In one island nation, baby names that are deemed offensive, unreasonably long, or have non-standard symbols are strictly forbidden. But the real reason behind most of the 38 rejected applications last year was something entirely different.
In New Zealand, names also cannot resemble official titles and ranks “without adequate justification”, to the disappointment of some new parents. An information request revealed that the New Zealand Government rejected numerous applications for royal-themed baby names last year, including titles like King and Queen. King, which led the list of banned baby names for 14 years in a row until 2023 when it was replaced by Prince, topped the list once again with 11 denials.
Prince in second place was rejected 10 times, while Princess was turned down on four occasions. Even creative variations didn’t slip through the net, with Pryncess being rejected twice for failing to meet naming standards.
Officials also consider community perceptions of the names, which may explain why Sativa and Indica, both strains of cannabis, were rejected, as well as Fanny.
The 38 rejections were detailed in a letter from John Crawford-Smith, Principal Advisor of the Department of Internal Affairs, in response to a written inquiry.
This contrasts with a more lenient approach in the United States, where royal-themed names have surged in recent years.
According to the US Social Security Administration, more than 1,000 children in the United States were called King last year.
Celebrities have leaned into royal-theme, with singer Blac Chyna’s naming her son King Cairo, while Kourtney Kardashian called her child Reign Aston Disick.
In the UK, celebrities have also opted for Royal names, like Katie Price, who famously called her daughter Princess.
In contrast, the most popular female names in New Zealand were Isla, Amelia, Charlotte, Olivia, and Mia, while the boys’ names in vogue were Oliver, Noah, Henry, Leo, and Theodore.
