008 05:19 PM

One of those cute parenting e-mail that goes around talks about all the things you get for your money when you have a child (as well as the cost involved). One point was that you get naming rights. If you want to name a human being "Sassafras Major Chicken" you can. And you can do it legally, provided it is your own child.

Recently in the news is the story of one couple who are selling the rights to naming their first-born child to the highest bidder. Originally the couple, who are from Orlando, agreed to sell the naming rights to a local radio station as part of a promotional contest in which listeners where asked call in with the most interesting thing to trade in exchange for $100 in free gas.

When the baby is born in October, it will come into the world greeted by the name forevermore as "Dixon and Willoughby Partin," with the "and" included as part of the legal name. But the story doesn't end there. When friends of the couple found out about the deal, they offered $300 for the naming rights, presumably to keep the poor child from being scarred for life.

The additional offer seems to have sparked something in the unborn baby's father who sees this naming rights thing as a great opportunity. The couple now has the naming rights available on the open market. Can you imagine what might happen? How about little baby "McDonalds" or "Budweiser?" Maybe the baby could be named "Say No to Obama" or "No Way McCain?" The possibilities are endless, and in my mind so is the deluded judgment of some parents. The life of a child is so sacred, and a baby should be allowed to come into the world with a name that is carefully chosen by the parents, not offered for sale.

I hope the parents will set aside some of the money they make for some good quality therapy.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Mary Ann Romans (26791) 12 Jul 2008 11:05 AM

I would have a hard time trusting that a positive name would come out of the whole affair.