In this Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 photo, Blaer Bjarkardottir, 15, left, and her mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, are photographed outside a court building in Reykjavik. Blaer Bjarkardottir is bringing legal action against the Icelandic government to allow her to use her name, which is not on the list of 1,853 government-approved female names. Blaer's mother is supporting her daughter’s right to have her name recognized. She said she did not know the name wasn’t on the list when she chose it for her daughter. Icelandic law requires names to comply with Icelandic grammar and orthography. The name means "light breeze" in Icelandic. There are 1,712 approved male names. (AP Photo/Anna Andersen)

A 15-year-old is suing the Icelandic state for the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother. The problem? Blaer, which means "light breeze" in Icelandic, is not on a list approved by the government.

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.

In Blaer's case, her mother said she learned the name wasn't on the register only after the priest who baptized the child later informed her he had mistakenly allowed it.