Ananova:

A couple in China want to call their child @.

But officials see the internet term as part of a trend for bizarre names and may contest it, report Sky News.

The symbol @, pronounced in English as "at", sounds like the Chinese phrase "love him."

The unnamed couple are seeking a distinctive and modern name for their youngster.

The father has also pointed out that "the whole world uses it to write emails".

Written Chinese does not use an alphabet but is comprised of characters. This sometimes makes it difficult to develop new words for new or foreign things and ideas.

Li Yuming, from the State Language Commission, said only 129 different surnames accounted for 87% of all surnames in the country.

But last year, 60 million names were registered with "unfamiliar characters", Li added.

It will now be up to police, who issue national identity cards, to decide whether or not the couple can keep their choice of name.