Tucson Couple Disputing Astronomical Cost To Name Son Perseus

TUCSON, AZ — It took some time for a Tucson mom to get the astronomy of it figured out, but now she’s settled on a name for her nearly 2-year-son, whose name is still listed as “Baby Boy” on his birth certificate.

Laela Olague says she’s ensnared in bureaucratic red tape as she tries to get the toddler’s name officially changed. Usually, parents decide their newborns’ names quickly after they enter the world.

But Baby Boy’s parents wanted to know what was going on outside of the physical world before naming their son, whom they have decided to call Perseus.

“We wanted to name our son based on what's at or near his zenith at the hour of his birth what's in space when he's born," Olague told Tucson news station KGUN.

The delay is proving costly. Olague told KGUN she stayed in contact with the Pima County Office of Vital Records throughout her pregnancy to make sure waiting to name her son wouldn’t be a problem and was surprised her options are limited:

She could pay $20 and get a birth certificate with the name Baby Boy Olague on it. Or she could go to Superior Court to change his legal name from Baby Boy Olague to Perseus Olague, a process that could cost about 25 times more.

“I'm paying $500 to name my son, and other people don't have to do that — and it's not right,” Olague told the TV station.

The Pima County Office of Vital Records said in a statement to KGUN that the statute is clear on the matter:

“We’re sorry Ms. Olague is having trouble renaming her child. But the state laws governing such actions are clear, as is the fee structure, and our Vital Records Office is required to follow state statues and rules requirements for name changes. Our staff is highly trained and very experienced in the relevant statues and requirements, and we strive to consistently provide accurate guidance based on the information we receive from clients. We would not mistakenly or intentionally provide inaccurate information of this sort. All of the requirements are clearly spelled out in state law, and our staff deals with these kinds of inquiries routinely. This is stuff they know very well.”

» Read the full story on KGUN.