The rules for choosing names vary widely around the world
Have you ever stopped to think that this super common name here in Brazil can be banned in other countries?
Well, the rules for choosing names vary a lot around the world – and what is normal here can cause rejection or even be vetoed elsewhere.
Check out these six:
6 names that are common in Brazil, but prohibited in other parts of the world
1. Linda – Forbidden in Saudi Arabia
Despite being a popular and meaningful name in Brazil, “Linda” is prohibited in Saudi Arabia.
The local government considers the name incompatible with the country’s culture and religion.
There, western names that do not fit the local values are barred to preserve traditions.
2. Carolina and Alice – vetoed in Iceland
In Iceland, names need to follow very rigid rules of local grammar and pronunciation.
Therefore, common names such as “Carolina” and “Alice” are not accepted, as they do not adapt to the endings and sounds of the Islande.
The country’s appointment committee rejects names that do not respect these norms to protect the country’s linguistic identity.
3. Junior – Rejected in Anglophone countries
In Brazil, “Junior” is often used as a first name, but in the United States and the United Kingdom, it works only as suffix to differentiate generations (such as “John Smith Jr.”).
Using “junior” as the first name may be prohibited or not accepted because it is considered a title, not a name.
4. ROBOCOP AND FACEBOOK – Barred in Brazil and prohibited in other countries
Here in Brazil, there have been requests to register names such as “Robocop” and “Facebook”, but the notaries denied.
In countries such as Mexico and Iceland, laws are even more severe: names that refer to brands, products or fictitious characters are prohibited to avoid future embarrassment.
5. Thales – Rejected in Denmark
Although “Thales” is a common name in Brazil, in Denmark it is not allowed by not following local nomenclature rules.
The country has a committee that regulates the names to preserve language and culture, rejecting names considered strange or difficult to adapt to Danish grammar.
6. Messiah – Forbidden in New Zealand
“Messiah” (Messiah) is a strong name and loaded with religious meaning – and precisely for this reason, it was vetoed in New Zealand.
The country’s government considers that names with very specific religious connotations can cause problems for the child in the future.
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