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Woman names newborn son ‘Methamphetamine Rules,’ prompting government response

Australian journalist Kirsten Drysdale is currently in a newborn bliss bubble, having recently welcomed her third child with her husband Chris.

There’s just one problem.

Her son’s legal name is Methamphetamine Rules.

The New South Wales, Australia Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages let the name slip through the cracks during the submission process, despite offensive terms being prohibited.

A spokesperson told news.com.au they’ve since “strengthened” their system to avoid it happening again.

OK, mistakes happen, but why would Drysdale name her child Methamphetamine to begin with?

The Mackay-born TV presenter had been working on a story for the ABC’s WTFAQ program, which aims to investigate the answers to viewers’ burning questions.

‘What can I legally name my baby?’ has come up consistently.

While researching for the story, which will air Wednesday at 9 pm, a then heavily pregnant Drysdale was trying to decipher what the Registrar default names a child if the parents’ first submission is rejected.

She wasn’t getting a clear answer from the government body’s media team, and as she was about to give birth, Drysdale decided it was perfect timing to take matters into her own hands.

“We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted?” Drysdale tells news.com.au.

“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.

“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to this question.”

“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.

Imagine Drysdale’s horror when her initial online submission listing her son’s fake name was approved “very quickly.”

Weeks later, Drysdale got quite the push present when the official birth certificate arrived in the mail, with ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ listed as her son’s given name.

“I don’t know how it slipped through,” Drysdale said. “I’m not sure if someone was overworked, or if it was automated somewhere.

“Or possibly, maybe they thought Methamphetamine was a Greek name.

“They haven’t really given us a clear answer.”

Thankfully, the Registrar admitted it was a rare oversight, and Drysdale’s son’s real, “normal” name should be approved any day now.

“Baby Meth’s real name … I’m not publicly disclosing it, because I don’t want it to be attached to this,” she laughed.

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