Banned Names in Australia: Why These Names Are Illegal to Use

Genevieve Mellberg

Vee is a former American college student working in Australia this summer. Though they don’t have any kids of their own, they’ve enjoyed teaching at preschools and kids’ dance schools these past few years. You can usually find them making music, painting, or hanging around any nearby animals.

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Updated on Mar 20, 2025 · 10 mins read

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Banned Names in Australia: Why These Names Are Illegal to Use

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It’s about time to pick a name for your precious new bub, and you can’t wait to look through the endless lists of baby names to find the perfect one.

Well…not quite endless.

According to naming laws, over 80 baby names are banned in Australia.

We can easily see why certain names are banned, while others seem okay, if a bit odd. Yep, the moniker that is immortalised on your little one’s birth certificate is serious business, so you might want to familiarise yourself with the illegal baby names before you get too attached to the idea of announcing that Mister Monkey Nutella Officer is now earthside!

Now, we get it – you want your child to have an original name that is as special and unique as they are. But, to avoid making your baby a criminal before they’re even born, or even if you’re just a little curious, we’ve got all of the banned names right here.

For fun, we’ve also included some of the most interesting names that are actually banned in other countries, like Iceland and America.

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Understanding the restrictions on baby names

Australia’s strict laws around names are designed to protect children from names that could cause embarrassment, offence, or confusion.

The Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1996 lays down the guidelines for naming children, ensuring that names are appropriate and respectful. This means that names considered obscene, offensive, or contrary to public interest are off-limits.

So, what exactly made the list of baby names that violates law?

Well, first up, we’ve got self-explanatory no-gos that any reasonable person will avoid, like “Adolf Hitler,” and “Osama Bin Laden.” We know you saw those coming, so let’s move on to some less obvious ones.

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Official titles and ranks you can’t use as baby names

Vast majority are the ones that are an official title or rank. These include (but aren’t limited to) Admiral, Baron, Cadet, Captain, Chief, Corporal, Duke, Emperor, General, Lady, Madam, Major, President, Prime Minister… you get it!

It’s probably for the best, as it would be a bit strange to have a baby grow up to be Prime Minister. Definitely weird.

King is also on the no-fly list, as is “Prince”. This came after a law was passed sometime in 1995 prohibiting the use of titles as part of a baby name. Yep, there can only be one Prince William, apparently.

So, if one of these official title names is on your baby names list, we are sorry to say that you might need to go back to the drawing board.

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Religious names you can't use as baby names

Maybe no religious parent would name their little one “God”, but atheists are out of luck too.

When choosing a birth name for your baby, there are many banned baby names in Australia that fall into the illegal baby names category due to religious reasons.

Of course, we’ve got “God” and “Christ,” and there’s also “Satan” and “Lucifer.” “Jesus” is not on the list, although why that’s so different from “Christ” we’re not really sure.

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Swear words that you can't use as baby names

Next up, we’ve got slurs, curse words, and insults.

We know, you’re thinking “Aw shucks, looks like the name I picked out won’t work after all.”

You can’t name your little one Bonghead, Chow Tow, Panties, Thong, Virgin, Snort, Smelly, Sh**head, or Stompie.

Sorry, but these are all banned in Australia (for a, hopefully, obvious reason).

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Also off-limits

Another illegal name is “Australia,” so you’ll have to show your Aussie pride in another way.

Finally, we’ve got some random ones mostly brand names or symbols. 50, Nutella, @, Harry Potter, Facebook, iMac, Ikea, Marijuana, and Monkey are all illegal baby names.

And yes, monkey is the only animal name that has officially made it to the illegal names in Australia (it’s also illegal in Denmark).

So, if you really going for a baby name called “Kitten”, “Tiger” or “Emu” – go right ahead (maybe don’t call your child “Emu”, just saying).

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Why are these baby names banned?

Essentially, these names have been banned to protect children against careless and harmful names which could humiliate offend or intimidate your child.

With these guidelines in mind, it’s clear that choosing a name for your little one is more than just a personal preference, it’s about ensuring they have a name they can wear proudly throughout their life.

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What do the naming laws and regulations state?

According to naming laws in Australia rule that a child’s name must:

Not be obscene or offensive or contrary to public interest; no racial slurs, names that include sexual, alcohol or drug references or infringements on the rights of another
Be short and easy to write (In NSW, under 50 characters)
Not include symbols without phonetic significance for example N@talie, Da!sy, J#ke) or use numerals
Not include or resemble an official title or military rank recognised in Australia, such as King, Lady, Father, Prince, Sir or Admiral
Use English letters only
Not be similar to a recognised body, organisation or trademark
In Queensland, the name can’t include a statement like Save Mother Earth or Down with Capitalism (pity)
Some states and territories mandate that the name can’t be similar to a recognised body, organisation or trademark

Of course, some examples manage to slip through the cracks!

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A controversial baby name experiment

In September 2023, an Aussie journalist made headlines when she named her third child “Methamphetamine Rules” as an experiment for work.

She was shocked when she was able to legally register the name, explaining “People think there’s a specific blacklist of names, but there’s not – there’s just legislation that says it can’t be obscene or offensive, too long, there are character limits, it can’t use symbols or be an official rank or title. But all of those things are open to interpretation by the staff at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in each state.”

She has since changed her son’s name to something more conventional. Phew!

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What baby names are banned in other countries?

Before you start thinking, “Sheesh! why does Australia have such strict naming laws around baby names?” Let us assure you that our sunburnt country is not the only one boasting a long list of banned baby names.

From New Zealand to Iceland and beyond, here are some of the illegal names around the world.

New Zealand

In the past, New Zealand has rejected first names such as “4Real,” “Queen Victoria,” and twin names “Benson” and “Hedges.” Since 2001, the baby names most commonly rejected are “Justice” and “King.” “Mafia No Fear” was also requested (and rejected)—though only once.

Iceland

In Iceland, parents Elisabeth Hallin and Lasse Diding attempted the name “Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116” in 1991, claiming it was pronounced “Albin.” Ermm, nice way to play with the Icelandic alphabet there, guys! Needless to say, they weren’t able to get it approved.

Apparently, the reason for the unusual choice of baby name was to protest a fine imposed under the naming law in Sweden.

Argentina

In Argentina, the name “Messi” is banned, due to the famous Argentinian football player of the same name.

United Kingdom

Sorry parents but if you were thinking that “Cyanide” had a nice ring, you are fresh out of luck. The poison is one of the names banned across the pond – in fact, a U.K. court intervened after a British woman named her twins “Cyanide” and “Preacher.”

Malaysia

Malaysia decided “007” should be illegal, though “James Bond” is still fair game. Chow Tow (which means smelly head) is also on the illegal list in Malaysia – just as it is here in Australia.

United States

In America, the specific name “1069” has been banned since a man tried to use it in 1976. Odd, especially since Elon and Grimes had no legal issues naming their baby “XÆA-XII” in May of 2020, claiming that the hodgepodge of symbols was pronounced, “Ex-Ash-A-Twelve.”

Japan

If you thought using foreign names could be a workaround for naming your child something that is banned in Australia, you might still want to do some research before you choose baby names that could get your kiddo in hot water during vacation. The name Akuma is prohibited in Japan because it means “devil”. Apparently, two parents tried to use the name for their son in 1993, but the government stepped in.

Morocco

Here’s an interesting one! While “Sarah” is perhaps one of the most traditional and popular names around the world, Moroccan parents who are fans of the moniker unfortunately have to choose a different name for their kids. This is because they have to pick a name from a government-approved list that fits the “Moroccan identity.” Sarah, being a Hebrew name, does not pass the test.

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What is the registration process?

When it comes to registering a baby’s name in Australia, the process is overseen by the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM) in each state included in the Victorian government.

Here is how to go about it:

You must register the birth of your child with the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM) within a specified timeframe (usually within 60 days).
During registration, you must provide the chosen baby name as part of the process.
Be mindful of banned names in the Victorian government—names that could humiliate offend or intimidate are not allowed.
The BDM checks the provided name against the guidelines outlined in the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1996.
If the name is found to be on the list of banned baby names, the BDM will not register it as it falls under the category of prohibited name.
You will need to select a different name from the list of approved names if your initial choice is rejected.
Once you have chosen an approved name, complete the registration form accurately. Submit any required documentation along with your child’s birth certificate application to ensure a smooth process.

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How BDM makes a decision to register a name

The BDM evaluates each name on a case-by-case basis, considering various factors such as the name’s meaning, cultural and family significance, and potential to cause offence or embarrassment.

If a name is deemed inappropriate or feels chosen for an improper purpose, the BDM will contact the parents to explain the reasons and offer guidance on choosing a suitable alternative (e.g. avoid names they’ll be mocked over for the rest of their lives).

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What happens if the name cannot be registered?

If the chosen name cannot be registered and the parents don’t give an alternative, the BDM may assign a name themselves.

In some instances, parents can appeal the decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

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The full list of banned baby names in Australia

We weren’t able to go over them all in detail, so here’s the full list of banned names in Australia. Parents, we’re so sorry if this ruins your perfect baby name idea!