These Illegal Baby Names That Have Been Banned Around the World

In the United States, almost anything goes when it come to baby names. While parents have to deal with the joy and drama of choosing a baby name, taking into account the most popular baby names along with whether or not the rest of the family will hate it, very few names are actually forbidden. Naming laws are actually set by the state, and some states have more requirements than others. There are some commonalities: In most states, you can't put a numeral in your name, for example, and there are often character limits to how long you can make a name. (In Minnesota, you're limited to "only" 150 characters.) But if you want to name your kid something that'll get them teased for the rest of their life, it's your American right.

In other countries, though, that isn't always the case, and there are much stricter naming laws. Some require parents to choose from a pre-approved list of names, or petition the government to add a name to the list. Others have laws protecting kids from the ridicule that would result from parents who choose terrible names for them. Here are more than 50 "illegal" names that have been banned or almost-banned — see if you think the governing bodies were right to strike them down, or if you think they were overstepping.