No-no names

Former US President Barack Obama’s daughter did not put her last name in the credits of the first short movie she directed and entered in film festivals last year.

Malia, who put only her first name and middle name, Ann, in the credits of “Heart,” was quoted by her dad in his interview with “The Pivot Podcast” last year as telling him that she wanted viewers seeing the short film for the first time to not associate her with him, a famous figure, MSNBC reported.

Both Obama and his wife, Michelle, said they told their daughter that people knew her anyway even if she dropped the surname, but they respected Malia’s decision to make her own name for herself.

Meanwhile, many Japanese parents are choosing non-traditional names for their babies that raised concerns from conservatives in government and triggered a public debate.

CNN, citing mixed reactions from locals, reports that the hard-to-pronounce names are confusing for hospitals, schools and authorities.

Japanese names are typically written in the Kanji writing system, which is mixed with Chinese characters, giving each character various pronunciations, according to CNN.

On social media, defenders of people using the so-called “kirakira” (shiny or sparkly) names say they are expressions of individualism, are fairly harmless, and don’t warrant government regulation, according to CNN.

Nevertheless, the government imposed new regulations starting 27 May that limits the Kanji characters that can be used by parents in naming their babies “Nike,” “Pikachu,” “Pudding,” and the like.

Under the regulation, civil registry officials who “see that the phonetic sound of a name doesn’t match how its characters are typically pronounced” may reject the name or request additional paperwork, CNN reports.