As of: January 19, 2024, 11:13 a.m
By: Lennart Schwenck
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First names in Germany are subject to special regulations.
What to look out for and which names are a no-go.
Kassel – For expectant parents, pregnancy is synonymous with the beginning of a new phase of life.
Numerous precautions are taken, advice books are read, and doctor's appointments are held.
And a possible first name for the child is feverishly thought about - sometimes even two if parents do not want to know the gender of their baby before the birth.
But there are also a few things to consider when choosing a boy's and girl's name.
Adolf, Greta, Lenin and Troublemaker: Which names are allowed?
© Imago Images/Lennart Schwenck
Baby names: This is how they are regulated
When asked by IPPEN.MEDIA, the Munich District Administration Department (KVR) explains: “German law does not contain any explicit rules regarding the admissibility of first names.
However, the granting of a first name does not take place in a legal vacuum.
The right to choose a first name has been limited by the courts in several decisions.”
For this purpose, the Bundestag has developed the “Naming Law in the Federal Republic of Germany”.
It is therefore mainly important that “the first name does not threaten to endanger the child’s well-being”.
If this suspicion prevails, the registry office will refuse to enter the first name in the birth register.
Naming rights at a glance:
German naming law: first names
In Germany, first names are assigned at the sole discretion of the legal guardians, without any specific legal restrictions.
There is no list of approved names, but the registry office can refuse registration if the name endangers the child's welfare.
There is no obligation to prove the suitability of an unusual name.
Gender-neutral names are permitted, and a gender-identifying middle name is not mandatory.
People who undergo gender reassignment can have their previous first name changed through the courts upon application in accordance with the Transsexuals Act (TSG).
The prerequisite is that the person has had the compulsive feeling of belonging to a different gender for at least three years and there is a probability that this feeling will not change.
The procedure applies to German citizens, stateless persons, homeless foreigners with habitual residence in Germany, those entitled to asylum, foreign refugees with residence in Germany as well as foreigners with a permanent or renewable residence permit and legal residence in Germany.
Source: Naming rights in the Federal Republic of Germany
It should be noted that there is no official limit on the number of first names.
This means that parents or guardians can give their child several first names if there is disagreement about the choice.
The child could then choose their own nickname later.
Allowed first names in Germany: Jesus is okay, Lucifer and Satan are not
There is no official list of banned first names.
Nevertheless, in the past, creative first name ideas from parents were rejected by German registry offices.
Here is a small best-of from the District Administration Department (KVR) in Munich upon request from
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
Some of the most creative rejected name creations include:
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Bodhi
Borussia
Cezanne
Holgerson
Peace With God Alone Through Jesus Christ
Tom Tom
Nelkenheini
Jenevje
Bierstüberl
La Toya
Marey
Mechipchamueh
Megwanipiu
Navajo
peppermint
Stone
lord
The name Adolf, however, is acceptable and is still given today, as can be seen from an inquiry by the
FAZ
to the Onomastic Center at the University of Leipzig.
Although the first name has negative associations due to its proximity to the dictator Adolf Hitler, it is accepted by registry offices in Germany.
The reason lies in the long tradition as a first name, which is why it can still be given.
The parents would probably have to undergo a more detailed questioning as to why it has to be this name of all things.
Even if you can name your child Adolf, he didn't make it onto the list of the most popular names in Germany or Kassel in 2023.
The French comedy “The First Name” (original title: Le Prénom) addressed exactly this dilemma.
The play by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte was even made into a film in 2012 with the original cast.
Six years later, director Sönke Wortmann attempted to re-stage the original film for German audiences.
Names in Iceland: Clear, systematic regulations
Surprisingly, the names Jürgenson and Holgerson are not permitted as first names in this country, as can be seen from a report in the
Stuttgarter Nachrichten
.
Things look different in other countries.
In Iceland, for example, there are no surnames like in Germany because the rules are different there.
There, a child's last name is formed from the father's first name and the ending "son" for son or "dottir" for daughter.
For example, Eric Haraldsson's son is referred to as "Bjorn Ericsson", which means "Björn, son of Eric".
However, if Eric had had a daughter, the ending "dottir" would be used for her and would therefore be called "Ericdottir" - the "daughter of Eric".
Unlike married couples in Germany, married Icelanders both keep their birth names.
This means that everyone within a family has a different last name.
Icelanders often also have a middle name - but never more than three - to avoid confusion due to common name combinations.
There is also an official name register in Iceland from which you have to choose first names for descendants.
If the name is not listed, you must submit an application for approval to the Committee for Personal Names.
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