What do 'Christ', 'Lucifer' and 'Queen Victoria' have in common? It is forbidden to name your children after them in New Zealand.
The country’s births, deaths and marriages department, a part of the Department of Internal Affairs, has extended its list of unusual names that parents have attempted to bless upon their newborns. The list now stands at 77 names.
Rules state that a baby’s name should not be offensive, should not be too long, or should not resemble an official title or rank.
The names which were rejected the most are ‘Justice’, ‘King’ and ‘Princess’, which were rejected 62, 31 and 28 times respectively.
However, some of the more popular names in New Zealand include ‘Olivia’, ‘Sophie’ and ‘Emily’, which were the most popular girls’ names in the country last year. The most popular boys’ names were ‘Jack’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘William’.
Good news
The good news for those living in Ireland is that there is no list of banned babies’ names, but, according to a spokeswoman from the Department of Social Protection, registrars have a duty of care to customers and the general public good.
“Parents who wish to assign a name that would be considered obscene, blasphemous, or otherwise inappropriate would be advised of this by the registrar that this is the case,” she said.
“ If the parents persist, which has seldom, if ever, happened, as far as this office is aware, registrars have been advised to obtain a written statement [from the parents] that they have been advised by the registrar that the choice may be inappropriate and that the parents acknowledge that the Civil Registration Service accepts no liability for any unfortunate consequences, to the child or the parents, of the choice of forename.”
Full list of banned names:
Justice
King
Princess
Prince
Royal
Duke
Major
Bishop
Majesty
J
Lucifer
Knight
Lady
Judge
Royale
Messiah
T
I
Queen
Sir
III
Jr
E
V
Justus
Master
Constable
Queen Victoria
Regal
Emperor
Christ
Juztice
3rd
CJ
G
Roman Numerals III
General
Saint
Lord
. (full stop)
89
Eminence
M
VI
Mafia No Fear
2nd
Majesti, Rogue
4real
(star symbol)
5th
SP
C
Sargent
Honour
D
Minister
MJ
Chief
Mr
V8
President
MC
Anal
AJ
Baron
L B
H-Q
Qeen V