Babies called Braxlee, Blayde, Bleu, Tayzia, Tybee, Tyce, Stryker, Stonker, Spartacus, Maysun, Majesty and Mox

[MollyHuaCha]

In Germany, you must be able to tell a child's gender from their first name. You cannot use a surname or the name of an object as a first name.

In Sweden the Naming Law exists to check first names to ensure they do not cause offence or discomfort to the one using it.

In Japan, 'inappropriate' names are banned.

Denmark produces a list of around 7000 approved names. Creative spellings are not allowed.

Iceland rejects baby names that might embarrass the child. Names also need to fit in with Icelandic traditions.

Is it time for all countries to give more guidance to parents naming their children?

[chinlop]

Is it time to stop using teddy bear faces as bullet points?

[MollyHuaCha]

Good reply chinlop! ()

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I would find it weird and intrusive not to have free choice over my own child's name. Which is a little ironic as I didn't get to name my DC as they came with their own name when we adopted them, and I am perfectly happy with that.

[EssentialHummus]

I would find it weird and intrusive not to have free choice over my own child's name.

Same here. My heart sinks a little when I see names like those in the OP because - MN cliche coming up - that kid will grow up to be an adult and I think what you're named affects how you are perceived in the job market and socially, but beyond that I can't get riled up any more.

[chinlop]

There is no reason why the state should have any say in what a person chooses to name their own child, and I would strongly reject any attempt to implement such a rule.

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

OP, now can you name all the countries that have no/minimal restrictions on names? But no more bears please.

[ILookedintheWater]

....but I'm Spartacus!

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I was going to say something about the bureaucratic difficulty caused by a limited number of names in Denmark, like having several Pia Jensens in the same year at school. But then I thought about names here, e.g. Mary Ryan (I live in Ireland) and how they all seem to get through life without any issues. Maybe 7000 names is enough for a smallish population to get by with. I wonder if they make exceptions for the children born to parents of non-Danish origin?

[GeillisTheWitch]

Stonker? Surely nobody is actually called that?

[RhythmStix]

I thought stonker meant erection?

[Mejse]

I'm living in denmark and you can apply to have a name put on the approved list if you want but it takes a little while. We wanted to be able to visit the UK as soon as possible so we were restricted in the names we could choose. We had to use a more traditional less common spelling of our sons name.
Some names you would consider "normal" in the UK aren't on the list, while others that have recently been approved include: Ninja, Panda, Skat (the Danish equivilant of calling your child Hun), Aloha, Dreng (this is the word for boy) Awesome and Haj (shark).
The rules in other countries aren't as great as you might think

[MollyHuaCha]

Iwasjustabouttosaythat I believe there are 178 countries without name restrictions - too many to list... esp as I'd be so tempted to add a little bear as a bullet point for each.

Mejse thanks for adding to the Denmark view :-). I think other countries on the restricted name list allow you to apply (for a fee) to try to get your unusual name approved too.

[Mejse]

There isn't a fee here you just have to be able to justify why you want to use the name. The list started at about 7000 but is more like 30,000 now

[KatharinaRosalie]

My original country has restrictions, you cannot use names that have too unusual and unsuitable spellings or pronounciations, nothing with numbers and symbols or that are insulting or rude. And yes there are exceptions if you can show you have cultural etc reasons to use this otherwise unusual name.

I don't really mind - there are a lot of areas where the government restricts your right as a parent. Protects children when the parents think it would be really fun to call them Shithouse number 54

[MikeUniformMike]

I like Spartacus, Ninja and Panda.

[harderandharder2breathe]

As much as I dislike the names in the OP, I'm glad we have the right to choose freely

The only time the state should step in is if a name is offensive or will cause significant harm to the child e.g. Hitler, Penis, Fuckoff.

[TheFirstMrsDV]

People only like the idea of these laws because they don't think they will affect them.

Imagine the uproar if Ava, Oscar, Finn, Aoife, Eve and Lily were on the forbidden list.

People should mind their own business about what others call their kids.
No one in the UK has called their child Hitler or Poobucket or if they have they haven't got away with it.

So harmful names are not an issue.
The issue is with names others think are common.

Daisy and Archie used to be common. If you called out those names in a naice London park nowadays you would get killed in the stampede.

[UsernameInvalid66]

BlackAmericano (nice choice of drink by the way) - I worked in a school where there were two boys with exactly the same name, let's call them Connor Brown. "Big" Connor Brown was in year 5 and was aggressive, noisy and often in trouble. "Little" Connor Brown was in year R, tiny for his age, cried most days and wouldn't say boo to a goose. One day in assembly Big Connor must have been doing something silly because the deputy head suddenly shouted "CONNOR BROWN STOP THAT IMMEDIATELY!" And Little Connor shot about three feet up into the air and burst into loud wails.

[AngelaTwerkel]

Those rules are ridiculous. You must be able to tell a child's gender? So no Sam or Jamie.

Is this another thread about children not becoming high court judges because they're called Staycee?

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

Imagine the uproar if Ava, Oscar, Finn, Aoife, Eve and Lily were on the forbidden list

Indeed. I dislike names like Peregrine as much as I dislike Chardonnay but free choice isn't it?

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

loving the bears OP

[PelvicFloorClenchReminder]

Don't worry OP, I'm sure it won't be long before the law is passed that all female babies must be named Theresa and all male babies must be named Boris.

[zeeboo]

Oh dear Lord the bears
I am very glad that we aren't limited in names. My daughters have unusual names but neither are crazy or offensive.
As for it being easy to pin point their gender, with gender fluidity being more and more acceptable nowadays except on Mumsnet
It can be a comfort and advantage to trans youth and their family that they can seek their true identity without having to seek a new name. I've just finished a fantastic memoir by the mother of a ftm trans son and he expressed to her, as did his grandparents that he/they were so pleased he didn't have to change his name.

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

A requirement to have gender specific names would be particularly difficult in English speaking countries where there is a long history of gender drift. Names like Hilary, Shirley, Jocelyn, Lindsay, Sidney and Lynne were all male names that drifted into being used for girls.

[FizzyGreenWater]

I'm going to apply for TeddyBullet to go on the approved list.