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Have you ever heard someone’s baby’s name and immediately thought, “There ought to be a ban?” Well, if you’re in the U.S., you’re out of luck because most names are acceptable here. But did you know that in France, you can’t name your baby “Nutella”? While it boggles the mind why anyone would do so (other than preventing baby name theft), there are countries where they have lists of banned baby names. Read on for some of them and let us know if you agree!
Why would a name be banned?

Since most names are allowed in the U.S. — save for some rules, like not allowing numerals or unlimited characters in names — it may surprise you to know that in other countries, certain names are illegal. The reasoning behind their ban is usually practical, the names often falling into offensive, confusing, or preposterous categories.
But just like different cultures and regions interpret what is “offensive” in varying ways, so, too, do they diverge in what names are considered distasteful.
1) Adolf Hitler
Illegal in Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, and New Zealand, the name of Adolf Hitler is banned due the offensive nature of the name. Even though you’d think the Nazi leader and chief person responsible for the Holocaust would be illegal in America, that is not the case.
“I don’t think baby names should be illegal,” California teacher and mom of two Staci Jefferson told us, “but [some] may warrant a call to Child Protective Services (CPS) — like Adolf Hitler, an actual name of a kid.”
2) Amir
Forbidden in Saudi Arabia, Amir means “prince,” and Saudi Arabians are not allowed to name their children with names that relate to royalty. Other terms that confer royal status like Malika (queen), Malek (king), Sumuw (highness), or Al Mamlaka (the kingdom) are also prohibited.
3) Bonghead
In Australia, parents are barred from naming a child Bonghead — yes, the water pipe used for smoking cannabis, tobacco, and other herbal substances — because it’s considered offensive.
4) Sex Fruit
A set of parents in New Zealand actually thought naming their child Sex Fruit was appropriate, but mercifully the government did not.
Illegal baby names: names banned around the world (and why)

The reasons that countries give for banning certain names are surprisingly practical: A country’s alphabet might not contain certain letters, many do not allow symbols or names that cannot be articulated, and to ease confusion, certain titles (like prince or judge) are not allowed. Other times, it’s grounded in outdated traditions, like not allowing a boy to be named a more effeminate name or vice versa.
5) Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116
This, uh, entry was rejected in Sweden on the grounds that it wasn’t a name. Though the parents claimed it was pronounced “Albin,” the judge disagreed. Apparently in Swedish naming law, “names which for some obvious reason are not suitable as a first name” will be disapproved, and the parents tried to give their son that name to protest.
6) Carolina
While the meaning of Carolina (a free person) is innocuous enough, Iceland banned the name because the Icelandic alphabet doesn’t have the letter “c.” There are other rules in Iceland that indicate certain names will be prohibited because they can’t be written with the Icelandic alphabet or cannot be pronounced with proper Icelandic grammar.
7) .**
No, that is not a typo. This name was not accepted on two grounds: It’s not a name and could cause confusion. After all, how would you pronounce it?
8) @
Pronounced “ai-ta,” which is similar in sound to “love him/her/them” in Mandarin Chinese, the “at” symbol was denied in China because it is a symbol. Although parents in China can choose any name they wish for their kids, it’s strongly encouraged to choose names that are easily read or scannable by a computer — and symbols aren’t it!
Thinking about a name for your baby? Check it out first

If you’re considering a more unusual name, you may want to check your state or county’s naming laws and restrictions first. Also, you may want to consider that names influence real life — especially how people will perceive your child.
After studying names in different regions of the world, a 2012 study found that the more unusual the name, the more likely that person would be considered risky or threatening. Researchers also noted how even simple statements were more credible if a person with a simple name instead of an unusual name said it.
“People draw subconscious cues all the time about people. You meet a person for the first time, and without thinking about it on an explicit level, you’re looking at the way they’re walking, what their accent sounds like, how they’re dressed, whether they smell … and you’re developing these immediate reactions,” David Figlio of Northwestern University in Illinois told Live Science. “We’re hardwired to try to figure out in a heartbeat whether or not we want to trust somebody, whether we want to run from somebody.”