Banned Names in USA: What You Need to Know
Published February 13, 2024
Deciding on what name you will give to your child. It is one of the most exciting parts of parenthood. Yet, it goes beyond just picking a name that you and your partner love the sound of. You’ll need to carefully find a name that doesn’t get your child bullied. Also, one that won’t make them resent you.
Yet, we see news of parents that didn’t get the memo. There are grown adults trying to call their offspring “Adolf Hitler” or Nutella. Not everyone knows the appropriate names to put on a birth certificate.
Even us, we don’t know how these parents came up and stood by their choices. Either way, saving more children from a similar fate is best.
Keep reading, as we’ll get serious about all the banned names in the USA. We’ll discuss US naming laws, too. Moreover, spread awareness of outlawed baby names from around the world.
US Naming Laws
The United States has somewhat lax naming laws. But, there are still some names you cannot use for a child. While these differ from state to state, having a numeral in your name is mostly not tolerated.
Names such as “Mon1ka” would be permissible. It also means you must refrain from labeling your child R2-D2 or C-3PO.
Some states also limit the number of characters that can be used. Moreover, it includes pictograms, obscenity, foreign characters, symbols, emojis, or offensive language. Certain states also avoid the use of accents and non-English letters. It is due to the inability of their information systems to process vital records for them.
In general, names must only contain the 26 alphabet characters of English. It is with appropriate punctuation if necessary. Many states demand at least two names on a birth certificate. It is the family name and a given name chosen by a parent.
There are also character limits for names. First and middle names can’t be more than 30 characters each. The last name can’t be more than 40 characters. Numbers and symbols are generally not permitted.
Examples of Banned Names in the US
Very few specific names are banned in the US. It usually protects the child from being given an offensive or embarrassing name. These are a handful of names that were ruled illegal by courts within the US.
- King
- Queen
- Jesus Christ
- III
- Judge
- Duke
- Santa Claus
- Majesty
- Misteri Nigger
- Adolf Hitler
- Messiah
- @
- 1069
Outlawed Baby Names From Around the World
- Nutella- France
- Akuma (Devil)- Japan
- Anal- New Zealand
- Gesher (Bridge)- Norway
- Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii- New Zealand
- Osama Bin Laden- Germany
- Robocop- Mexico
- Chief Maximus- Australia
- BRFXXCCXXMNPCCCCLLLMMNPRXVCLMNCKSSQLBB11116- Sweden
- Circuncisión- México
- Harriet and Duncan- Iceland
- Metallica- Sweden
- Chow Tow (Smelly Head)- Malaysia
- Linda- Saudi Arabia
- Sex Fruit- New Zealand
- Monkey- Denmark
- Venerdi (Friday)- Italy
- Nirvana- Portugal
- Fraise (Strawberry)- France
- “.” (Full Stop)- New Zealand
- Sarah- Moroccan
- Prince William- France
- Mini Cooper- France
- IKEA- Sweden
- Hermione- Mexican state of Sonora
- Fish and Chips (for Twins)- New Zealand
- Spinach- Australia
- Cyanide- Wales
- 007- Malaysia
- Griezmann Mbappé- France
- Messi- Argentina
- Ambre (for a Boy) and Liam (for a Girl)- France
- Blu- Italy
Frequently Asked Questions About Banned Names in the US.
1. Why is 1069 an illegal name in the US?
The name “1069” is considered illegal in some states in the United States. It is due to the name not adhering to the general naming laws that stipulate names should only contain alphabetic characters. The use of numbers in a name can lead to confusion. Moreover, there are potential administrative difficulties. Another reason is its interpretation. Some people might associate “1069” with certain explicit content.
2. What is the most famous name in the world?
The most popular first in the world is likely “Muhammad.” This name is widely used in many countries. It is primarily those with a Muslim-majority population. For female names, “Maria” appears to be the most common. It has over 61 million instances worldwide.
3. What is the prettiest unique girl name?
- Annalise
- Aurora
- Calista
- Lilith, Salem, Rosemary, Raven
- Adina
4. What name is banned in California?
In California, there are certain restrictions when it comes to naming a child. The state bans derogatory or obscene names. It is to protect the dignity and welfare of the individual. Names that include symbols, numbers, or punctuation marks are also prohibited.
Naming your children should be a thoughtful and lovable act. Parents are responsible for naming their children with acceptable, unique, and creative names that will make them love them. Naming laws should always be kept in mind. You must adhere to the intricacies of naming so your child will not have difficulty growing up.
Lost Your Birth Certificate? Request A Replacement Online
Instant Vital Records offers a birth certificate replacement service you can use from the comfort of your home. Enter your information and our software will automatically complete the required forms for your state. We print and mail your forms along with required payments to your state health department. You can trust that we take your personal information privacy and security seriously with HIPAA compliant data storage and data encryption. To get started, simply click here to begin your application. Your replacement documents will arrive by mail to your home within a few weeks.
This Blog Is Fact Checked By Experts
Our team of experts has thoroughly verified the accuracy of this content. For detailed information on the editorial guidelines followed on our website, please click here.
About The Author
I am Tracy Gorman, a seasoned writer with a passion for exploring. What truly excites me is the ability to translate ideas into meaningful articles that assist others.
