210+ Crazy Illegal Names: Banned All Over the World

We’re all fascinated by illegal names for baby boys and girls. The trend to be as weird as possible with baby names often walks the line between acceptable and banned. Depending on the country you live, different illegal names show up for the most surprising reasons.

Journey to discover which banned names exist from the U.S. and Europe to the Middle East and Oceania. Along the way, you’ll discover how these names became illegal and why they were rejected.

79 Illegal Names for Boys

These banned names for boys are illegal and can refer to historical figures and cartoon characters.

1. Abdul – means “worshiper of” in Arabic and is among the banned names in Saudi Arabia.
2. Abdul Ati – is illegal to have in Saudi Arabia and means “servant of Allah.”
3. Abdul Mosleh – an Arabic and sometimes Persian form of Mosleh, meaning “righteous,” banned in Saudi Arabia.
4. Abdul Mo’een – means “servant of the guardian of faith” in Arabic and is illegal in Saudi Arabia.
5. Abdul Nabi – is one of 51 illegal names in Saudi Arabia, which means “servant of the prophet.”
6. Abdul Nasser – made up of the Arabic “abd,” “al-,” and “nasser”; means “servant of the helper.”
7. Abdul Rasool – another Arabic name that means “servant of the prophet,” banned in Saudi Arabia.
8. Adolf – best known as Hitler’s first name, which is illegal in Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, and New Zealand.
9. Aiman – an alternative to Ayman, meaning “righteous,” “blessed,” or “lucky” in Arabic.
10. Akuma – means “devil” in Japanese and is among illegal baby names in Japan.
11. All power – is illegal to use in Mexico since kids can’t have more than one first name.
12. Allah Akbar – is surprisingly banned in Sweden; it means “God is greater” in Arabic.
13. Amir – means “prince” in Arabic and is among many illegal names in Saudi Arabia.
14. Baseel – is banned in Saudi Arabia and means “brave” for boys in Arabic.
15. Batman – is the name of the famous DC Comics superhero, but illegal in Mexico.
16. Binyamin – the Arabic Benjamin, which is considered controversial (and illegal) in Saudi Arabia.
17. Bishop – from the Greek “epískopos,” meaning “overseer”; among 71 baby names banned in New Zealand.
18. Biyan – means “explanation” in Urdu and is a short form of Binyamin, which is banned in Saudi Arabia.
19. Bruce – among seemingly normal banned baby names considered foreign for Portuguese-born babies.
20. Chief – a military title that is illegal for a mommy to give her son in Australia.
21. Chief Maximus – banned in New Zealand, the birthplace of “Gladiator” actor Russell Crowe.
22. Christ – any version of Jesus Christ is included among forbidden American names.
23. Constable – part of the list of banned names in New Zealand; refers to a police officer.
24. Duke – is banned in Australia, among other names that confuse a person with a particular rank.
25. Duncan – not allowed for babies in Iceland, since there is no “c” in the Icelandic language.
26. Elvis – the king of rock n’ roll’s name is banned in Sweden, as is Elvis Presley.
27. Emperor – like other royal-inspired names that aren’t for the taking in New Zealand.
28. Enrique – the Spanish form of Heinrich, meaning “home ruler”; banned in Iceland for being too foreign.
29. Fat Boy – is considered too “mockable” for daddy and mommy to name their baby in New Zealand.
30. General – a tough-guy military rank you can’t name your child in Australia.
31. George – considered too foreign for Portuguese babies to have as a name.
32. Griezmann Mbappe – a compound illegal name for Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe of the French football team.
33. Hansen – is banned in Norway because it is one of the most popular surnames.
34. Harry Potter – a funny (and illegal) choice for baby names in the U.S. from the popular franchise.
35. Haugen – from the old Norse “haugr,” meaning “tiny hill”; illegal in Norway as a first name.
36. Hitler – best known as Adolf Hitler’s surname, which is illegal in many countries around the world.
37. Inar – from the Old Norse Einar, it’s illegal in Norway, meaning “one warrior” or “battle leader.”
38. Jakobp – not among 7,000 approved baby names in Denmark as an alternative spelling of Jakob.
39. James Bond – you can’t name your child after 007 in Mexico, as it’s an invitation to bullying.
40. Jesus Christ – though Hispanic parents name their babies Jesus, the Messiah’s full name is illegal.
41. Jibreel – is the Arabic form of Gabriel banned in Saudi Arabia, along with any blasphemous names.
42. Jimmy – is far too foreign a name for Portuguese children to take, according to national laws.
43. Johansen – is among the popular surnames in Norway that are forbidden to be used as a first name.
44. José – in California (even near Nevada), accented names are illegal, while Jose is fine.
45. Juan Calzón – translates to John Panties, which is illegal in Mexico today.
46. Judas – is among illegal baby names in Switzerland, where it’s considered inappropriate.
47. Justus – a form of “justice,” which is disallowed for boys in New Zealand.
48. King – a common first name for Chinese boys, which is illegal in the United States.
49. Knight – a banned name for babies in New Zealand, while Shrek remains technically legal.
50. Larsen – a patronymic surname meaning “son of Lars,” which can’t be a given name in Norway.
51. Lord – means “loaf-keeper” in English and is not permitted for babies born in Australia.
52. Ludwig – is banned in Iceland, where parents have six months to report their newborn’s name officially.
53. Majesty – means “greatness” and “grandeur,” but is disallowed for Australian babies.
54. Malaak – means “angel” in Arabic and is considered too religious for babies in Saudi Arabia.
55. Malek – is another royal banned name in Saudi Arabia, which means “king” in Arabic.
56. Messi – in Rosario, Argentina, it’s illegal to name your son after iconic football player Lionel Messi.
57. Michael – like other Anglo-sounding first names, Michael is not legal in Portugal.
58. Milak – similar to Malik, meaning “king,” and one of 51 banned baby names in Saudi Arabia.
59. Mr – the abbreviation for Mister is one of many illegal names in New Zealand.
60. Nabi – a term of endearment, meaning “butterfly” in Korean, which is banned in Saudi Arabia.
61. Olsen – means “son of Ole” in Scandinavia; too popular a surname to use for boys.
62. Osama bin Laden – the notorious leader’s full name is banned for baby boys in Germany.
63. Pluto – is among a small set of banned names in Denmark, though the reasoning is not official.
64. Prince – like other royal titles, you cannot name a little boy Prince in Australia.
65. Prince William – is banned in France after parents named their baby boy after the current Prince of Wales.
66. Rambo – considered “lacking in meaning” when naming a Mexican baby after Sylvester Stallone’s famous character.
67. Robocop – like Rambo, there’s no chance babies in Mexico can be named Robocop anytime soon.
68. Rocky – is illegal in Mexico and the second banned baby name after a Sylvester Stallone movie character.
69. Santa Claus – specifically illegal as a baby name in the U.S. state of Ohio.
70. Schmitz – a very common surname in Germany that was banned from being used as a first name.
71. Sir – an English masculine title that is not permitted as a baby name in Australia.
72. Sitav – means “shadow” in Kurdish and is among many names banned in Saudi Arabia.
73. Stephen – is banned in Hungary, while the non-English spelling Stefán gets a green light.
74. Superman – along with Ikea and Metallica, you can’t name your baby boy Superman in Sweden.
75. Tabarak – means “blessed” in Arabic and is seemingly too religious for babies in Saudi Arabia.
76. Thor – is illegal in Portugal since it doesn’t reflect Portuguese culture.
77. Titeuf – is a Swiss cartoon character that is illegal to use in France.
78. Tom – is among Portugal’s very English-sounding names that are banned from use.
79. Wolf – is illegal in Spain, but a couple did win a case to call their son Wolf.

54 Illegal Names for Girls

There aren’t as many banned names for girls, but these are illegal for unique reasons.

1. Aileen – a Gaelic form of Helene, meaning “shining light” that is also illegal in Saudi Arabia.
2. Ainar – means “fire moon” or “pomegranate moon” in Arabic, which is too controversial for girls in Saudi Arabia.
3. Alice – under the “too foreign or blasphemous” list of girl’s names banned in Saudi Arabia.
4. Als – better to use as a baby girl’s full initials than a first name, which is not permitted.
5. Ambre – the Arabic form of Amber, which cannot be used in France.
6. Apple – Gwenyth Paltrow couldn’t name her daughter Apple in Malaysia, where it’s banned.
7. Ashanti – is considered an outlaw name, improper for the Portuguese list of girls’ names.
8. Ashleiy – a banned version of Ashley that isn’t acceptable in Denmark.
9. Basmalah – means “in the name of God” in Arabic, which isn’t permitted in Saudi Arabia.
10. Camilla – Camilla is illegal in Iceland, where no “C” is in the alphabet.
11. Carolina – another “C” girl’s name that seems harmless but isn’t allowed in Iceland.
12. Catherine – considered far too English-sounding for Portuguese girls.
13. Chanel – the famous fashion trademark “C” name is not legal in Switzerland, while Covid is.
14. Charlotte – this princess-friendly name is not allowed in Portugal, along with other Anglo names.
15. Cinderella Beauty Blossom – appeared as a girl’s name in New Zealand and was banned right then and there.
16. Dame – given to a “woman of rank,” yet among illegal title names in Australia.
17. Elaine – means “shining light” in French, but it’s not a legal name in Saudi Arabia.
18. Eleen – a Norse variation of Eileen meaning “hazelnut,” which is a banned name in Saudi Arabia.
19. Emily – means “rival” and “eager” in Latin, yet is illegal in Portugal, along with Charlotte.
20. Empress – a high-ranking title of nobility that doesn’t fly in New Zealand.
21. Harriet – doesn’t fit into the native Icelandic language, so it is not permitted there.
22. Hermione – in Sonora, Mexico, Hermione is illegal since it’s a witch’s name in Harry Potter.
23. Jenny – from the English Jennifer, meaning “white spirit,” also too Anglo for Portuguese baby girls.
24. Joyeux – means “happy” in French, but is illegal there, where it’s thought of as too “whimsical.”
25. K8lyn – an oddball spelling of Kaitlin, which is not allowed for girls in Sweden.
26. Lareen – means “laurel tree” or “sweet bay tree” in Latin, but it is banned in Saudi Arabia.
27. Liam – is one of the top boy names in the U.S.A. banned for girls in France.
28. Linda – means “pretty” in Spanish but is among many illegal baby names in Saudi Arabia.
29. Lucía – a Latin name meaning “graceful light,” which is banned in California because of the accent.
30. Maleen – the German short form of the Hebrew Magdalene, meaning “the one born in Magdala.”
31. Malika – means “queen” in Arabic and is illegal in Saudi Arabia since it refers to royalty.
32. Maliktina – a diminutive of Malika meaning “queen” or “angel” in Arabic, not used in Saudi Arabia.
33. Mamlaka – describes a religious “kingdom” in Arabic, which is frowned upon in Saudi Arabia.
34. Matti – an unusual spelling of Matty or Maddy, banned in Germany due to its non-specific gender.
35. Maya – means “illusion” or “dream,” referring to the Hindu goddess of wealth, illegal in Saudi Arabia.
36. Mercedes – banned in France and Switzerland as too familiar a brand name.
37. Molli – made an illegal girl’s name in Denmark for not being Danish enough.
38. Nabiya – it’s unclear why Nabiya is among the banned baby names in Saudi Arabia; it means “aware.”
39. Nardeen – another name for the perfume Mary Magdalene used to bathe Jesus’ feet in the Bible.
40. Naris – a Korean girl’s name banned in Saudi Arabia, meaning “mermaid” in Arabic.
41. Paris – the world’s most romantic city isn’t a girl’s name in Portugal; it means “a tribe of Gaul.”
42. Princess – this female royal rank isn’t allowed for a baby girl in Saudi Arabia.
43. Queen – this highest of royal names happens to be illegal in Texas.
44. Queen Victoria – is disallowed in New Zealand, where people wanted to honor the queen with this name.
45. Rama – means “wife,” “delightful,” and “pleasing”; thought of as blasphemous in Saudi Arabia.
46. Randa – a nickname for the Latin Miranda, meaning “worthy of admiration” not given in Saudi Arabia.
47. Rihanna – means “sweet basil” in Arabic but isn’t a permitted name in Portugal.
48. Rital – may have too many royal associations to be allowed in Saudi Arabia.
49. Sarah – a biblical name illegal in Morocco because of its Hebrew spelling.
50. Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii – one of the longest and most ridiculous banned names in New Zealand.
51. Veranda – from the Hindi “varanda,” used to denote a porch, which is illegal in Sweden.
52. Violet – one of the names banned in Malaysia for describing anything in nature (a flower).
53. Yara – means “small butterfly” in Persian and Arabic, illegal in Saudi Arabia.
54. Zoe – is not permitted in Iceland because it doesn’t fit into Icelandic language and traditions.

81 Unisex Illegal Names

The weirdest unisex illegal names use objects, symbols, and numbers to stand out.

1. () – even a set of parentheses cannot appear as a baby name in the U.S.
2. * – like other symbols, you cannot name your baby girl after the asterisk symbol.
3. . – someone in the U.S. tried to name their baby after a period punctuation mark.
4. / – you cannot have a baby named after the symbol for a forward slash in America.
5. 007 – like James Bond, using 007 as a name in Malaysia is illegal.
6. 1069 – became illegal after a North Dakota man tried to change his name to 1069.
7. 4Real – numbers and symbol names remain illegal in New York, so 4Real is unavailable.
8. @ – one of the many banned symbols you can’t name a child within the U.S.
9. 水子 – a Japanese kanji for “water” and “child” that is unacceptable in Japan.
10. Arm – one of the strangest banned baby names in Saudi Arabia.
11. Blu – this unique spelling for the color blue was made illegal in Italy.
12. Bonghead – this derogatory name isn’t allowed for boys or girls in Australia.
13. Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 – the longest and most nonsensical baby name that’s easily avoided in Sweden.
14. Burger King – no fast food names like Burger King are permitted in Mexico.
15. Chow Tow – an insulting illegal Malaysian name that translates to “smelly head.”
16. Christmas Day – the most joyous day of the year is illegal to use for babies in Mexico.
17. Cyanide – a troublesome baby name inspired by poison that was first banned in Wales.
18. Diamond – this shiny moniker is illegal in Hungary, where it’s represented as Gyémi.
19. Eman – a variant of Iman, meaning “belief” and “faith,” now illegal in Saudi Arabia.
20. Facebook – among 61 banned baby names in the Mexican state of Sonora.
21. Fish and chips – no matter how great fish and chips are, no New Zealand babies are allowed this name.
22. Fraise – means “strawberry” in French and is considered inappropriate for French babies.
23. Friday – In Italy, it’s illegal to name your baby Friday even if they arrived on Friday.
24. Gesher – means “bridge” in Norwegian and is not a permitted name in Norway today.
25. God – directly religious names like God are banned in Victoria, Australia.
26. H-Q – this short form of the word “headquarters” is illegal in New Zealand.
27. III – California banned this suffix, meaning “the third” generation of a line of sons.
28. Ikea – despite being the homeland of IKEA, Swedish babies can’t show their love with the name.
29. iMac – a popular computer, but deemed not a baby’s name in Australia.
30. Islam – the religion of Muslim people is not considered a baby name in China.
31. J – a one-letter illegal choice for a girl or boy if you reside in Switzerland.
32. Jinx – is considered too dark a name for babies in Wales.
33. Judge – could be used to impersonate an actual judge, according to Australian law.
34. Justice – another general English word that has been banned for babies in Australia.
35. Justyce – a problematic name for a baby born in Washington, DC.
36. Khiow Khoo – among the many odd banned Malaysian names, meaning “sexual intercourse.”
37. Kohl – is too gender-neutral a name for babies to use in Germany.
38. L B – a particular set of initials made illegal for baby names in New Zealand.
39. LOL – a 21st-century name that stands for “laughing out loud” that is illegal in Australia.
40. Lego – this children’s toy is banned for babies born in Sweden.
41. Lucifer – the most evil of illegal names disallowed in New Zealand.
42. MJ – a short form of marijuana that doesn’t work for babies in New Zealand.
43. MMMR – the exact reason this name is banned in New Zealand is unknown.
44. Mafia No Fear – one of the more quirky baby names you can’t use in New Zealand.
45. Manhattan – you can’t name your baby Manhattan, even if it’s where you and your partner met.
46. Martian – is included with a few banned baby names in the U.K., so not just for aliens.
47. Master – a problematic title in the U.S. when naming your little one.
48. Mecca – the Chinese Communist Party bans all names referencing major religions.
49. Metallica – despite Sweden’s love for heavy metal, you cannot call a child Metallica there.
50. Mini Cooper – the second attempt at a baby name in France after Prince William didn’t work out.
51. Monkey – a banned animal name in Denmark, is considered a good excuse for bullying.
52. New Jersey – although New Jersey has few naming limits, you can’t name your child New Jersey.
53. New Zealand – known for baby name rules where you can’t name your tot after it.
54. Nigger – the worst offender among illegal baby names you cannot use in the U.S.
55. Nirvana – a state of mind and 90s rock band, but you can’t name your baby Nirvana in Portugal.
56. Nutella – the French may love Nutella, but they don’t give the name to their children.
57. Peppermint – also known as “Pfefferminze,” is banned in Switzerland, along with Stone.
58. Prime Minister – the top seat in government, which isn’t a legal name in Australia.
59. Q – this seemingly innocuous one-word name is not a possible choice in Sweden.
60. Quran – among the list of religious names that are illegal for babies in China.
61. Ranga – the Australian slang for a redhead that is on the unapproved list of baby names.
62. Rogue – is one of the few banned names for babies in the U.K., even Star Wars fans.
63. Rolling Stone – is included with pop culture names that babies in Mexico cannot take on their own.
64. Royahl – it seems New Zealanders can’t get enough of royal names, even ones with unique spellings.
65. Royale – rejected three times for newborn babies in New Zealand.
66. Saint – a term of endearment with religious connotations that is illegal in New Zealand.
67. Sandy – is one of the many banned names in Saudi Arabia, meaning “defender of mankind.”
68. Sarjant – a particular spelling of the title sergeant that is illegal in Australia and New Zealand.
69. Sayonara – a funny yet illegal baby name in Portugal; means “goodbye” in Japanese.
70. Sex Fruit – is one of the wildest two-word banned names in New Zealand.
71. Smelly – included in a 2017 list of banned names in Australia, simply for being too cruel.
72. Snake – made illegal as the Malaysian Ah Chwar since names cannot reflect animals or nature.
73. Snort – for pig lovers in Australia, Snort is not legal for a baby boy or girl.
74. Sor Chai – mistaken for a cup of tea, but “chai” means “life” in Hebrew and is illegal.
75. Spinach – as common as this healthy vegetable is, Spinach is an illegal name in Australia.
76. Stompie – thought of as embarrassing for any German child to be called Stompie.
77. Stone – You cannot name a baby Stone in Switzerland (or Peppermint either).
78. Superintendent – part of the list of official titles not used as baby names in Australia.
79. Usnavy – another particular name banned in Sonora, Mexico, which stands for United States Navy.
80. Venerdi – the Italian translation of “Friday” banned in an Italian court in 2008.
81. Viking – far from the land of pirates, Viking is an illegal baby name in Portugal.

Illegal Baby Names FAQs

Are Any Names Banned in the U.S.?

Depending on the U.S. state, many names are considered illegal in areas of the United States. These include obvious choices like King, Queen, Jesus Christ, Santa Claus, and Majesty.

Other stranger options involve names like Adolf Hitler, Messiah, the @ symbol, and the number 1069. Generally speaking, names that reflect trademarked brands tend to be rejected when it comes to baby naming.

Why Is 1069 an Illegal Baby Name?

A selection of U.S. states prohibits naming your baby any symbol or number. Specifically, 1069 was banned in the North Dakota Supreme Court during the 1970s when a schoolteacher tried to make it his name. Simply put, numbers are not allowed to count for names, whether you’re an adult or a baby.

Why Is the Name III Banned?

The name III, which stands for the Roman numeral three, was made illegal in California in 1984. Thomas Boyd Ritchie III attempted to change his name to III and was denied. This denial was when it became clear that numbers and symbols could not be legally used as a name.