Couple Names Baby After Web Site

Friday, August 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” As participants in an Internet marketing gimmick, a Kansas couple won $5,000 for naming their baby after a Web site called the Internet Underground Music Archive.

Actually, the baby was named after the acronym for the Web site. Iuma Dylan-Lucas weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces, when he was born in Hutchinson, Kan., to Jessica and Travis Thornhill last Friday.

Travis plays bass for a band that promotes itself on the Web site.

``My wife liked the idea because the child's grandma said this baby would bring prosperity, and this contest could be what she was talking about,'' he said. ``Plus, the kid will have a cool story when he grows up.''

Travis said he plans to put half of his winnings away for his children's future (Iuma is their second son) and will use the other half to pay off bills as he and his wife look to buy a home.

The company said there were three other entries into the contest, but their names had not yet been confirmed. The Redwood City, Calif., company will give prizes to up to ten babies named Iuma.

``We're hoping that his name will one day be synonymous with other odd-named rockstars, like Ringo Starr,'' said IUMA's Corky Gainsford.

The tiny town Halfway, Ore., changed its name temporarily to half.com this year in a publicity stunt for a Web site that sells secondhand books and CDs.

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On the Net:

http://www.iuma.com/Baby/