IN some countries, unconventional baby names are off limits, with ones that push the envelope getting outright banned by the government.
But in the United States, naming kids is a bit more of a free-for-all, with parents allowed to give their little ones monikers that are illegal in countries like France, China, and Australia.
The name Jihad is banned in France, and there have been at least three pairs of French parents who have gone to court after naming their sons Jihad.
The name refers to the struggle against evil in Arabic, but it is commonly associated with terrorist groups, as Nameberry reported.
But in the US in 2021, there were at least 13 boys who were given the name Jihad.
In New Zealand and Germany, naming your baby Lucifer is banned.
In Kassel, Germany, a couple wanted to name their son Lucifer, but a clerk refused to certify the name, according to Nameberry.
The couple then named their son Lucian instead.
But the devil is in the details, and babies born in the US are fine to have that name – including 69 boys born in 2021.
Another name that’s not allowed in Germany is Stone – but in the US, 19 girls and 215 boys were given that name last year.
In New Zealand, the names Saint, MJ, King, and Messiah have all been banned for babies.
In the US, though Saint is obviously allowed, and was picked by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for their son – as well as parents of 664 other boys and 18 girls in 2021.
Eight boys and nine girls were named MJ, 2,028 boys and five girls were named King, and 32 girls and 2,216 boys were named Messiah in 2021 — all of which are banned.
Messiah has faced some pushback in the US, though, and in 2013, a judge in Tennessee ordered a couple to change their son’s name from Messiah to Martin.
The reasoning was that the name should be reserved for only Jesus Christ, but that ruling was shortly overturned, as reported by Reader’s Digest.
In Switzerland, the name Cartier is banned – but last year it was given to 179 boys and 27 girls in the US.
The same for Judas, which was given to 23 American boys last year.
Calling your kid “God” is illegal in Australia, but five boys born last year in America have the unique moniker.
In China, the name Islam is banned, but there are 20 boys who were given the name in the US last year.
Also in the US last year, there were 70 baby girls named Hermione (banned in Mexico), 81 girls and seven boys named Nirvana (banned in Portugal), and 122 boys named Elvin (banned in Sweden).
