A couple has successfully fought to name their baby a controversial name after facing resistance from a registrar.
Naming a child is a significant decision, carrying lifelong implications. It requires careful thought to avoid potential pitfalls. However, one couple, set on their chosen name, encountered unexpected opposition when attempting to register it.
Opinions on the couple’s name choice are split. Some defend the parents, with one commenter saying, “It’s a beautiful name.” Another called it “the coolest name ever,” while a third added, “I love that name.”
Critics, however, were less supportive. “Just because you like a name doesn’t mean it’s best for your child. This feels selfish,” one person wrote. Another remarked, “Why would they choose this for their son? They clearly haven’t considered what he’ll face.”
Dan and Lucifer Sheldon
The couple’s name choice sparked debate online. Credit: ITV
Dan and Mandy Sheldon welcomed their son and, four months later, visited the registrar to record his name. Speaking to The Sun, they shared their excitement, only to be met with “utter disgust” from the registrar when they revealed their choice.
Despite their insistence, the registrar criticized the name harshly. Dan recalled, “She said he’d never get a job and teachers wouldn’t want to teach him.”
Dan and Lucifer Sheldon
Dan and Mandy Sheldon won their fight to name their son a controversial name. Credit: ITV
Dan explained that neither he nor Mandy is religious, noting that in Greek, the name means “light-bringer” and “morning.” Their reasoning was dismissed, with the registrar pointing out that the name is illegal in countries like New Zealand and considered inappropriate in places like Germany and Switzerland, though it is permitted in the UK.
The registrar asked them to step out while she verified the name’s legality. “We were shocked by her behavior,” Dan said. “She eventually registered it, but reluctantly. We just thought it was a unique, nice name. We didn’t expect this backlash.”
Derbyshire County Council responded to the incident, stating to The Sun, “We apologize if the parents were offended. Our registrars are tasked with advising on names, as some people may not be aware of certain meanings or associations.”
Lucifer Sheldon
The couple named their son Lucifer, a name linked to the devil’s angelic past. Credit: ITV
The couple chose the name Lucifer, historically associated with the devil as an angel before his fall, and in modern biblical texts, synonymous with Satan.
Appearing on This Morning with their son, Dan acknowledged the Christian connotations but emphasized their preference for the Greek meaning. “It depends on which part of history you look at,” he said.
Per The Independent, the UK does not ban specific names, though those with obscenities or numerals can be rejected. In contrast, New Zealand, with stricter rules, banned Lucifer in 2013, alongside names like “Christ” and royal titles such as “King” and “Prince.”
