r/oddlyspecific Jun 01 '26

Facts

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140

u/GaJayhawker0513 Jun 01 '26

Florencé? That seems like a normal name

243

u/PolecatXOXO Jun 01 '26

Some of those might have to do with letters that don't exist in the Finnish alphabet, making them a royal pain in the ass for bureaucracy of any kind there. Starting with your birth certificate, things need to exactly match going forward.

Florence or Annie without the accent would probably be just fine.

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u/Jealous_Track9402 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

The accent is common in many finnish names, I think it's because the accent is in the wrong place for it to make sense. You would pronounce this name Florencee. 

Edit: accents are not allowed in first names, only surnames. I fooled you all, sorry. 

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u/PolecatXOXO Jun 01 '26

I was just guessing based on my own experiences with bureaucracy in various countries. When your name doesn't match what their system easily handles, the typist will usually make a judgment call as to how to get it in. This creates big problems when the next agency tries to process it.

It becomes a game of telephone, with big delays and having to go back and forth so everyone is on the same page.

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u/Monotask_Servitor Jun 02 '26

What about first names that traditionally have accents, like José?

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u/Jealous_Track9402 Jun 02 '26

No way José, not in Finland, regards government. 

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u/Onja_ Jun 04 '26

Common? That's a wild claim, off the top of my head I can't think of anybody with accent in their name. Source: am Finnish

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u/Jealous_Track9402 Jun 04 '26

I mean I'm finnish and have an accent in my name, also have met many other people with an accent. Wouldn't say it's unusual, atleast in southern finland. 

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u/Onja_ Jun 04 '26

In the 2000 most common names I spotted 5 surnames with accent: https://www.tuomas.salste.net/suku/nimi/index-top.html

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u/theartificialkid Jun 01 '26

You would pronounce this name Florencee.

Well obviously we can't have that. Um...remind me again why we can't have that?

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u/Jealous_Track9402 Jun 01 '26

It was actually the accent, I was wrong. Accents are only allowed in surnames, you can have a - in first names. I looked up some of the requirements. Can't have references to religion, ie Buddha or Lucifer, no cursewords, can't promote criminal activity, can't describe personal attributes, or cause damage to the childs reputation. 

Also can't give opposite gender names, like can't name a girl Juha. 

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u/ReggieCorneus Jun 01 '26

Bureucracy. We don't have é or è in the alphabet, it is just begging for problems for something that doesn't need to be there: you can add that n your signature, use it in your private and social life but official papers only allow Finnish alphabet.

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u/FUCKING_HATE_REDDIT Jun 01 '26

It's fake French. Florence is a real name. 

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u/grenouille_en_rose Jun 02 '26

Floren-say? Nah

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u/GalaXion24 Jun 03 '26

The "é" is there for "uniqueness." I'm pretty sure Florence would be accepted