Despite its popularity abroad, the name King remains firmly off-limits for newborns in New Zealand. For the 14th consecutive year, King has topped the list of baby names rejected by the country’s Registrar General.
New Zealand’s strict naming laws, governed by the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021, prohibit names that are offensive, excessively long, include numbers or symbols, or resemble official titles and ranks without sufficient justification. This framework reflects the country’s effort to maintain naming standards that avoid potential confusion or offense.
Last year, New Zealand recorded approximately 60,000 births but rejected 38 proposed names. According to John Crawford-Smith, Principal Advisor at the Department of Internal Affairs, names like King and Prince—which took over as the top banned name in 2023—continue to be disallowed. Other royal-themed names such as Duke, Majesty, and Emperor are also banned.
While New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy recognizing King Charles III as its sovereign, it remains unclear whether the 11 parents who sought to name their children King intended it as a tribute to the monarch. Regardless, all were asked to reconsider, Crawford-Smith noted.
By contrast, the name King remains popular elsewhere. The U.S. Social Security Administration reports that over 1,000 children were named King in 2024, with Liam and Olivia leading the list of top baby names nationwide.
New Zealand’s naming authorities also take into account how names sound when spoken and how they may be perceived by the community. Variations on royal names, including Kingi, Kingz, Prinz, Prynce, and Royallty, have been rejected as well. Beyond royal references, names linked to controversial subjects such as cannabis strains—Sativa and Indica—have also been declined. Additionally, names once common but now outdated, like Fanny, were turned down.
Parents have the opportunity to explain their choice before a final decision is made by the Registrar General. “We continue to urge parents to think carefully about names,” Crawford-Smith emphasized in his response to a written inquiry. “Names are a gift.”
New Zealand is not unique in regulating baby names. France, for instance, has denied names such as Nutella to avoid potential embarrassment. Sweden’s naming laws have also prohibited unconventional choices like “Superman,” “Metallica,” and even the famously bizarre “Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116.”
In the United States, naming disputes have occasionally involved adults rather than children. A notable case in Illinois allowed a school bus driver to legally change his name to “In God” with the last name “We Trust.” Conversely, a man in New Mexico was denied a name change to “F— Censorship!” in 2008.
