You can no longer name your kid “Linda” in Saudi Arabia. Here is a list of countries that find it necessary to call the shots when naming their newborns.
1. Morocco
In Morocco, there is a list of approved names that appropriately reflect “Moroccan identity.” You can name a baby “Sara” (Arabic version) but not “Sarah,” (Hebrew version).
2. Iceland
In Iceland, baby names are supposed to fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules — choices like Carolina and Christa are not allowed because the letter “c” is not part of Iceland’s alphabet.
In January 2013, a 15-year-old girl named “Blaer” won the right to keep her name, which she had been told by authorities wasn’t feminine enough.
3. Portugal
Portugal has an 80-page document outlining which names are acceptable and which aren’t. For a long time, only biblical or Christian names were allowed. “Nirvana,” “Olaf” and “Kennedy” didn’t make the cut.
4. Denmark
Denmark has a list of 7,000 pre-approved names. “Anus,” “Monkey” and “Pluto” are not on it.
5. Germany
In Germany, you must be able to tell the gender of the child by the first name. “Matti,” for instance, was rejected. The name also must not be considered to have a negative impact on the child’s well being.
An office of vital statistics, called the Standesamt, decides whether or not a name is OK. They have nixed “Stompie,” and “Woodstock” as well as last names like “Kohl.” “Osama bin Laden”? Not so much.
6. New Zealand
The official list of rejected names in New Zealand includes “4Real,” “Mafia No Fear” and “Anal.” Other gems — like “.” and “*” — didn’t even bother with the alphabet.
All of the names on the list were at some point proposed by parents, soon to be rejected by the government, which deemed the names too offensive.
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