Lexi Webster
Australia has strict laws surrounding baby names, with over 80 names banned nationwide. The rules are consistent across the country and are put in place to ensure children are protected from names that could cause embarrassment, offence, or confusion. Names that exceed 50 characters, include numbers, symbols, or random punctuation, or are statements or phrases are prohibited. Names that resemble official titles or ranks, religious or spiritual figures, pop culture references, or are considered obscene, offensive, or misleading are also banned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of names banned | 89 |
| Maximum number of names | 5 |
| Maximum number of hyphenated names | 2 |
| Maximum number of names in a hyphenated name | 2 |
| Maximum name length | 50 characters |
| Maximum family name length | 38 characters |
| Permissible punctuation | Hyphen (-) and apostrophe (') |
| Prohibited | Names that resemble official ranks or titles |
| Prohibited | Names that are obscene or offensive |
| Prohibited | Names that are contrary to the public interest |
| Prohibited | Names that insult, humiliate, offend or intimidate a person or group |
| Prohibited | Names that are impractical for daily use in the community |
| Prohibited | Names that are displayed in the form of initials or acronyms |
| Prohibited | Names that are misleading |
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What You'll Learn
Prohibited names include swear words, slurs, and offensive terms
Australia has strict laws surrounding baby names to protect children from names that could cause embarrassment, offence, or confusion. Prohibited names include swear words, slurs, and offensive terms.
The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 prohibits names that are contrary to the public interest. This includes names that are reasonably likely to insult, humiliate, offend, or intimidate a person or group based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, or other distinguishing characteristics.
Names that fall under this category include swear words such as "Shhead", "Dickhead", and "Scrotum", as well as offensive slurs like "Chow Tow" (meaning smelly head), "Bonghead", "Panties", "Thong", "Smelly", and "Smellies".
Other prohibited names include those that resemble official ranks or titles recognised in Australia, such as "Duke", "Queen", "Judge", "Prime Minister", "Captain", "Corporal", and "Lord". Religious or spiritual figures are also prohibited, including "God", "Christ", "Jesus Christ", "Dalai Lama", "Saint", and "Satan".
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Names that are impractical for daily use, such as initials or acronyms, are banned
In Australia, the Registrar can refuse to register a birth name if it cannot be established by repute or usage. This includes names that are impractical for daily use, such as initials or acronyms. While "Alexander Brown" is a name that could be registered, variations that include multiple initials or acronyms, such as "Alexander Brian Alfred Percival Wulfric James Victor Christian David Lachlan Brown", would not be registered as they cannot be established by repute and usage.
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) applies a maximum length of 38 characters for family names, including spaces between names. This is because a person's name appears on their birth certificate, which is a principal identity document used by government agencies and companies. BDM is guided by restrictions on names to be registered, including a maximum character limit.
In addition to initials and acronyms, names that contain numbers, symbols, or random punctuation are also prohibited. This restriction includes prefixes and suffixes, such as Roman numerals. The only exception is the use of hyphens for hyphenated names and an apostrophe when it has phonetic, familial, or cultural significance.
To summarise, names that are impractical for daily use, such as those displayed in the form of initials or acronyms, are banned in Australia. This is to ensure that names can be established by repute or usage and are practical for use on legal identity documents.
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Names with official titles or ranks are not allowed
In Australia, the Registrar can refuse to register a birth name if it contains symbols, numbers, or is too long. Names that are likely to insult, humiliate, offend, or intimidate an individual or group are also prohibited. This includes names that are obscene or offensive, such as swear words, descriptions of violent or sexual acts, racial or cultural slurs, or references to drugs or alcohol.
Additionally, names with official titles or ranks are not allowed. This means names like 'Duke', 'Queen', 'Judge', 'Prime Minister', 'Lord', 'Corporal', 'Bishop', 'Captain', 'President', 'Doctor', 'Sister', 'Major', and 'Admiral' are banned. The reasoning behind this is to prevent children from having names that imply a false identity or suggest a status or profession.
The rules regarding baby names in Australia are designed to protect children from potential embarrassment, bullying, or confusion. While each state and territory has its own Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act, the core principles remain consistent across the country. The Victorian Government, for example, has prohibited certain names under the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act of 1996.
If a parent wishes to register a name that might be prohibited, the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria (BDM) will work with them to find a name that is meaningful to the parents, reflects community expectations, and can be registered.
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Religious or spiritual names are prohibited
Australia has strict laws surrounding baby names to protect children from names that could cause embarrassment, offence, or confusion. While the majority of names chosen by parents can be registered, there are some names that are classed as prohibited by the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996.
The first big no-no when it comes to naming a child is using an official title or rank across royal, political, religious, military, and judicial roles. This means names like "God", "Christ", "Saint", "Dalai Lama", "Bishop", "Lord", "Major", "Sister", "Corporal", "Captain", "Messiah", "Duke", "Queen", "Judge", "Prime Minister", "President", and "Doctor" are all prohibited.
In addition to official titles, names that are displayed in the form of initials or acronyms are also prohibited. This includes names like "Alexander Brian Alfred Percival Wulfric James Victor Christian David Lachlan Brown", which is too long and cannot be established by repute or usage. BDM applies a maximum length of 38 characters for family names, which includes spaces between names.
Furthermore, names that are obscene or offensive are also prohibited, including swear words, descriptions of violent or sexual acts, racial or cultural slurs, alcohol or drug references, or any words intended to insult or offend based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, or other distinguishing characteristics. This includes names like "Satan", "Lucifer", "Hitler", "Chow Tow", "Panties", "Virgin", "Smelly", "Shhead", "Scrotum", and "Bonghead".
Finally, names that are misleading or could be perceived as a joke or a stunt are also prohibited. This includes names like "Nazi", "Medicare", "Terrorist", "Anzac", "Osama Bin Laden", "Nutella", "Harry Potter", and "Facebook".
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Names with symbols, punctuation, or numbers are restricted
In Australia, the Registrar can refuse to register a birth name if it contains symbols, punctuation, or numbers. This is to ensure that names are practical for daily use in the community and can be used on legal identity documents.
Names that contain symbols, punctuation, or numbers may be impractical for daily use or on legal documents due to technical limitations. For example, many computer systems and official documents do not support the use of symbols or certain punctuation marks. This can create difficulties in recording and using the name in various contexts, such as in government records, official correspondence, and identity documents.
The restriction on symbols, punctuation, and numbers in names aims to strike a balance between allowing parents the freedom to choose their child's name and ensuring that the name is usable and practical for the individual as they navigate various legal, social, and administrative processes throughout their life.
It is worth noting that there may be exceptions to this restriction. For instance, in Victoria, Australia, the use of hyphens for hyphenated names and an apostrophe ('), where phonetic, familial, or cultural significance applies, is permitted.
While parents may have creative or unique ideas for incorporating symbols, punctuation, or numbers into their child's name, it is important to consider the potential implications and ensure that the name complies with the relevant laws and guidelines to avoid any legal or administrative complications.
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Frequently asked questions
Names that are offensive, obscene, or misleading are illegal in Australia. Names that resemble official ranks or titles are also prohibited. Names that are too long or contain numbers, symbols, or random punctuation are not allowed.
Some examples of illegal names in Australia include Duke, Prime Minister, God, Satan, Scrotum, Nutella, and Thong.
Yes, names in Australia cannot exceed 50 characters. There is also a maximum of 5 names in total, including hyphenated names.
The naming laws in Australia are designed to protect children from embarrassment, bullying, or confusion due to their name. The laws also ensure that names are not offensive or misleading.
If you choose a prohibited name, the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria (BDM) will not register that name. They will work with you to find an alternative name that is meaningful to you and meets the community expectations and legal requirements.
