Naming your child

Naming your newborn child is an exciting time. When you choose a name, you're making the important first steps in shaping their identity.

Parents can usually choose any name for their child. However, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) can refuse to register a name if it's prohibited.

View the most Popular Victorian baby names per calendar year from 2008.

Naming restrictions

Names are very significant. That's why the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 prohibits some names. This includes names that are:

  • Obscene or offensive
  • Impractical (for example, a name that is too long or contains symbols)
  • Misleading.

Read more about naming restrictions.

Names in dispute

Where parents can’t agree on the child’s name, both parents should still take part in registering the birth.

The registration process will ask each parent to enter a name for the child. Where the name for the child differs, BDM will contact each parent about the next steps.

The options that the law provides are:

  • Apply to the County Court for an order to the Registrar about the name
  • Ask the Registrar to assign the child a name.

Learn more about our Name dispute policy.

Updated

Back to top