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Icelandic parents face fines for naming their daughter "Alex"

Xinhua, March 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

A pair of Icelandic parents was facing daily fines of 1,437 Icelandic krona (10.5 U.S. dollars) after the authority rejected their application of naming their daughter "Alex," local media reported on Tuesday.

Alex Emma was born in August 2013. Her mother Nanna Thordis Arnadottir said, when registered Alex in Registers Iceland, she was told Alex has never been used as an Icelandic girl's name and should be approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee.

The committee rejected the parents' request several months later by saying there is no history or tradition for Alex being used as a feminine name, although Alex would not violate the Icelandic language structure.

The parents received a notice from the Registers Iceland saying they need to pay fines until the name was approved.

Iceland has strict laws on names which must fit Icelandic grammar, pronunciation rules and tradition.

A similar case occurred in January 2013 when a 15-year-old girl won her right to use the name "Blaer" after a court battle against the authorities.

Arnadottir said she would not accept the committee's decision and has contacted Blaer's mother for help. Endit