What are Your Country's Name Laws?

[_thelittlefairywren]

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries!

@Parfait_de_Roses and I have been chatting about name laws, and I thought I’d start a new topic for it, so it doesn’t take over the other discussion.

What are your country’s naming laws??

Are any of them odd or a bit left field sounding??

These are the naming regulations in Australia

Naming restrictions | Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria

I have often wondered if our rules are stricter than other country’s because I hear names used that aren’t allowed here. For example, you can‘t use titles as names in Australia - [name_u]Prince[/name_u], [name_u]Duke[/name_u], etc, are a no go, but those type of names seem to pop up on American shows and things regularly.

[_thelittlefairywren]

@I_meme_it I was thinking about your comment re KIIIVlyn, and then noticed this paragraph in the article above - you were right: roman numerals are a no go in Australia!

[lilac_elixirxx]

“The UK has no law that restricts names that parents can legally give to their children. However, names that contain obscenities, numerals, misleading titles, or are impossible to pronounce are likely to be rejected by the Registering Officer (please see this FOI request about restrictions on children’s names)”

[Parfait_de_Roses]

So happy you did it!!! I have never made a post, so I felt shy to the max So interesting to read the responses. I would be especially excited, if anyone knows the Norwegian rules

So basically, I understand that gender neutral names, or using a name for the opposite gender is a no go. Unless you prove it’s a tradition in your country or something. Also only 2 middles and no made- up names. The name has to be in use. And no dukes and princess’es, and numbers.

I just copy the paragraphs of the Estonian Names Act. Then it’s 100% correct:

§ 6. Requirements for surnames

(1) A surname may consist:

1. upon assigning, of one name or two names linked by a hyphen;

2. upon application, of one or several names.

(2) In this Act, the surnames of persons who are or have been married to each other, are related by blood or are or have been related by marriage and the spelling of which coincides letter by letter, and also names the differences in the spelling of which are caused due to the reflection of gender, marital status or other feature in the name pursuant to the national tradition of the persons are deemed to be joint surnames.

(3) Features on the basis of which surnames are considered as joint surnames shall be established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.

(4) In the case of doubt with respect to the accuracy of a national or an ethnical name form, an administrative authority or a court assigning or applying the surname shall address the Office of Onomastic Expertise or a diplomatic representation of the corresponding state in order to obtain explanations.

(5) A surname may not contain numbers or non-alphabetical signs or be separately or together with the given name contrary to good morals.

(6) Exceptions to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section may be made if, due to his or her citizenship, family relations, national identity or religion, a person has personal connection to the foreign-language name tradition and the name applied for complies therewith.

(7) The requirements provided for in this section shall not apply to the application of surnames.

§ 7 Requirements for given names

(1) A given name may consist:

1. upon assigning, of not more than three names written as several words or two names linked by a hyphen;
2. upon application, of one or several names.

(1’1) A non-Estonian given name must be in use in another state as a given name.

(2) A name which contains numbers or non-alphabetical signs or which separately or together with the surname is contrary to good morals shall not be assigned as a given name.

(3) The following shall not be assigned as a given name without good reason:

1. an unconventional given name which is not suitable to be used as a given name due to its complex spelling or pronunciation, or spelling or pronunciation which does not comply with the general language use, or due to its general linguistic meaning;

2. a name which does not correspond to the gender of the person;

3. a well-known name used as a personal name or a shortened version of the name, a name of a well-known author or a service name. For the purposes of this Act, a service name is a name which is used upon performance of official duties, but which is not the official name of the person.

(4) Exceptions to the provisions of subsections 2 and 3 of this section may be made if, due to their citizenship, family relations, national identity or other circumstances, a child or the parents of a child have personal connection to the foreign-language name tradition and the name applied for complies therewith.

Link to the Names Act (refresh it by clicking ‘in force’ in the right. Then you know everything is up to date). It’s actually pretty short and there’s more details.

Names Act–Riigi Teataja

[Parfait_de_Roses]

So interesting, that they have chosen 38 letters + spaces between the names to be max length of the name!

[_thelittlefairywren]

@lilac_elixirxx

The UK has no law that restricts names that parents can legally give to their children.

That’s so interesting!! I wouldn’t have thought a country could have no naming restrictions. At least somone is checking for really dodgy ones! No wonder there’s some cazy names out there if some countries allow practically free reign!

[Kiriko]

[name_u]New[/name_u] [name_u]Zealand[/name_u] seems pretty similar to Australia. Though apparently we allow a total length of 100 characters, vs Australia’s 76!

[heartwings]

Italy:

1. It is forbidden to give the child the name of a LIVING father, a LIVING sibling (to avoid confusion in family)
2. It is forbidden to give the child a LAST NAME / SURNAME as a name.
3. It is forbidden to give the child EMBARASSING or RIDICOLOUS names.
4. A boy cannot have a traditionally girl name. A girl cannot have a traditionally boy name. Unisex names are permitted. What is unisex is very blurry, though (they might have used to require you in past to give a gendered middle, sometimes, but mostly they won’t really care about that in these days). Andrea for example became “unisex” only in the recent years. (Clem explains: So no, you cannot name a girl James, but you can name a girl Jamie.)
5. A person cannot have more than 3 names officially (on government papers or documents), but more names can be given (unofficially) during Baptism or such on Church papers.

Foreign (non Italian) names which are given on children having the
Italian citizenship must be expressed in letters of the Italian alphabet, with the addition of the following letters being permitted: J, K, X, Y, W (Clem explains those 5 letters do not really exist in the modern Italian alphabet, but they allowed in names) and, where possible, even with the diacritical signs (â, ã, å, æ, ä, ā etc) and accents of the alphabet of the language of origin of the name. (Clem explains: It is not allowed to give names in Cyrillic or other alphabets, but a romanised name in the Italian / Latin alphabet can be given.)

Children whose parents are unknown cannot be imposed names or last names of historical importance or belonging to families particularly known in the place or ex nobility, as such.

[Wandarine]

In [name_u]Germany[/name_u] it’s quite similar to the UK: No (or hardly any) definite rules, but officiants can refuse to register a name if they see a reason, and often do so. Whether or not you can name your child Ranunculus depends on who you run into at the town hall!

There used to be a law against unisex names and gender bending, but it’s been loosened. Unisex names are now allowed, I’m actually not sure about gender bending (but again, the officiant would probably just say no anyway).

The amount of middle names is restricted, but to a ridiculously high number (I want to say 10?)

You can have one surname or two hyphenated surnames. Children from the same married parents have to have the same surname or combo. When getting married, couples may choose one of the up to four surnames between them, or two of them hyphenated in either order.

BUT

Foreigners may apply the naming laws of their home country, so if you happen to have an American passport, you can do almost anything.

[heartwings]

@Wandarine

The amount of middle names is restricted, but to a ridiculously high number (I want to say 10?)

We can only have 2 at maximum (officially, in Church baptism you can even have 10 or more) now. My ideal number of middles is 2 or 3. lol.
I met once a German girl with four middles, XD

[_thelittlefairywren]

@Parfait_de_Roses

38 letters + spaces between the names to be max length of the name!

That’s really not very long! What about people who love long, flourishy names!

[_thelittlefairywren]

@heartwings

We can only have 2 at maximum

Nooooo, that’s so limiting!! [cries in name nerd]

[_thelittlefairywren]

@Parfait_de_Roses

I have never made a post, so I felt shy to the max

Awww you’ll have to make a debut post at some point! You don’t have to be shy, promise! We oldie Berries won’t bite haha

@Parfait_de_Roses

gender neutral names, or using a name for the opposite gender is a no go.

This seems so unnecessary. There’s so many lovely, unisex names. Who cares what people call themselves. I think this rule is taking it too far.

@Parfait_de_Roses

Also only 2 middles

Noooo… I mean, I mostly one want to use two middles, but I still want the option for more, please and thank you!!

@Parfait_de_Roses

an unconventional given name which is not suitable to be used as a given name due to its complex spelling or pronunciation, or spelling or pronunciation which does not comply with the general language use, or due to its general linguistic meaning;

This is an interesting point… give that names come from all kinds of languages with varying meanings and pronunciations, who is to say what’s “unconventional” exactly??

@Parfait_de_Roses

a shortened version of the name

Wait, so nickname names as legal names?? Your country has so many rules!

[_thelittlefairywren]

@Kiriko

Though apparently we allow a total length of 100 characters, vs Australia’s 76!

So much space to play with! I wonder if this comes from the nature of the Maori language and the fact that both words and names can be very long…

[mirais]

Actually, you can give a made up name to your child as long as the name doesn’t go against the law.
The question is: what is an Estonian and what’s a non-Estonian name? Also, read the given name part (3)1. very carefully. Pay attention to the words complex, does not comply with the general language and linguistic meaning.

[_thelittlefairywren]

@heartwings

It is forbidden to give the child the name of a LIVING father, a LIVING sibling (to avoid confusion in family)

So honour names not a thing in Italy?? There would never be any Jr / Snr names… But I feel like I know lots of Italian families with recurring names in the family??

@heartwings

So no, you cannot name a girl James, but you can name a girl Jamie.

This seems so fussy and unfair. It should either okay or not. Saying you can’t genderbend, but unisex is okay sometimes seems like splitting hairs.

[_thelittlefairywren]

@Wandarine

There used to be a law against unisex names and gender bending, but it’s been loosened.

@Wandarine

restricted, but to a ridiculously high number (I want to say 10?)

Hahaha I love this… “restricted” That’s so good. Endless space for creativity available!

@Wandarine

Foreigners may apply the naming laws of their home country

What a great regulation! That’s so respectful of people’s heritage and culture. Love it!

[miriamelevens]

in the US there are basically no restrictions on naming - although it varies by state. kentucky has NO restrictions on names, while some states do have rules - california does not allow numbers in names. generally i think that a parent’s right to name their child is very protected because of the first amendment right to freedom of speech + expression. also re: using titles such as “prince” or “duke” for names, i’m guessing that’s restricted in australia because there is actually aristocracy in the commonwealth, while in the us “prince” and “duke” are not used as titles: it’s actually illegal for the government to grant someone an aristocratic/royal title. interesting!

[Wandarine]

@miriamelevens

also re: using titles such as “prince” or “duke” for names, i’m guessing that’s restricted in australia because there is actually aristocracy in the commonwealth, while in the us “prince” and “duke” are not used as titles: it’s actually illegal for the government to grant someone an aristocratic/royal title.

That makes sense!

I don’t know if we have such a law, but I would think so! Also, does anyone know anything about academic titles?

[heartwings]

@_thelittlefairywren

So honour names not a thing in Italy?? There would never be any Jr / Snr names…

Actually they happen with grandparents, but when someone does that, a lot of people do not like that. It is because mostly “grandparents honours” are forced traditional (mostly Southern Italian) names on children that the parents dislike but they are forced to use because of the imposition of the grandparents.

Those names often sound too religious or too old, and not in a good way.

I have actually never met anyone on Italian naming forums (yes, they exist) that give the name of a grandpa/grandma willingly to a child. Actually I would not use the name of my grandparents neither but for a different reason: my grandparents are not Italian and in their culture it is weird to use their names (at least directly) like that.