While the U.S. generally allows parents plenty of freedom in naming their children, a newly resurfaced list of banned baby names is turning heads—and sparking debate. Despite America’s famously relaxed approach compared to countries like Germany or Sweden, there are a handful of names you legally can’t give your child in some states.
According to U.S. Birth Certificates, ten names have been flagged as illegal or heavily restricted due to practical, legal, or ethical concerns. These include: King, Queen, Jesus Christ, III, Santa Claus, Majesty, Adolf Hitler, Messiah, @, and 1069. While enforcement varies state by state, these names are considered too provocative, confusing, or offensive for official registration.
Some bans are rooted in basic logistics—states often don’t allow numerals, symbols, or punctuation in names. Others, like “Adolf Hitler” or “Messiah,” are blocked for cultural or religious sensitivity reasons. Still, not all states agree. Kentucky, for instance, has no naming restrictions at all, making enforcement inconsistent across the country.
That inconsistency has become clear online. Nurses, teachers, and parents have shared examples of children they’ve met with names like “King” or “Messiah”—despite their supposed bans. One pediatric nurse even said, “I can’t tell you how many Kings and Queens I’ve taken care of.”
So while these names might technically be on the “do not use” list in some areas, it appears the reality in hospital delivery rooms—and school rosters—can be very different.
