Spanish Duke ordered to change newborn daughter’s extraordinarily long name

The official name is so long that we can’t even fit it in the headline. 

17th Duke of Huéscar and his wife Sofia welcomed their baby in January. Source: Europa Press via Getty Images

A Spanish duke has been ordered to reconsider the name of his newborn daughter after official files found it was too long. 

Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, the 17th Duke of Huéscar and his wife Sofia Palazuelo came under fire after they baptised their daughter on 7 October. 

But when they went to register their second child’s name, the legal office informed them that it was too long to accept. 

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17th Duke of Huéscar and his wife Sofia welcomed their baby in January. Source: Europa Press via Getty Images

Duke of Spain told his daughter’s name was far too long

The given name was so long that El Plural, the outlet that broke the news, couldn’t even fit it in their headline.  

Now, here is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. 

The child’s official name is Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos.

Try saying that three times. 

There are 11 names in total (or 157 letters if you want to be specific), and despite the loving meaning behind the name, the Spanish Civil Registry wasn’t too impressed.

They explained to the Duke that their child’s name was unacceptable under Spanish law and must consist of “one compound name” and “two simple ones,” per El Pais. 

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Sofia and her daughter at the baptism. Source: Cordon Press

Spanish Civil Registry refuses to budge on extraordinarily long name

If you thought the baby’s name was long-winded, just wait to see where the inspiration came from.

She was named after her great-grandmother, the Duchess of Alba, who passed away in 2014 at 88. 

The Duchess of Alba’s official name was María del Rosario Cayetana Paloma Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Fernanda Teresa Francisca de Paula Lourdes Antonia Josefa Fausta Rita Castor Dorotea Santa Esperanza Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva Falcó y Gurtubay.

That’s not where the influences end. 

“The first name, Sofía, for example, was chosen in honour of her mother and grandmother, Sofía Barroso, and the second, Fernanda, as a tribute to her father, Duke of Huéscar, as well as her great-uncle, Fernando Martínez of Irujo, Marquis of San Vicente del Barco,” reported El Plural. 

No matter the inspiration nor the duke’s royal title, the name registry isn’t budging. 

“The girl will not be able to be registered in the Civil Registry with a string of names that surpass all rules, even though it is a tribute to the deceased Duchess of Alba and other members of the family and includes religious devotions,” the Civil Registry said. 

The Duke is yet to confirm the baby’s new name.

Originally published as Spanish Duke ordered to change newborn daughter’s extraordinarily long name