Each year, New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs publishes a list of baby names that were declined for registration, and the 2024 edition once again reflects the country’s commitment to upholding naming standards that prevent confusion, offense, or undue influence.
Among the names rejected this year were familiar contenders such as “King,” “Princess,” and “Christ,” all of which were turned down for imitating official titles or religious figures. Also disallowed were names containing punctuation or numeric symbols, such as “III,” which do not meet the country’s legal guidelines for acceptable names.
Perhaps the most notable rejections of the year were the attempted registrations of “Indica” and “Sativa” as a baby’s name. Though no explanation was provided by the applicant, the Department denied the request under the same rules that bar names likely to cause offense or resemble prohibited terms.
New Zealand’s naming regulations aim to ensure that children are not burdened by names that may be seen as frivolous, confrontational, or impractical. The process underscores the balance between personal freedom and societal responsibility in naming conventions.
One might still ask: Why would you name your child after weed?
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
