10+ Baby Names That Are Banned in Different Countries of the World

Judging by which names modern celebrities give to their children, it’s hard to imagine what else can surprise us. For example, Elon Musk and singer Grimes named their son X Æ A-12, while Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter was named Apple. However, in some countries, they believe that certain baby names should be banned and that not all parents’ creative ideas should be encouraged.

At Bright Side, we found out which names our editors couldn’t choose for their children if they moved to another country.

Nutella and Strawberry — France

A French family named their daughter after the sweet chocolate spread Nutella. Perhaps the parents dreamed that their child would become as popular all over the world in the future. But everything happened differently. At school, she was teased by her peers, so she had to change her name to Ella. The story was widely discussed in French society and, as a result, the government of the country officially forbade giving the name Nutella to children.

Another French couple wanted to name their daughter Fraise (which is strawberry in French) but was refused. The reason for this was a play on words: there is a rather rude phrase in slang that sounds quite similar. As a result, the baby was named Fraisine.

Terminator — Mexico

Who would have thought that this name had been common in Mexico for a long time. And at some point, the children named after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie character were so numerous that the local authorities decided to ban the name, Terminator.

Ikea — Sweden

Is there anyone who doesn’t love this chain of Swedish furniture stores? But is this love strong enough to name your child after IKEA? The Swedish authorities decided to play it safe and issued a law in 1982, according to which, parents couldn’t give their children names that “can cause discomfort to those who use them.”

Camilla — Iceland

In Iceland, there is a special committee that sets and regulates clear rules for naming newborns. So, for example, it’s forbidden to call your daughter Camilla, since there is no letter “c” in the local alphabet. But you can easily name your daughter Kamilla with a “K.”

Santa Claus — Ohio (USA)

Robert William Handley, who lives in Ohio, apparently loves Christmas so much that he decided to change his name to Santa Robert Claus. However, local authorities banned him from taking this name. This decision didn’t satisfy the man so he filed a lawsuit to review his case. In the end, he obtained permission to change his name.

Peppermint and Stone — Germany

In Germany, parents wanted to give their child the name Pfefferminze (which is peppermint in German). But the request was denied due to the fact that “it might cause ridicule.” The name Stone was also banned due to the fact that “a child cannot identify with it, because it is an object and not a first name.”

Friday and Blu — Italy

Such a beautiful day of the week as Friday is banned from being used as a name in Italy. Italian court decided that Venerdi (which is Friday in Italian) falls into the category of “ridiculous or shameful,” therefore it’s forbidden to name a child this.

Also in 2018, in Milan, local authorities forbade a couple from naming their daughter Blu (which is blue in Italian). This decision was based on a presidential decree, issued in 2000, that stated that “the name given to a child must correspond to their sex,” and Blu can’t be considered unambiguously female.

However, this prohibition doesn’t work throughout Italy. For example, in 2020, the “dancing millionaire” Gianluca Vacca and Sharon Fonseca gave their newborn daughter the name Blu Jerusalema. The couple lives in Bologna, where the name Blu is probably considered acceptable for a child.

Pluto — Denmark

In Denmark, parents can choose a name for their child from the official list, which has about 7,000 approved names. Those who want to give a name that is not on the list must obtain official permission for it. So, for example, Pluto and Monkey can be found on the list of prohibited names.

@ - China

A Chinese couple tried to name their baby “@,” claiming the character used in e-mail addresses echoed their love for the child because translated into Chinese it means “love him.” However, this idea didn’t work out. It is prohibited to use symbols as names in China.

Princess — New Zealand

The baby name Princess is banned in New Zealand. The country rejected this name due to the fact that it’s an official title. The list of prohibited names also includes other titles like prince, king, queen, duke, lord, pope, saint, sir, lady, and some others.

What unique name would you give to your child? Share your ideas in the comments below.