Parents think long and hard before naming their child. Imagine picking a name and then the government rejecting that name and making you choose another.
In Aotearoa, New Zealand, this happened 64 times in 2023.
In a recent press release by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the most frequently declined baby name in 2023 in Aotearoa, New Zealand, was ‘Prince.’ This marks a shift from the previous 13 years when ‘King’ held the unenviable title of the most rejected name. In total, 64 registrations faced declination during the past year.
New Zealand follows specific guidelines to ensure that names are inoffensive, of reasonable length, and do not mimic official titles or ranks. The law grants the Registrar-General authority to reject names that violate these guidelines. The evaluation of non-compliant names is conducted on a case-by-case basis, with the determination of offensiveness being a subjective judgment call.
Russell Burnard, the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, emphasizes the significance of names. He calls them a gift and an integral part of an individual’s identity. Burnard encourages parents to consider the potential impact of a chosen name on their child’s life.
During the review process, parents are given the opportunity to present their reasoning for the chosen name. The decision takes into account how the name may be perceived by the public, striking a balance between personal choices and the Department’s legal obligations.
To assist parents in navigating the naming process successfully, the Registrar-General provides the following tips:
1. Avoid Official Titles or Ranks: Refrain from using names resembling official titles or ranks.
2. No Numeric Characters or Symbols: Steer clear of using numbers, symbols, or punctuation marks.
3. Avoid Offensive Names: Choose names that are not likely to be considered offensive.
4. Limit Characters: Keep the name within 70 characters, including spaces.
Top Declined Baby Names of 2023
Prince: 5 instances
Bishop: 3 instances
III: 3 instances
King: 3 instances
Major: 3 instances
Royal: 3 instances
Messiah: 2 instances
Princess: 2 instances
Prynce: 2 instances
Rogue: 2 instances
Royale: 2 instances
Sovereign: 2 instances
AazyahRoyaal: 1 instance
Captain: 1 instance
Chief: 1 instance
Empress: 1 instance
Fanny: 1 instance
Isis: 1 instance
Jairah-King: 1 instance
JP: 1 instance
Judge: 1 instance
Justice: 1 instance
Justus: 1 instance
KC: 1 instance
Kiing: 1 instance
Kingkillah: 1 instance
Knight: 1 instance
Leonidas-king: 1 instance
Masai-King: 1 instance
MissTaunese: 1 instance
Nepher-ISIS: 1 instance
Notoriety: 1 instance
Pope: 1 instance
Princess-Penina: 1 instance
Pryncè: 1 instance
Queen: 1 instance
Rhoyael: 1 instance
Royaal: 1 instance
Royalty: 1 instance
Royalty-Reign: 1 instance
Saint-Liivoja: 1 instance
Sovereign-Kash: 1 instance
XIX: 1 instance
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