Metallica may work as a name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish
couple is struggling to convince authorities it's also suitable for a baby
girl.
Sweden's tax agency rejected Michael and Karolina Tomaro's application
to name their 6-month-old daughter after the legendary rock band.
"It suits her," Karolina Tomaro, 27, said Tuesday of the name. "She's
decisive and she knows what she wants."
Although little Metallica has already been baptized, the Swedish National Tax Board
refused to register the name, saying it was associated with both the rock
group and the word "metal" and not suitable for a girl.
In Sweden, parents must get the names of their children approved by the
tax authority, which is in charge of the population registry and issues
personal identification numbers, similar to Social Security numbers in the
United States.
Karolina said the official handling the case also called the name
"ugly."
The couple was backed by the County Administrative Court in Goteborg,
which ruled on March 13 that there was no reason to block the name. It
also noted that there already is a woman in Sweden with Metallica as a
middle name.
The tax agency appealed to a higher court, frustrating the family's
foreign travel plans.
"We've had to cancel trips and can't get anywhere because we can't get
her a passport without an approved name," Karolina said.