Check a name
Save your future kid some trouble: give them a name they can live and grow with.
Names that judges said no to
A judge made the 9-year-old a ward of court so she could change it. She had told friends her name was K.
A court renamed the baby Ella, saying the name would expose her to mockery.
Refused: the judge expected teasing with the slang "ramène ta fraise" (roughly "butt in").
Pronounced "Albin", according to the parents, who were protesting the naming law. Refused.
Refused: numbers aren't allowed. The parents settled on Superman.
Three of 61 names on the state's banned list.
The father fought the refusal in court, then chose another name.
Refused in both countries.
Every country has its own rules. See the naming laws by country →
What the score looks at
- International readability. Letters and sounds that change or vanish in other languages: J in Spanish, W in German, special letters on forms.
- Easy to say and spell. Syllables, consonant clusters and spellings that don't match the sound.
- Not too common, not too strange. A top-10 name means three in the class. A very rare one means spelling it out for life.
- Playground-proof. Rude words and rhymes, because kids will find them.
- Won't get you sued (or refused). Brands, titles, numbers and symbols.
- A meaning to be proud of, the flow with your surname, the language they'll grow up with and the laws where you'll register the birth.
A New Zealand judge made a 9-year-old a ward of court so she could change her name. It was Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.
Family Court of New Zealand (2008)Questions parents ask
What makes a good baby name?
One your child can live and grow with: easy to say and spell where they will live, not so common that it feels impersonal, not so odd that they spell it out every day, no awkward initials or rhymes, and accepted by the registry in your country.
Can a country refuse a baby name?
Yes. Many countries can refuse names that harm the child, such as brand names, titles, numbers or insults. Iceland, Denmark and Portugal go further, with official lists of approved names. See our naming laws by country.
How is the score calculated?
Each part is scored out of 10 and averaged. One deal-breaker, like a brand name or numbers, caps the total, because a single problem can follow a child for life.
Fun, but true. Name meanings come from common etymologies, which sometimes disagree. Height and weight paths are estimates from population growth data and published studies, not a medical assessment. If you're worried about your child's growth, talk to your paediatrician. Full disclaimer