Odd and Illegal Baby Names Around the World

Published on 29 August 2022, 07:22:56 AM

Only Canadian singer Grimes and entrepreneur husband Elon Musk could call their newborn baby boy X Æ A-12. Temporarily anyway. California disallowed the original name, pronounced “Ex Ash A Twelve” or “Ex Aye Eye”, for violating state naming laws that exclude numbers or symbols. The Space X founder’s choice wouldn’t have gotten off the tarmac in Ontario either. Speaking of odd and illegal baby names… 

Most Popular Ontario Baby Names

Most Ontario parents made more traditional choices in 2018. Biblical or Hebrew names like Liam, Noah, Lucas, Benjamin, Amelia, Ava and Olivia were the top Ontario baby names for 2018. Emma and William, both German, and Charlotte, the female version of the French Charlot (free man or petite), also made the list. Marie and Joseph are the all-time favourites since Ontario gave birth to a baby list 100 years ago. We’re waiting for the 2019 update in December.

Legal Baby Names in Ontario

Ontario has one of Canada’s most laid back baby naming policies. Single names are in, numbers or symbols are out. Saskatchewan can also kibosh a baby name containing numbers or symbols or that is confusing, includes a swear word or just plain embarrassing. British Columbia and Quebec can reject names that may cause ridicule. 

Canadian, Eh?

That doesn’t explain how Corny got his name in Alberta or Loan was approved in Quebec. Baby kept it simple in Nova Scotia, but we hope Talon keeps his cool in British Columbia. We’ll never know for sure if The Raspberry Capital of Canada, as B.C. is known, was giving us one when it approved Magnolia, Juniper and Meadow. 

No Food in France

Ridicule or ridiculous? Gwnyeth Paltrow has a California Apple, but food capital of the world France drew the line at Strawberry (Fraises in French) and Nutella. 

‘Hulava’ a Name Rejected in New Zealand

Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii got a nine-year-old girl a sympathetic court hearing in 2008. A New Zealand family court judge made her a ward to allow her to pick her own name. The judge was no fan of parental choices Benson and Hedges for twins, Midnight Chardonnay, Number 16 Bus Shelter and “tragically, Violence.” The Kiwi state outright rejected Justus, 4Real, Messiah and MJ.

But Can You Spell it in Icelandic?

Blaer Eidsdottir’s name was withheld from Icelandic government documents for 15 years for being too masculine. She was known officially as “Girl” until an Icelandic court relented in 2013. Oddly, being able to spell a name in Icelandic gets parents bonus points.

Beats Musk Every Day

Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116:, pronounced Albin, got a Swedish couple a 5,000 kronor fine in 1996. Whether the couple was hung over at the time, or as Swedes would say, “their hair hurt”, is unknown. Superman and Ikea got rejected too.

Ima Hogg Anything But 

Almost anything goes in the U.S., researcher Michael Sherrod says, including Cholera Plague and Semicolon. Texas philanthropist Ima Hogg used her family’s oil fortune to found the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin in 1940 and the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Despite her good works, she goes down in infamy with fellow Americans Ima Pigg, Ima Nut, Ima Reck and Ima Pain.

Across the Pond

Cyanide was pure poison in England. Martian, Chow Tow (translation “Smelly Head”) and Akuma, meaning “Devil”, got the axe with a stiff upper lip.  

Australian Hijinks

Holy Bunions! Batman was too caveman for Australians. Joining the persnickety French, the down under state refused to bite at Spinach.

Caped Crusader Rejected (Again)

Mexico gave Batman the boot too, along with Terminator and Burger King.

Absolute Worst Baby Names

Few parents could match these real-life gems: Pizzazz, Febreze, YurMajesty, Rhubarb or, in a pandemic year, Ebolah and Sars. Cigarette may have lit up his parent’s lives, but Dementia sent them to an early grave. Felony feels like a crime. Kale could be a healthy choice, but Sassi and Rowdy are downright disruptive.

It’s All in the Pronunciation

Just to prevent any confusion. Grimes (the Artist Formerly Known As Claire Boucher of Vancouver), 32, tweeted that her first baby’s name stands for:

• “•X, the unknown variable ⚔️
• •Æ, my elven spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence)
• •A-12 = precursor to SR-17 (our favorite aircraft).  No weapons, no defenses, just speed.  Great in battle, but non-violent + 
• (A=Archangel, my favorite song) 
• (⚔️ metal rat).”

2020 is the Chinese Year of the Rat. TMZ, the popular TV gossip show, says the baby will now be known as X, middle name Æ A-Xii. 

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