What's in a Name?

Every so often, I am reminded why I am so fortunate to live in the United States of America.  As I perused the headlines yesterday, I came across this item.

To make a long story short, read this:

In New Zealand, parents have to run by the government any name they want to bestow on their baby.

Among the names proscribed on a list published each year are:

Lucifer
Christ
Messiah

I will grant that these names are not run of the mill and unlikely to be requested by prospective parents. And I am sure the New Zealand government has nothing but good intentions in requiring all baby names to be approved by them. After all, some people might unknowingly (or knowingly) inflict great psychic pain by giving their child some seemingly innocuous name. Like "Ima" if the last name is "Hogg." That's an old joke, an urban myth, if you will. I am sure none of you would do such a thing.

Still, I knew a Sandy Glenn. And a couple of Herberts... but no "Lucifer."