« Reply #415 on: Tuesday 27 September 22 21:00 BST (UK) »
At one time in the 20th century if a Registrar didn't agree to the couple's odd choice of names for their baby he would insist they choose a different one. That news didn't stay hidden in the registrar's office; it often found its way into the daily newspapers.
In the mid 60s, in Germany, the registrar had 2 lists - 500 boy's names and 500 girl's names. Not on the list = not registered. At that time, there were many hundreds of thousands of Turkish "guest workers" and their families living there. Practically all the baby boys were called Michael, because Mohammed was not on the list.
Regards
Chas
I didn't know about the Michaels, but I did know that those who had a permit to work were allowed a permit to live in the country. Once the work ended they had no right to live in a house or the country. Then one year Germany was hit by a very bad slump in fortune and there was no work. Forty-one year old people with Turkish heritage were expected to leave the country and go back to a "home" they knew nothing about. I remember the British government was amongst other governments who voted that Germany had to change its law.
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