From Pope to Ranga: The 89 banned baby names in Australia

A leading baby name expert has weighed in on a viral list of names that are banned Down Under – and there are some shockers on the list.

For all the wild baby names that are out there at the moment, you’d think that nothing is off-limits when it comes to naming your child.

But it turns out that Australia has some strict name rules, and there are actually 89 monikers that parents are banned from giving their babies Down Under.

While each Australian state and territory has its own Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, the names on the list are those that are illegal nationwide in the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1996.

The legislation sets the guidelines for what names are off-limits, including those that are obscene or offensive, too long, include symbols without phonetic significance, or are contrary to the public interest.

Illegal baby names

The first type of baby names that receives a thumbs down includes official titles, ranks, and words related to royalty.

That means that King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Admiral, Baron, Marshal, and Duke are a no-go.

Some religious and mythical names are also banned, including Bishop, Pope, God, Dalai Lama, Devil, Saint, and Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, brand names and food-themed names won’t get the tick of approval, so parents-to-be should steer clear of trying to name their kid Nutella, Ikea, Facebook, iMac, and Medicare.

Names that are downright offensive or rude on the list include Adolf Hitler, Nazi, D**khead, G-Bang, Panties, Scrotum, Seaman, S**thead, Thong, and Terrorist.

Other rogue names that are prohibited include Monkey, Passport, Bonghead, Cyanide, Harry Potter, and Ranga.

Our country’s name is also banned from being used, but Aussie or Ozzy are allowed if you’re really set on honouring Australia.

For practical reasons, you also can’t choose a name that is longer than 50 characters.

There are 89 banned names in Australia. Picture: iStock

Baby name expert weighs in

Baby naming consultant Michelle Casey told news.com.au that she’s not surprised about the banned list as she’s noticed a rise in parents exploring bold, unconventional baby names.

“They often dance right on the edge of what’s considered unique or out-there,” she explained.

Having helped parents name their children since 2019, Ms Casey said she’s witnessed a growing desire for creative names that feel “meaningful and reflective of personal values or heritage” – a trend amplified by social media and the popularity of making ‘name announcements’.

“That said, while parents might tiptoe with the thought of using those braver, more out-there choices, most still end up landing on something that sits in the sweet spot – fresh, but still familiar,” she noted.

“The bolder names often come up in the early brainstorm, but they’re usually more of a guilty pleasure name – loved, but not always chosen, or perhaps they fit perfectly in the middle name spot – balancing out the familiar with the bold!”

If you do have your sights set on one of the names on the banned list, don’t fret – Ms Casey said she’s seen certain ones accepted, including Saint, Duke, Justice, and Malek.

On an Instagram video she posted about the topic, her followers also shared names they had come across in the wild, such as Honour, ANZAC, Princess, and Major.

Some names can get accepted through certain loopholes. Picture: iStock

Baby name loopholes

So, how can you get a banned name approved?

It turns out that the names on the list aren’t automatically rejected, and state-by-state exceptions can be made.

For example, according to the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (RBDM), applications to register a banned name will be considered.

“Before making a decision that a name is prohibited, RBDM takes into account relevant factors including family and cultural relevance and how that name would be perceived in the community,” they said.

Victoria’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) also states, “If you are seeking to register a name that might be prohibited, BDM will work with you to ensure your child’s name — or your own — is meaningful to you, reflects community expectations, and can be registered”.

So, if you’re keen on submitting a name from the list and seeing if it gets approved, check out the full list below.

Mother holding her little cute sleeping baby boy

Banned baby names in Australia

Admiral

Adolf Hitler

Anzac

Australia

Baron

Bishop

Brigadier

Bomb

Bonghead

Brother

Cadet

Captain

Chief

Christ

Chow Tow

Colonel

Commander

Commissioner

Commodore

Constable

Corporal

Cyanide

Dalai Lama

Dame

Devil

Dickhead

Doctor

Duke

Emperor

Facebook

Father

G-Bang

General

God

Goddess

Harry Potter

Honour

Ikea

iMac

Inspector

Jesus Christ

Judge

Justice

King

Lady

Lieutenant

Lord

Madam

Mafia

Majesty

Major

Marijuana

Marshal

Medicare

Messiah

Minister

Mister

Monkey

Nazi

Ned Kelly

Nutella

Officer

Osama bin Laden

Panties

Passport

Pope

Premier

President

Prime Minister

Prince

Princess

Professor

Queen

Ranga

Robocop

Saint

Satan

Scrotum

Seaman

Sergeant

S**thead

Sir

Sister

Smelly

Snort

Socceroos

Terrorist

Thong

Virgin

Originally published as From Pope to Ranga: The 89 banned baby names in Australia