Credit: The Pokémon Company / Adobe Stock
Couple Name Baby After Pokémon Character And People Won’t Stop Mocking Her
A couple have sparked some rather strong opinions after deciding to name their baby after a Pokémon character.
We all know naming a baby can be tricky. If the name is too common, there’s likely to be multiple kids in their class with the same name. If it’s too ‘unique’ you run the risk of people find it weird.
It’s fair to say that celebrities tend to get a bit more free licence when it comes to naming their children with slightly more, shall we say, quirky monikers, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s daughter, Apple. Or Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s sons, RZA and Riot Rose.
Baby names banned around the world
But as for the rest of us, there are actually a few names we’re banned from calling our children in some parts of the world and they might just surprise you.
Experts at language-learning platform Preply have highlighted a number of baby names that have been prohibited around the world for being offensive, culturally unsuitable, or simply too unusual.
One of the strangest cases involves the name Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, which Swedish parents submitted as a protest against the country’s strict naming regulations.
Although the parents insisted the name was pronounced ‘Albin,’ authorities quickly rejected it in 1996, and it remains on Sweden’s list of banned names.
Sweden has also turned down several other unconventional name choices.
According to Parents.com, officials refused to approve the name Metallica, despite the parents’ admiration for the iconic heavy metal band, citing trademark concerns.
Interestingly, other music-inspired names such as Gojira, Mayhem, and Opeth have been accepted without issue.
France, a country known for protecting its language and culture, banned the name Fraise, which means “strawberry,” because of the vulgar association with the phrase “ramène ta fraise,” roughly translated as “get your butt over here.”
French authorities also rejected the name Nutella, arguing that it could expose a child to ridicule.
In Saudi Arabia, even the widely used Western name Linda is prohibited. In 2014, officials ruled that it was ‘non-Islamic’ and culturally inappropriate.
Malaysia also places limits on baby names, including those inspired by fruit.
Authorities there believe such names could cause embarrassment or detract from the dignity of an individual’s identity.
On the other side of the world, New Zealand has also drawn a line when it comes to unusual baby names.
Officials stepped in after parents attempted to name their twins Fish and Chips.
Other names that have been rejected include S** Fruit, Yeah Detroit, and the well-known Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii.
In the United Kingdom, names such as Cyanide and Rogue have been banned.
Courts determined that naming a child after a lethal poison or giving them a name linked to criminal behavior could be inappropriate and potentially harmful.
Australia has also prohibited names including LOL and Spinach, with officials citing concerns about possible teasing and the integrity of official records.
Even in the comparatively relaxed United States, naming restrictions exist.
Names that include numbers, symbols, or punctuation marks, such as @ or III, are generally not permitted. While most states maintain flexible naming laws, names including Santa Claus, Messiah, and Jesus Christ have faced legal objections or been banned in certain jurisdictions.
One of the most extreme examples comes from Russia, where authorities rejected the name BOChrVF260602.
The proposed name, intended to mean ‘biological human object of the Voronin-Frolov family born on June 26, 2002,’ was ultimately denied approval.
Pokemon-inspired baby name
Now, back to the couple who were planning to name their baby after a Pokémon character.
Taking to Reddit, a friend of the couple revealed this wouldn’t be the first child named after a character from the Japanese media franchise.
“I just found out one of my friends named her child after a Pokémon and she’s planning to do it again,” she wrote in 2024.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Pokémon fan myself, but this is just wrong. One of my friends (whom I met over Pokémon GO back when it was popular) had a child around 2 years ago, but I never found out his name – until today. His name is Zekrom.”
This time around, however, the baby name is slightly more extreme.
The woman continued: “Now, I know very well that Zekrom is on the milder side of Pokémon names when it comes to that, HOWEVER, she is having another child – a girl – and wants to name her Reshiram.”
After learning this, the woman said she ‘yelled’ at her friend over text and told her ‘there’s no way in hell’ she should name her daughter that.
The internet reacts to controversial baby name
Now, the people of the internet have some pretty strong opinions on whether Reshiram is an acceptable baby name.
“There are some Pokémon names I think would be cute baby names… these aren’t one of them,” one wrote.
Another agreed: “Something like Chansey or Kirlia could work as a very niche name, but freaking Reshiram? Jeez, I mean Teddi (Teddiursa) wouldn’t be bad, either.”
A third questioned: “Couldn’t she have named him after one of the human characters?”
Related Article: Teachers Share The Kids’ Names Which They See As ‘Instant Red Flags’
Related Article: Parents Name Baby After Internet Provider In Exchange For 18-Years’ Free WiFi
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