Naming a kid is a very personal and sometimes difficult task for new parents. The pressure to pick a name that connects emotionally and culturally is great.
For one couple from Derbyshire, however, the journey took an unexpected turn. They chose a name that sparked debate among the registrar tasked with formally certifying it.
Dan and Mandy Sheldon, new parents from Chesterfield, welcomed their kid in 2020. Like many parents, they spent months looking for the ideal name.
They eventually opted on the name Lucifer, which they felt was strong and profound. However, their choice was met with surprise pushback.
As the couple joyfully approached their local registrar office, they expected an easy process. What happened next was quite the opposite.
Instead of delight, the registrar displayed apparent contempt. The official’s response was surprising and severe.
According to the Sheldons, the registrar cautioned them about their son’s destiny. She thought that the name would ensure him a miserable existence.
“He will never get a job,” the registrant reportedly stated. “No teacher will want to teach him with that name.”
Lucifer is frequently identified with Satan in Christian theology, as the registrar emphasized. However, the Sheldons had a very different outlook.
They claimed that they are not religious and chose the name based on its Latin meaning. Dan noted that Lucifer means “bearer of light” in Latin.
In an interview with *This Morning*, Dan stated, “It depends on what part of history you take the meaning from.” The couple chose it because of its ancient roots.
However, the registrar was adamant about her reservations. In an astonishing revelation, she even equated the name Lucifer to naming their child “Hitler.”
This comment astonished and upset the Sheldons. Dan characterized the encounter as “very hurtful” on what was supposed to be a happy day.
The registrar eventually requested that they leave the room. She needed to see if the name Lucifer was even legal in the UK.
The pair was greatly distressed by the encounter. “We were astounded by her behaviour,” Dan told *The Sun*.