Venezuelan Officials Want To Ban Silly Names

Venezuelan officials are trying to ban parents from choosing wacky names like Superman for their children.
 Such odd names might be turned down by the civil registry if they "expose them to ridicule, are extravagant or difficult to pronounce" or even if they raise doubts about whether a child is a girl or a boy.

The National Electoral Council has laid out the proposal in a draft Bill circulated to city offices in Caracas.

If approved by the National Assembly, the Bill could let authorities turn down names like some of the more unusual monikers currently on the voter rolls - including Superman.

Weird and not-so-wonderful names are frequently the burden celebrities' children must bear.

From Apple Martin to Brooklyn Beckham, Moon Unit Zappa to Dandelion Richards, stars have obviously thought long and hard about how to make their offspring stand out.

But now one celebrity child has raised her voice in protest.

Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof - the daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates - has attacked the silly name game.

"I hate ridiculous names," she says. "My weird name has haunted me all my life."

A recent poll voted Frank Zappa's daughter Moon Unit as having the most bizarre name ever, with Gwyneth Paltrow's and Chris Martin's daughter Apple in second place.

Others in the top ten included Texas star Sharleen Spiteri's daughter Misty Kyd and Blur's Alex James's son Geronimo.

Parents such as the Beckhams have almost made it an art, with their sons being called Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

Jamie Oliver named his daughters Daisy Boo and Poppy Honey and Madonna's daughter and son are Lourdes and Rocco.

Miss Geldof is not the only celebrity offspring to have registered a protest over their name.

David Bowie called his son Zowie - but he had that changed by deedpoll to Duncan.

And Keith Richards's daughter Dandelion with Anita Pallenberg tells everyone her name is Angela.