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Here’s the baby names that are banned in the UK

Published 12:03 1 Jan 2026 GMT

Updated 12:04 1 Jan 2026 GMT

Here’s the baby names that are banned in the UK

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See the full list below

The days of sticking to traditional baby names are behind us, as parents now have boundless freedom when naming their child.

However, that freedom may be more limited than it seems. If you think you can name your child anything you like, we may have some bad news.

Although the UK Deed Poll Office says there are few official rules, some names can still be off-limits.

It warns: "There aren’t many strict rules about baby names in the UK, but some names stretch the limit. Names that are racist or considered harmful to the child could be illegal and banned in some parts of the UK."

However, the UK Deed Poll Office does have some rules that must be followed. Names cannot be impossible to pronounce, include numbers, symbols, or punctuation marks (except hyphens and apostrophes), be considered offensive, vulgar, or blasphemous, or be fraudulent—such as implying the child holds a rank, title, or inherited honour.

There is also a strict rule surrounding the use of both the first name and the surname. It says: "Names that do not include at least one first name and one surname will not be accepted."

With so much creative freedom and the pressure that comes with naming a child, some parents later regret their choice. Fortunately, there is a way to fix it if the regret sets in quickly enough.

According to the UK Deed Poll Office, you can make a change by using a deed poll.

It advises: "The first name can be changed if the birth was registered in the last 12 months. The birth must be re-registered to alter a surname.

"In both cases, each person with parental responsibility must give consent to the change. The birth certificate will not be changed, but will be linked to the new deed poll to provide evidence of the change.

"If you need to make a change because of a mistake made on the original register entry, you'll need to fill out an application to update it. The original information will always be present in the register.

"However, if your application is approved, the register will also contain a note in the margin showing the corrected details and a note stating when the correction was made. Birth certificates issued after a correction will also have updated notes in the margins."

While the UK does not have an official list of banned names, some have reportedly been rejected in the past.

These include Cyanide, because of its association with poison, Martian, and names like King and Princess, which could potentially be used for fraud.

However, in other countries, the rules are stricter.

What follows is a list of names which have been banned. And also, which country has made the decision, per The Mirror.

Chief Maximus (New Zealand)

Robocop (Mexico)

Sex Fruit (New Zealand)

Linda (Saudi Arabia)

Snake (Malaysia)

Friday (Italy)

Islam (China)

Sarah (Morocco)