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The name of the Argentine soccer star was becoming so popular in his hometown, Rosario, that a law was passed to stop parents naming their child Messi.
Gyémi, the Hungarian word for "diamond," was submitted by parents to be included in the nation's list of approved names, but it was rejected. The name Jinx also didn't make the cut.
In 2002, a Turkish couple living in Cologne, Germany, tried to name their child after Osama bin Laden. They were not allowed because names “must not be likely to lead to humiliation,” according to German law. In addition, the European nation bans foreign names that are illegal in the parents’ home country. In this case, the name is banned in Turkey.
Names with accents or diacritical marks are not allowed in the state. José would have to become Jose.
A girl in New Zealand was actually named Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii. When she turned nine, the case was taken to a family court. Talula's parents lost custody.
Trying to name your child Santa Claus if you live in Ohio won't get you far. The name is banned in the state.
The name Duke is used in some parts of the world, but in Australia it resembles a royal title, so it's not legal. Chief Maximus is also a no-no.
Sarah is not used because it's viewed as a Hebrew version of the name Sara, the latter which is absolutely fine to use in Morocco.
A Norwegian mother named her son Gesher, which means “Bridge” in Hebrew. The mother said the name came to her in a dream, but it turns out it wasn't legal. She was given the option to change the name, pay a fee, or go to jail for two days. She was locked up, and the kid kept the name.
Lobo, which translates to "Wolf" in English, was not allowed as a name, but the parents managed to gain the support of 25,000 people in a petition. Spanish officials relented and baby Lobo was allowed to keep the name.
A couple decided to name their son Venerdi, which is Italian for "Friday," but the courts were not having it. They found that Friday fell into the category of the "ridiculous or shameful" names banned by the government. The parents named the kid Gregorio instead.
Muslim names such as Quran, Saddam, Mecca, and Islam have been banned in China. This was one of the measures used during a government crackdown on religion.
The parents argued that the name is Latin for "light-bringing," but German officials were not convinced.
In 2016, a Welsh mother thought Cyanide was a "lovely, pretty name" that many people associate with the death of Hitler, which she believed to give it a positive connotation. The Court of Appeal disagreed.
Brand names such as Chanel or Mercedes are not allowed in Switzerland. Nor are religious names that may cause "undue harm," such as Judas.
The simple reason for this is that the Icelandic alphabet doesn't have the letter "C," so any similar names would be a no-no. The former mayor of Reykjavík, Jón Gnarr, criticized the law, calling it "unfair," "stupid," and "against creativity."
Portugal doesn't allow foreign names if the child is born there. Babies must be given one of the names in the approved list. While Tomás wouldn't be a problem, naming your kid Tom would be.
Amir means "prince" in Arabic, so unless your child is a royal with that title, forget about it. Other banned names in Saudi Arabia include Linda, Maya, and Laureen, among others.
Malaysia has quite a list of illegal names, one of which is Snake. Others include Smelly Head and Insane. And don't think you'll be luckier with fruit or flower names either. Apple and Violet are two popular names that are not allowed in the country.
Metallica used to be a banned name in Sweden, until parents took the case to the courts and won. Other previously banned names that are now allowed include Lego and Elvis.
Sources: (Good Housekeeping) (Mental Floss) (The Telegraph)
See also: Countries that changed their names
Akuma is the Japanese word for "Devil." The case was so popular in the country that a member of the prime minister’s cabinet got involved. The name was banned in the end.
Danish parents aren't allowed to name their children Monkey. Nor can they name them Molli, which apparently has a weird spelling.
The name of the Swedish furniture giant is not allowed as a baby name in the country. Nor is the name Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, supposedly pronounced Albin.
A French couple's choice of name for their child was rejected by the court. The reason why Prince William was rejected was because it could lead to a “lifetime of mockery.”
The French parents who tried to name their kid Mini Cooper weren't lucky either.
Officials in Sonora, Mexico, published a list of names that cannot be used. The reason is that they can lead to bullying. Names include Robocop, Facebook, Pocahontas, Rambo, Email, and Lady Di, to name a few. The names were taken from newborn registries, which means that there are actually children with these names already.
A court in France ruled that a baby girl could not be named after the famous chocolate-hazelnut spread. The reason? It would “make her the target of derision.” The parents opted for Ella instead.
Naming a child Saint, as well as Prince, King, or Royal, is not allowed in New Zealand. A couple also tried to name their kid the Roman-numeral name III, but the name was rejected.
Other names that are illegal in Germany include Pfefferminze (Peppermint) and Stone. The first one because it might cause ridicule, and the second simply because it's an object, not a first name.
What's in a name? A lot, apparently. So much so, that in some countries there are a number of names that are not allowed. Parents from all over the world have drawn inspiration from the most varied sources to name their kids. Some, however, saw their chosen names being rejected by local laws and even the courts.
In this gallery, we bring you some of the most famous examples of names that were banned around the world. Click on to get to know them.
Prohibited baby names around the world
From Nutella to Ikea
LIFESTYLE Bizarre
What's in a name? A lot, apparently. So much so, that in some countries there are a number of names that are not allowed. Parents from all over the world have drawn inspiration from the most varied sources to name their kids. Some, however, saw their chosen names being rejected by local laws and even the courts.
In this gallery, we bring you some of the most famous examples of names that were banned around the world. Click on to get to know them.