A JUDICIAL court in Milan, Italy, has ordered a couple who named their 18-month-old daughter Blu, Italian for Blue, to change it.

Vittoria and Luca, from Milan, chose the name because it stands for “bella luminosa unica” — meaning beautiful, vibrant and unique.

Under Italian law, children must be given names, which are “appropriate” for their gender.

In 2000, a presidential decree ordered that “the name given to a child must correspond to their sex.”

Registry offices are to alert the courts of any names they think are unsuitable.

The couple received a summons ordering them to appear in court to choose another name for their daughter.

This is not the first time parents have disputes with the Italian authorities over names.

In 2012, a couple were forced to go to court for naming their daughter Andrea, which is traditionally a male name in Italy.

(SD-Agencies)