# Would I run into any restrictions giving my kid an obscene name? (US) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540 "2004-11-24T22:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/121 "2013-08-13T13:58:41Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Also not obscene, but it does make you wonder: > > Nicolas Cage named his son Kal-El, which is Superman’s Kryptonian birth name. And Kevin Smith named his daughter Harley Quinn, after the Joker’s girlfriend. My brother named his on Logan after Wolverine, but it’s a good name in general, so not much of an event. He’s a very normal and grounded guy, and wouldn’t have done it if he thought it would have any real downside. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/122 "2013-08-13T23:40:19Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > The hospital surely cannot, on it’s own authority, refuse to put whatever the naming parent wants on the birth certificate. So how could any name, however ridiculous, be (officially) banned? The doper **Cyn** used to work Labor & Delivery/Post Partum unit. The naming stories are legion. They spent a while talking a lady out of naming her daughter Chlamydia. > **[Chlamydia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_infection)** > > Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may occur only several weeks after infection; the incubation period between exposure and being able to infect others is thought to be on the order of two to six weeks. Symptoms in women may include vaginal discharge or burning with urination. Symptoms in men may include Chlamydia ... I think they had one named “Airforce” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/123 "2013-08-14T00:26:32Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > The doper **Cyn** used to work Labor & Delivery/Post Partum unit. > > The naming stories are legion. > > They spent a while talking a lady out of naming her daughter Chlamydia. > [Chlamydia - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_infection) > > I think they had one named “Airforce” That kind of clarification would be nice if given diplomatically. Chlamydia _sounds_ like a girls name. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/124 "2013-08-14T03:05:05Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > The guy who invented the Lear jet (and the eight-track tape) named his daughter ‘Shanda.’ 😕 What the hell is _Shanda Jet_ supposed to mean? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/125 "2013-08-14T04:27:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 😕 > > What the hell is _Shanda Jet_ supposed to mean? You got it all wrong, it’s Shanda Inventor. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/126 "2013-08-14T11:59:22Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > You got it all wrong, it’s Shanda Inventor. I thought it was Shanda Khan, Shanda Khan. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/127 "2013-08-14T14:03:57Z")
My step-brother’s name is David Harry Bottom. He got into a lot of fights in High School. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/128 "2013-08-14T14:39:37Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > You wife sound like a real cunt. . . uhhh. . . I mean a real coooont. Now ex-wife. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/129 "2013-08-14T14:49:09Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Now ex-wife. 🙂 But still close friends. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/130 "2013-08-15T01:24:20Z")
So, in 9 years and 2 resurrections, only **Bricker** made a post worthy of keeping this thread out of IMHO? That said, since we’re just listing strange names, years ago I was working in an elementary school and these are the first names of 3 of the kids in that classroom: Javelan, Morpheus, and Knowledje (yes, it’s spelled with a “j”, but pronounced like it was spelled with a “g”) ---
**Author:** ![Frunobulax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@Frunobulax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frunobulax)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/131 "2013-08-15T01:26:26Z")
When I worked at a store years ago we had to write down the customer’s driver license number when they paid by check. It was almost impossible to keep a straight face when you saw some of their names. Two of the regular customers were named Barry Horney and Barry Cuda. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/132 "2013-08-15T01:47:36Z")
At least it wasn’t Heywood Jablowme. I had some co-workers who got a bad check and tried to find this person in the phone book. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/133 "2013-08-15T03:34:24Z")
Interesting article [here](http://mentalfloss.com/article/25034/8-countries-fascinating-baby-naming-laws) about different laws in different countries. It reinforces that in the USA you can just about call a kid anything. My favourite is that in NZ which has reasonably strict laws, a kid was able to be named “Number 16 Bus Shelter” 😃 In [Aus](http://www.kidspot.com.au/myspot-hot-topics-the-naming-game---the-law-on-baby-names+3145+180+article.htm), we have similar laws to NZ. > [@](#): > > Here in Australia, parents can give their child whatever first or middle name takes their fancy - within reason. Under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act a registrar can refuse to register a name if: > It is obscene or offensive > Cannot be established by repute or usage > If it’s too long > If it contains symbols without phonetic significance, such as an exclamation or question mark. > Is contrary to public interest > Contains an official title or rank recognised in Australia such as King, Lady, Father, Sir or Admiral. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/134 "2013-08-15T03:43:31Z")
> [@Spongemom](#): > > I have one child, 2-year-old Joe D (Joseph Daniel). His father, my ex, has several other kids. (Long story). Of those kids, one boy has the initials B.A.G., and another has the initials T.A.G. My ex insisted (assuming that he would have his last name) that I give my son a first name starting with an F, because he thought it was “neat”. I thought it was absurd. Can you imagine the ridicule in school? Thankfully, I left that bastard long before I had to choose a name, and my son has my last name, giving him the initials J.D.E., which is a lot better than my dipshit ex’s idea. There was a teacher at my junior high named Mrs. Gay, and yes, it’s true, her husband’s name really was Benjamin. 😃 Her initials were F.A.G., too. So, has anyone met the Lemonjello and Orangejello twins yet? There aren’t enough twins anywhere for there to be as many as some people say there are. I have personally encountered “Ozzy” (not John Michael, but OZZY) and a man whose first name was Friend. 😕 And there really was a woman named Ima Hogg. p.s. Prince did at one time say that the symbol was pronounced “Christopher”. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/135 "2013-08-15T03:51:53Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > In “Freakonomics” the author spends a lot of time discussing names and their impact - mainly “do black-sounding names hinder a person’s ability to succeed in life?” I’ve said many times since last December that if the kids who died at Sandy Hook had those kind of names, that story would have disappeared from the news faster than the story about the UFO over O’Hare Airport, and would only be getting discussed on racist blogs. On a lighter note, I used to hear a lot about an artist whose name was Sha4ron. It was pronounced like her birth name, Sharon, but she legally had the spelling changed. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/136 "2013-08-15T04:46:56Z")
We’ve all had fun joking around and I think we are in agreement that a judge can’t use personal religious reasons to change a name in the U.S. But what about the 9 year old OP? If I name my child Giggles McClusterfuck Shitstain Johnson, can a judge in the “best interests” of the child change the name? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540/137 "2014-09-15T19:52:33Z")
Bumped. This couple has ran afoul of a Tennessee law against creating a new family lastname: [Creating Your Baby's Last Name? Tennessee Says No : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2014/09/15/347954339/creating-your-baby-s-last-name-tennessee-says-no) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-i-run-into-any-restrictions-giving-my-kid-an-obscene-name-us/276540.md?page=6)