When a Name Becomes a Legal Matter: British Report Reveals the Strangest Banned Baby Names Around the World
Choosing a name for a newborn isn’t always a simple decision. While parents often strive to pick something unique, laws in some countries may intervene to prevent certain names—either to protect the child from bullying or to preserve cultural and religious values.
A recent report by the Daily Mail highlighted a peculiar list of baby names that are legally banned in various countries. It begins with Saudi Arabia, which prohibited the name “Linda” for being religiously inappropriate. In Japan, the name “Akuma,” meaning “devil,” is also banned. Meanwhile, in France, names like “Fraise” (Strawberry) and “Nutella” have been rejected out of concern that children bearing such names might be mocked.
In Sweden, names linked to trademarks, such as “Metallica,” have been banned due to intellectual property concerns. In the same country, and in protest against these restrictions, a couple tried to name their child “Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116,” pronounced “Albin.” The court rejected the name outright in 1996. In Malaysia, names referring to fruits and vegetables were banned in an effort to preserve human dignity.
Britain also banned names like “Cyanide” (a lethal poison) and “Rogue” (rebel) due to their negative connotations. In Australia, names such as “LOL” and “Spinach” were deemed inappropriate for official documents or susceptible to ridicule. In New Zealand, authorities had to intervene to change a young girl’s name to something less embarrassing after she was registered as “Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii”—a move aimed at preventing bullying. Russia also made the list by rejecting long and obscure names altogether.
