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ArchivesRe: Rules about female/male names in different countries
in reply to a message by Ylva
Name laws are very strict in Germany, you don't have the right to invent names as in the US f.ex. (But of course, once some invented name has been used in the US or elsewhere in the world, you have the right to use it as well... makes sense doesn't it ... )
Likewise it has to be clear through the name alone whether the person is female or male. There are a few unisex names that have established themselves, mostly imported (a lot from France for example) - in that case you have to chose a second name which makes the gender clear.
It also depends a lot on the person of the state which fills out the birth certificate. Some of them will refuse "Kim" as a male name and others will allow it.
"Andrea" is another problem case, in Germany it is strictly female, but in Swiss or Italian it is male, therefore in Switzerland at least, you always had to use a second name.
I hope this explanation is clear :) I think the laws in Germany are too strict. But then in the US they aren't strict enough ;)
Likewise it has to be clear through the name alone whether the person is female or male. There are a few unisex names that have established themselves, mostly imported (a lot from France for example) - in that case you have to chose a second name which makes the gender clear.
It also depends a lot on the person of the state which fills out the birth certificate. Some of them will refuse "Kim" as a male name and others will allow it.
"Andrea" is another problem case, in Germany it is strictly female, but in Swiss or Italian it is male, therefore in Switzerland at least, you always had to use a second name.
I hope this explanation is clear :) I think the laws in Germany are too strict. But then in the US they aren't strict enough ;)
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