In Italy, the right to choose a child's name is subject to specific rules provided for by Law 396/2000, which aims to avoid embarrassment or harmful situations for the child. The Article 34 This law describes the limits for naming, including a list of curious and relevant prohibitions.
What the law says about prohibited names
According to article 34, it is prohibited from registering:
- The same name as the father or living siblings, as well as using surnames as first names.
- Ridiculous or embarrassing names, which may cause embarrassment.
- Names of brands, companies or commercial products, like Ikea, Nutella or Nike.
- Fantasy Character Names, like Goku, Biancaneve (Snow White), Moby Dick or Count Dracula.
- Names of controversial historical figures, like Lenin, Benito Mussolini, Napoleon, Adolf Hitler or Osama Bin Laden.
- Foreign names that do not follow the Italian alphabet, with exceptions for letters such as J, K, W, X and Y, and diacritics compatible with the source language.
Furthermore, in the case of children whose parents are unknown, it is forbidden to give them names or surnames that indicate natural origin or belonging to families historically known in the region.
Why do these restrictions exist?
The main objective of the legislation is protect children from possible future embarrassment, ensuring that the name does not harm your social identity.
Choosing ridiculous names, trademarks or controversial historical figures can make it difficult for a child to integrate socially, or expose them to bullying.
What happens if a banned name is chosen?
During civil registration, officials have a duty to refuse transcription of forbidden names.
If the person responsible insists, the officer must register the name, but forward the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that legal proceedings can be initiated. rectification of the record.
List curiosities
Among the most unusual banned names are:
- Maradona and Pele, because they are the names of great athletes;
- Goku and Snow White, as they are fictional characters;
- Ikea and Nutella, as they are trademarks;
- Napoleon and Hitler, as they are controversial historical figures.
A balance between freedom and protection
Although choosing a name is a parental right, Italian law seeks to find a balance between freedom of choice and the well-being of children. After all, a name is an essential part of a child’s identity, and ensuring that it is dignified and respectable is a way of protecting the future of future generations.
In Italy, names carry stories, and with these guidelines, the country reaffirms the importance of preserving dignity and respect in one of the first decisions in a child's life.
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