Australia has a surprising list of 89 names that are officially banned under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996, and some of the names might shock you.
The Australian law prohibits names that are offensive, misleading, too long (over 50 characters), or contrary to the public interest. Names with symbols or punctuation without phonetic meaning are also off-limits.
Names banned across the country include:
Royal or official titles: King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Duke, Admiral
Religious/mythical names: Pope, God, Jesus Christ, Saint, Dalai Lama
Offensive terms: Adolf Hitler, Terrorist
Brand names: Facebook, Ikea, Nutella, iMac, Medicare
Other unusual entries: Monkey, Harry Potter, Cyanide, Passport
Even "Australia" is off-limits, though nicknames like Aussie or Ozzy are allowed.
Baby name consultant Michelle Casey says the list reflects a rise in parents exploring “bold and unconventional” names that express personal values or identity. However, she notes most parents ultimately choose names that balance uniqueness with public acceptability.
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“These daring names often come up in early brainstorms but end up as middle names or get dropped altogether,” she said.
Interestingly, names aren’t automatically rejected — registries in different states consider cultural relevance and public perception before making a decision. Some banned names like Saint, Justice, or Duke have reportedly been approved under specific circumstances.
Therefore, Australian parents must adhere to the rules when naming their children, even though they encourage creativity.
