Australian Mom Names Her Baby ‘Methamphetamine Rules”

Think of the most outrageous name imaginable. Chances are you wouldn't have landed on "Methamphetamine Rules." Well, that's exactly what Kirsten Drysdale, an Australian journalist with ABC, decided to call her child.

While pregnant, Drysdale was working on a story about the government's role in approving baby names when she was having her own child.

In Australia, certain jurisdictions prohibit names that contain things like sexual slurs, curse words, and other names which could be offensive. This led Drysdale to wonder what would happen if a chosen name is deemed inappropriate. Would the government assign a default name, or is there a rejection process?

Drysdale attempted to reach out to the government office in charge of making the decision. But she received no response.

Intrigued, Drysdale decided to put the system to the test.

She, along with her partner, concocted the name "Methamphetamine Rules," fully expecting it to be rejected. Their goal? To see what the official response would be and potentially uncover the government's backup naming protocol.

Instead, the New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages surprised everyone by accepting the name. Drysdale received the official birth certificate weeks later, leaving her speechless. The lighthearted experiment had taken an unexpected turn.

The registrar's office responded to the mistake in local media, calling it "highly unusual." They assured the public that their approval process was being revamped to prevent similar situations.

“The Registry has since strengthened its processes in response to this highly unusual event,” the registrar spokesperson said. “The vast majority of parents do not choose a name for their newborn baby that is obscene, offensive or contrary to the public interest.”

Thankfully, Drysdale and her partner were able to get their son's name changed. She remains tight-lipped about the new name, simply stating it's a normal name with no connection to drugs.

So, the next time you're brainstorming baby names, remember: there might be more to it than just picking a cute moniker. But hey, at least you can (hopefully) avoid a viral news story!