Why the Name 'King' Is Banned in New Zealand but Common in the U.S.

More than 1,000 babies in the United States were named "King" last year, but in New Zealand, the name isn't even allowed. It continues to top the country's list of banned baby names, as officials enforce strict rules to protect naming standards.

For the 14th year until 2023, "King" was the most commonly rejected name in New Zealand, only recently surpassed by "Prince," which now ranks second. Titles like "Duke," "Majesty," and "Emperor" are also banned under the country's laws.

Naming Laws and Reasons for Rejection

New Zealand's Registrar General rejected 38 baby name applications last year out of 60,000 total births. According to John Crawford-Smith, a senior official from the Department of Internal Affairs, names can be turned down if they are offensive, too long, contain numbers or symbols, or resemble official titles without strong justification.

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as its head of state. It's unclear if the 11 parents who wanted to name their child "King" in 2023 were referencing him, but all requests were denied.

Most banned names were related to royalty or titles. These included "Prince" (10 requests), "Princess" (4 requests), as well as similar-sounding variations like "Kingi," "Kingz," "Prinz," "Prynce," and "Royallty." Officials even consider how a name sounds aloud and how it may be received by the community.

Some other banned names in 2023 included "Sativa" and "Indica," both linked to cannabis, and "Fanny," once a common name but now viewed as inappropriate.

Global Naming Rules and Unusual Cases

Parents in New Zealand are allowed to explain their choice before the Registrar General makes a final decision. Still, officials advise caution. "Names are a gift," Crawford-Smith said, encouraging parents to think carefully.

New Zealand isn't alone in restricting baby names. Other countries have similar rules:

In France, a judge blocked parents from naming their child "Nutella" in 2015, fearing it might lead to embarrassment.
Sweden has rejected names like "Superman," "Metallica," and a string of characters spelled "Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116."

In the U.S., most baby names are allowed, but there have been notable cases among adults. In 2008, an Illinois bus driver legally changed his name to "In God We Trust," while a New Mexico court rejected a man's request to rename himself "F— Censorship!"

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