When it comes to choosing a name for your newborn, you might assume the world is your oyster. The era of conventional baby names has passed, with trendy contemporary choices now appearing frequently on birth certificates.
However, whilst you may believe you can select any name you fancy for your child, you could be in for a shock. Although the UK Deed Poll Office states there aren’t numerous regulations, certain names may still be prohibited.
It cautions: “There aren’t many strict rules about baby names in the UK, but some names stretch the limit. Names that are racist or considered harmful to the child could be illegal and banned in some parts of the UK.”
However, there are additional regulations that must be adhered to, it states. These encompass names that:
are impossible to pronounceinclude numbers, symbols, or punctuation marks (not including hyphens or apostrophes)are considered offensive, vulgar, or blasphemous by the deed poll servicefraudulent (inferring the child has a rank, title, or inherited honor)
There is also a stringent regulation concerning the use of both a first name and surname. It states: “Names that do not include at least one first name and one surname will not be accepted.”, reports the Mirror.
What if I have second thoughts?
Numerous parents might feel pressured to name their baby, which can result in them regretting their decision later on. However, there is something that can be done if the parents act swiftly enough.
According to the UK Deed Poll Office, you can make an alteration by using a deed poll. It recommends: “The first name can be changed if the birth was registered in the last 12 months. The birth must be re-registered to change a surname.
“In both cases, each person with parental responsibility must give consent to the change. The birth certificate will not be changed but will be linked to the new deed poll to provide evidence of the change.
“If you need to make a change because of a mistake made on the original register entry, you’ll need to fill out an application to update it. The original information will always be present in the register.
“However, if your application is approved, the register will also contain a note in the margin showing the corrected details and a note stating when the correction was made. Birth certificates issued after a correction will also have updated notes in the margins.”
Prohibited names around the world
Whilst Britain doesn’t maintain an official blacklist of forbidden names, certain monikers have reportedly been rejected in the past. These include Cyanide, due to its toxic associations, Martian, over concerns the child could face ridicule, and both King and Princess as they might be exploited for fraudulent purposes.
Nevertheless, regulations are far more stringent in numerous nations. Gloucestershire Live has previously highlighted restrictions in certain locations where parents must select from a pre-approved selection of names. Adding a fresh name requires an application – though acceptance isn’t guaranteed.
Below is a compilation of some names that have been prohibited, along with the respective countries that imposed these restrictions.
Chief Maximus (New Zealand)Robocop (Mexico)Sex Fruit (New Zealand)Linda (Saudi Arabia)Snake (Malaysia)Friday (Italy)Islam (China)Sarah (Morocco)Osama bin Laden (Germany)Metallica: (Sweden)Prince William (France)Devil (Japan)Blue (Italy)Circumcision (Mexico)Quran (China)BRFXXCCXXMNPCCCCLLLMMNPRXVCLMNCKSSQLBB11116 (Sweden)Harriet (Iceland)Monkey (Denmark)Thor (Portugal)007 (Malaysia)Griezmann Mbappe (France)Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii (New Zealand)Bridge (Norway)Anal (New Zealand)Nutella (France)Wolf (Spain)Tom (Portugal)Camilla (Iceland)Judas (Switzerland)Duke (Australia)
