Expectant parents in New Zealand may have to change plans after the government released a list of 40 new banned baby names. The Registrar-General’s office, which approves each New Zealand baby’s name before their birth certificate can be registered, declines names it deems offensive or otherwise problematic, and releases its list of rejected names each year. A few of this year’s names, like Indica and Sativa, are banned given they are also strains of marijuana. However, the common girls’ name Fanny was also rejected for the second year in a row because it is sometimes used as a slang term to describe female genitalia. Fanny wasn’t the only surprising ban: names like Rogue and Caesar were also on the chopping block without clear justification. Also on the list were a slew of names referencing royalty or clergy, including King, Duke, Bishop, Princess, and Prince. Don’t try to get clever, either: Prynce, Pryncess, and other spelling variations won’t fly.
Read it at news.com.au
