Blaer Bjarkardottir (left) & her mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, in Reykjavik, Iceland, Dec. 30, 2012 (©Anna Andersen/AP)

Iceland relents, rules teen can legally use her given name

1/31/2013

Try naming your baby Apple or Aleph in Iceland, and you'll have more than the tabloid press harassing you. That's what's happened to 15-year-old Blaer Bjarkardottir (told you you wouldn't guess it). Her name sounds more mainstream than Icelandic singer Björk or billionaire entrepreneur Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, but since it's not included in the country's registry of 1,853 approved girl names, she can't use it. Sick of being referred to as "Stulka," or "girl," on all official documents, she's suing the state for the right to use her beautiful given name, which means "light breeze." So far Iceland has rejected pleas for Magnus, Satania and even Carolina (there's no "c" in the Icelandic alphabet), although it has allowed Elvis. 

UPDATE: A Reykjavik District Court has ruled that Blaer may legally use her given name. "I’m glad this is over … Finally I’ll have the name Blaer in my passport," she said. [Source]

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