Calling all parents struggling hard to choose a baby name: Apparently, France is one of many places around the world that can rule your baby name not suitable. The reason? Sparing your child a life of ridicule. (Up until 1993, French laws were even stricter, with French courts blocking names that didn't preserve national integrity, for example.) At first, we thought this sounded crazy. Then we saw the list of notable names that have been banned. Take a peek.
7 Baby Names That Are Actually Forbidden in France
•
Published Dec 20, 2017
Twenty20
Nutella
Yep, a French court objected to this baby name in 2015, mainly due to the fact that it’s a trade name of a spread. (FYI, the judge allowed the name “Ella” instead.)
Twenty20
Prince William
French officials said it would “lead to a lifetime of mockery.”
Twenty20
Mini Cooper
It came from the same parents who pushed for Prince William, if you can believe it. (And yes, it was also rejected.)
Twenty20
Fraise
In French, it means “strawberry,” but the judge felt the slang phrase “ramène ta fraise”—which means “get you’re a** over here”—ruins it as a baby name. Good call.
Twenty20
Babar
It’s the titular character of the popular French children’s book series. And apparently not suitable for non-elephant children.
Twenty20
Joyeux
The direct translation is “happy,” and the French ruled in 2006 that’s far too whimsical a word to use as a baby name.
Twenty20
Manhattan
Yep, a judge rejected it in 1983, mainly because if you’re going to use the name of a place, it has to relate to a French tradition. Who knew?
