Having a baby is one of life’s most joyful—and nerve-wracking—experiences. You’re suddenly responsible for keeping a tiny human alive while also making decisions that could stick with them forever. One of the biggest? Picking the perfect name.
For one UK couple, that decision turned into an unexpected battle when the registrar tried to block their chosen name. Why? Because Dan and Mandy Sheldon wanted to call their son something that many consider downright scandalous: Lucifer.
The couple shared their story with The Sun, recounting their excitement to register their baby after months of pandemic delays. But their excitement quickly turned sour when they faced judgment from the registrar.
“She looked at us in utter disgust,” Dan explained. “She said our son would never get a job and that teachers wouldn’t even want to teach him.”
The name, infamous for its association with the devil, sparked immediate backlash. But Dan and Mandy weren’t about to back down. “We’re not religious,” Dan said. “In Greek, Lucifer means ‘light-bringer’ or ‘morning.’ We thought it was unique and beautiful.”
The registrar, however, wasn’t convinced. She even mentioned that naming a child Lucifer was illegal in countries like New Zealand. Suggesting alternatives, she asked the couple to reconsider or use Lucifer only as a nickname at home.
In many Christian-majority nations, including Germany and Switzerland, the name Lucifer is outright banned due to its ties to the fallen angel turned devil. The UK, however, has no such law, which left the registrar scrambling to confirm her stance.
“We were stunned by her reaction,” Dan said. After a tense back-and-forth, the registrar reluctantly agreed to register the name—though not without a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. “She did it through gritted teeth,” Dan revealed.
Despite the drama, the couple stood by their decision. “We just thought it was a nice, unique name,” Dan said. “We didn’t expect this much grief about it.”
Interestingly, the name Lucifer isn’t all fire and brimstone. The dictionary also defines it as “morning star” or “bearer of light,” which paints a much gentler picture.
In a statement, Derbyshire County Council noted, “We apologize if they were offended, but our registrars are tasked with advising on names as some people might not be aware of certain associations.”
Years later, one can only wonder: How is little Lucifer doing now? Hopefully, he’s loving his unique name and the story that comes with it.
What do you think—would you give your baby a controversial name? Share this story and spark the debate!
