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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Enko · 15/09/2024 09:20

Danish parents must choose their child’s name from a list of approximately 7,000 preapproved names or seek approval from the government

One-off the rules is parents cannot give their child a name that will be a hinderence in life.

I can recall in the late 80s a woman wanted to call her son Christophpher and this was not allowed it became a huge big thing as she was adamant it was a normal name with the phph.

I dont mind a list of apoved names as long as you can get to add to it if you want something more unique. In Denmark that's possible.

Wigtopia · 15/09/2024 08:44

Sinisterdexter · 14/09/2024 11:09

Didn't Zowie Bowie give his dd the same name?

Danny Dyer gave his daughter the same name as him but spelt differently 😄

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 15/09/2024 08:39

I remember the case of a British couple living in Germany who wanted to call their daughter Gift. It wasn't allowed as the word gift in German means poison.

JanglingJack · 14/09/2024 23:59

Tallulahdoesthehulainhawaii has never left me.

I can't remember whether it was banned or allowed.

Benson and Hedges were banned for twins years ago.

ImustLearn2Cook · 14/09/2024 23:50

I don’t think suziequinto realises that Sonny is a recognisable boys name that was very popular in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

Moonshine5 · 14/09/2024 22:57

You @SuziQuinto

Moonshine5 · 14/09/2024 22:53

You actually said "proper" but don't let accuracy bother thou

Lunde · 14/09/2024 22:51

Moonshine5 · 14/09/2024 10:52

Many countries veto certain names

Yeah the same in Sweden - the tax office (who act as the registrar) get the right to veto names

Ones they have vetoed include

  • Lucifer
  • Troll
  • Ikea
  • Anarkia
  • Superfastjellyfish
  • Tomhet (means emptiness)
  • Skrot (Scrap)
  • Alkis (slang for alcoholic - like wino)
Moonshine5 · 14/09/2024 22:51

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 12:44

ps Archie isn't another name for "son" or "boy child" it's actually a name!

Aha selective names (ie. Ones you like don't count 😂)
@SuziQuinto why didn't you just day lol

DrummingMousWife · 14/09/2024 20:42

Yeah we need an approved list. There are people trying to outdo their mates by calling their children the worst names ever . Hardly fair on the kids really .

Fladdermus · 14/09/2024 20:39

Here in Sweden we have a few rules. Or at least we did last time we checked. The name has to:

  1. identify the sex
  2. not subject the child to ridicule
  3. can't have a double barrelled surname unless royalty

and my personal favourite

  1. can't have more letters than letter spaces on a standard tax office form

Also second names here are just as important as first. It's just as common for someone to use their second name as their first, so people normally ask.

CruCru · 14/09/2024 20:37

Saralyn · 14/09/2024 12:41

Fun fact: In Norway the name Harry has almost completely fallen out of use because it now is commonly used to describe someone who is uncultured. Similar to chav in England, but not quite the same.

This reminds me of a Finnish friend who said that boys names ending in “y” aren’t used much because they are considered lower class (I have a Henry).

EmmaGrundyForPM · 14/09/2024 20:08

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 14/09/2024 10:25

Well, I've got a very normal name that has become a slur so no-one can guarantee you won't be safe from bullying at any age because of your name whatever it is.

Karen?

KnottedTwine · 14/09/2024 18:03

Every year National Records of Scotland produce a complete list of all names given to babies the past year.

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2023

There are some very.... unusual choices on the full list spreadsheet. There's no excuse for calling a baby Tygalily, Siennah-Reign, Lyzzy-Rose, Rj, Ox, Chyll or Banksy.

Babies' First Names 2023 | National Records of Scotland

National Records of Scotland

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2023

Mochudubh · 14/09/2024 17:47

PadstowGirl · 14/09/2024 10:31

Dragon though! 😄
See I think that would sound gorgeous with a Welsh accent!

Hah!

Reminds me of Chorlton and the Wheelies (one for the youngsters there).

"I hate that drraggon"

"Eeeh, She's a loavelly little ol' lady".

Court blocks baby name..... thoughts.....
TeamPolin · 14/09/2024 14:36

Anyone mentioned Elon Musk and Grimes' son yet? Clearly having an IQ the size of a planet doesn't mean you are immune to episodes of abject stoopidity....

TheLittleOldWomanWhoShrinks · 14/09/2024 13:52

I don't like Sonny myself, but don't think it's terrible. Whoever said about Girlie, there are plenty of names meaning 'little girl' in various languages (Nina, Wiebke, etc.) that are used in those languages.

German registrars can refuse to register a name if it would subject the child to ridicule, if it's a common object or if it doesn't unambiguously identify the child's sex (not sure if that has changed with the advent of self-ID) - so an Alex or a Kim (for example) might need a clearly boys' or girls' middle name. I remember a court case where a registrar had refused to register a girl as Marie Christin as those can both be boys' names (ignoring the fact that Marie/Maria only ever get used as middle/second-in-double-barrel names for boys).

Edit: one of our dd's middle names is a common name, but using an unconventional spelling (it was after someone) and we were half-expecting to have to provide evidence of some kind when we registered her. Similarly her first name, as a non-German form of a name that exists in Germany. But no problems at all. I think it can depend very much on the registrar.

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 13:38

merryhouse · 14/09/2024 13:34

Maybe not, but plenty of people name their daughters "Elle"

True. It's French, though. There's no "nice one, elle, come here elle" in popular usage.
However, at least it's recognisable as a name.
Conversely, in my neighbourhood there seem to be a number of dogs called Bella.
Not a related point really, just musing about dogs being fur babies.

merryhouse · 14/09/2024 13:34

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 11:54

Would you call your daughter "Girly"?
Give them a name.

Maybe not, but plenty of people name their daughters "Elle"

StamppotAndGravy · 14/09/2024 12:49

SonicTheHodgeheg · 14/09/2024 12:23

In many countries with approved lists, foreigners have leeway to use names common in their country.

I live in a country that had lists. Actual foreigners with foreign passports got leeway although sometimes you had to prove it was a name on the approved list in your own country, but mixed couples or second generation naturalised didn't get that option. It's normally partly an anti-foreigner you-will-assimilate move to stop there being too many Mohammeds.

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/09/2024 12:48

Flashcardsagain · 14/09/2024 09:11

The example in the link is stupid sexist rubbish.

But yes agree ridiculous names like la-a should be stopped.

Agree.

Germany has long had rules laws about naming babies. I presume you wouldn't get away with Adolf Hitler.

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 12:44

Saralyn · 14/09/2024 12:41

Fun fact: In Norway the name Harry has almost completely fallen out of use because it now is commonly used to describe someone who is uncultured. Similar to chav in England, but not quite the same.

Now that is a fun fact!

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 12:44

ps Archie isn't another name for "son" or "boy child" it's actually a name!

SuziQuinto · 14/09/2024 12:43

Moonshine5 · 14/09/2024 12:09

Define proper, words evolve @SuziQuinto
Would you say
"My friend has an Aga in her kitchen" or
"My friend has a Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator cooker in her kitchen"?
Do you say "gif" or "graphics interchange format"?

Are you saying to anyone called "Archie" that they should change it to Archibald? Why is Archie not a proper name according to you ?

I think you're going too far and should let Archie be Archie and Sunny/ Sonny.

Live and let live.

Words evolve! No shit!
Anyway, cookers apart, give a child a proper name, they won't be a child forever. That's all.

Saralyn · 14/09/2024 12:41

Fun fact: In Norway the name Harry has almost completely fallen out of use because it now is commonly used to describe someone who is uncultured. Similar to chav in England, but not quite the same.