Parents ordered to change daughter’s name … or courts will do it for them

A couple who gave their 18-month-old daughter a unique name have reportedly been told they have to change it - or have courts choose a new one for her.

The parents, known as Vittoria and Luca, named their little girl Blu. Proud dad Luca explained to local newspaper Il Giorno that the name stood for 'bella luminous unica', which translates to beautiful, vibrant and unique. Italian law says that infants must be given a gender neutral name, so the couple were warned that their daughter's moniker may be challenge. Last week, they were ordered to supply a traditional girl's name for their 18-month-old daughter - or the court would change it for them. Luca explained to the publication:

"If we do not come up with an alternative, the judge will decide our daughter’s name for us.

"When we turned up at the Registry Office, we were warned that there could be a risk of being challenged.

"But every year, according to ISTAT data (data provided by an Italian National Statistical Office) there are around seven children called Blue, mostly girls. "We did not expect to have to change her name a year and a half later, when by now our daughter knows her name is Blue and it is written everywhere."

However, the parents said that they are planning to fight the order.