Things you might not know about baby naming

[JessiT]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1930269/banned-baby-names-uk-parenting

Jessi

[AntonyMMM]

So many inaccuracies in that, I wouldn't know where to start .....

(and their "source" is a commercial deed poll selling business)

[Kiltpin]

A mother in our village claims that her lockdown baby boy's middle name is DIVOC. 

Regards 

Chas

[Kiltpin]

In Germany, the Registrar has a list of 500 (German) boy's names and a list of 500 (German) girls names. There are no ethnic names, nor any foreign names. You declare the sex of the child first and then choose up to 3 names from the appropriate list. 

When there were a million Turkish Gastarbiter (Guest Workers) in Germany, thousands of their sons were called Michael, because there was no Mohamed on the list. 

Johannes, Johannes, Johannes Schmidt, is perfectly acceptable. Johannes for the father, Johannes for the paternal grandfather and Johannes for the maternal grandfather. 

Regards 

Chas

[aghadowey]

In Germany, the Registrar has a list of 500 (German) boy's names and a list of 500 (German) girls names. There are no ethnic names, nor any foreign names. You declare the sex of the child first and then choose up to 3 names from the appropriate list. 

When there were a million Turkish Gastarbiter (Guest Workers) in Germany, thousands of their sons were called Michael, because there was no Mohamed on the list. 

Johannes, Johannes, Johannes Schmidt, is perfectly acceptable. Johannes for the father, Johannes for the paternal grandfather and Johannes for the maternal grandfather. 

Not sure that is correct as I have a German relative called Manuela (female version of the Spanish name Manuel) and this list says that Mohammed is probably the 23rd most popular boys name in 2023-
http://www.firstnamesgermany.com/

[Kiltpin]

Obviously, times have changed, but it was certainly like that in the mid-80s. Of course, what you call your child at home might very well not be what is on his, or her birth registration. 

Regards   

Chas

[Kiltpin]

I did not read the article before replying - "There are no official name statistics in Germany." 

Regards 

Chas

[KGarrad]

From a solicitor's website(https://newnham-jordan.co.uk):

Germany

Germany is a very practical and forward thinking country, this also shows in their baby naming laws. When naming your child in Germany you must be able to tell the gender of the child by their first name, and then the name must also not have a negative effect on the wellbeing of the child. The First name must also not be a last name, an object or a product. The name you choose has to be approved by the Standesamt (German civil registration office). If the office rejects your chosen name you can appeal the decision. But if you lose the appeal a new will have to be chosen. Each time you submit a name you pay a fee, so it can get costly.

[AntonyMMM]

In England/Wales there are no banned names - a child can be given whatever name the parents wish, and there is no requirement to give the child any forenames at all at the time of registration (or subsequently).

The only restriction is that you can't use a numeral as a name - so you can't call a child "7" ( but you could call them "Seven") and that if the registrar considers that the name chosen might be "objectionable" then the matter has to be referred to GRO for a decision.

(the surname given can be anything too - it doesn't have to match either of the parents).