New Zealand Couple Fight To Name Kid '4Real'

New Zealand authorities have blocked a couple's bid to officially name their new son "4real," saying numbers are not allowed in a name.

But the couple - Pat and Sheena Wheaton are fighting the decision and say they decided on the name after seeing an ultrasound of the unborn infant and realising it was "for real".

"The name has meaning for us, so why not?" He added: "If it was George Bush's child*, or the Dalai Lama's, no one would care what it was called", Pat Wheaton says.

His wife added: "For most of us, when we try to figure out what our names mean, we have to look it up in a babies book - and when you see the meaning, there's no real direct link between the meaning and the name; whereas with his name, everyone knows what it means".

New Zealand law does not allow names "that resemble an official title or rank, names that are unreasonably long, and names that may cause offence to a reasonable person" or "which would cause their child to be teased or made fun of". Some names which have been rejected in the past include "Satan" and "Adolf Hitler".

The government office has opened negotiations with the parents about the name under a policy that says all unusual names will be given case-by-case consideration.

Officials say if no compromise has been reached by July 9, the baby will be registered as "Real".

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