Brazilian registries have begun rejecting bizarre baby names that could cause them lifelong shame

When I think about the names that parents choose for their children, they often make me raise my eyebrows. Although traditional names still persist, foreign names are appearing much more frequently. And some of them are unusual to the point of being bizarre. In Brazil, they have decided to correct the parents’ choice, as it could cause lifelong embarrassment to the children.

The choice of name for the offspring has always been completely free and depended only on the parents. Today we can come across many names that would have previously caused a great stir. And they can still arouse some misunderstanding and disbelief today, because many parents let their imagination run wild. They often don’t realise that although it seems like a great idea, their child will carry the unusual name throughout their life and may perceive it shamefully and negatively. Let’s be honest, if you name your child Batman, Wi-Fi or Spotify, many will question your sanity. You’re thinking, am I hanging a bump on your nose? Believe me, those names come up too.

In order to prevent the proliferation of unusual names, there is legislation in Brazil, specifically Article 55 of the Public Registries Act, which sets out certain restrictions. The central idea is that first names should not become the subject of ridicule and misunderstanding, and should not undermine the dignity of the child.

Imagine you go to register the birth of a child and the officials refuse to accept the name you have chosen. This may seem like a restriction on free choice, but it is a common practice in Brazil. The registry office employee is obliged to check whether the name chosen would expose the child to ridicule. If he or she considers that it is not appropriate, he or she may refuse it and invite the parents to submit another name.

The child thanks you very much

Over the years I have encountered many bizarre names in my immediate area. One that stuck in my mind was a girl named Bambina, and I probably don’t need to point out that she didn’t want to use it. One pair of hilarious parents even wanted to name their son Lucifer, as he adored the show of the same name at the time. Thankfully, they talked themselves out of it.

What to watch out for

There is no list of prohibited names. Each choice submitted is individually reviewed and evaluated. To ensure objectivity, the registry offices check whether the name falls into one of the problematic categories. These include offensive terms or swear words, ambiguous names and references to heavily caricatured characters. Names that are identical to well-known brands or names that match the names of objects or diseases are also not allowed. The Registry Office often suggests a spelling modification or alternative to preserve meaning.

In Brazil, inappropriate names are encountered regularly, so a form of this check has been introduced. A concrete example from practice shows that it is indeed not just a matter of exaggerated language. The Los Angeles Times, for example , highlighted the case of parents who wanted to name their child Rambo after a famous film character. A court eventually ruled that the child would be exposed to ridicule, so they were forced to choose a more common name. However, this example is just a drop in the ocean. Brazilian officials have encountered names that referred to controversial figures such as Hitler, Bin Laden or Al Capone.

The ridicule led to a name change

I could name many personal stories. An inappropriately chosen name can affect daily life and cause unpleasant situations for a child. One man’s story is a very common example of how one choice can cause personal hell. From primary school onwards, he faced ridicule, name-calling by teachers and derisive nicknames. As soon as he reached adulthood, he asked for an official name change. Many people have done the same. However, Brazil is trying to prevent such situations by introducing a law.