Parents battle to name their son "4real"

A couple's bid to officially name their new son "4real," has been blocked by authorities, saying numerals are not allowed.

Pat and Sheena Wheaton decided to name their new baby "4real" shortly after glimpsing him for the first time as a fetus during an ultrasound examination and were struck by the reality of his impending arrival.

Mrs Wheaton, from New Zealand, told TV One: "For most of us, when we try to figure out what our names mean, we have to look it up in a babies book and ... there's no direct link between the meaning and the name.

"With this name, everyone knows what it means."

But when the parents filed the name with New Zealand's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, they were told names beginning with a number were against the rules.

The government office has opened negotiations with the parents about the name under a policy that says all unusual names must be given case-by-case consideration.