Naming your infant is an intimate and emotional experience, but do you know what is legal? There are some restrictions based on your jurisdiction, but we are here to assist!
What you will discover:
The name’s length
Characters that stand out
There is no chance!
The final word on the surname
A girl’s identity is unknown.
Congratulations, you are expecting a child! Naming your children is one of the most enjoyable aspects of having them, but with great authority comes great duty. Despite the predominance of famous children with names like Apple, Inspektor, and Kal-El, there are formal restrictions on what a child can be named.
The freedom to name your infant is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause in the United States. However, there are still disagreements. In 2013, Tennessee Judge Lu Ann Ballew declared that a newborn boy called Messiah should be renamed Martin because “it is a title that has only been earned by one person—Jesus Christ.” However, the ruling was reversed in chancery court a month later, and Ballew was dismissed. A discipline meeting was set because the name change order broke Tennessee’s Code of Judicial Conduct: there are no statutes prohibiting the use of sacred names, and judges are expected to execute their responsibilities without respect for religious prejudice.
That is not to suggest that anything goes when it comes to titles. When it comes to calling your kid, most states have a few real limitations.
Table of Contents
The name’s length
In Massachusetts, first names must be no more than 40 letters long. Several other states restrict the amount of letters as well, typically due to program constraints used for formal record keeping.
Choosing a Name for Your Child
Special images via Giphy
A name cannot contain special symbols such as umlauts, diacritical marks, or pictograms in California, but apostrophes and slashes are permitted. So, if you can not call your kid José or Lucîa, De’wayne or Jo-Ann will suffice. Similar limitations apply in Massachusetts and Kansas. The use of Arabic symbols is restricted in Texas, but Roman numbers are permitted.
There is no chance!
Although it should be obvious, some states prohibit the use of vulgarity as a child’s name. In New Jersey, for example, statute law allows the State Registrar to refuse any selected names or nicknames that contain a vulgarity.
The final word on the surname
Many jurisdictions require that a child’s last name be related to that of the parents. Some states are more stringent than others; for example, Tennessee and Louisiana require the infant to bear the father’s surname in all cases. Other states (Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Montana, Washington, and South Carolina) have no limitations on last name selection.
A girl’s identity is unknown.
Surprisingly, most states do not compel you to name your kid. States such as Nevada and Michigan do not require parents to submit or even choose a name to the state. (However, try getting your child’s focus on the field!)
naming your kid officially
courtesy of Giphy
Finally, calling your kid is a deeply intimate and emotional decision that is entirely up to you. However, if you are concerned about breaking the law, Before heading to the register, consult with a lawyer about that uncommon character moniker—just to make sure little Wolverine has a name.
