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Nevertheless, Full citation: Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany in the revised version published in the Federal Law Gazette Part III, classification number 100-1, as last amended by Article 1 of the Act of 28 March 2019 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 404). https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorname_(Deutschland)#Namensgebung_und_-%C3%A4nderung German Naming Laws Remain Byzantine The constitutional court in Germany on Tuesday ruled to uphold a ban on hyphenated last names of three names or longer. It is also possible to change back to a surname used before the marriage (e.g. Actual Practice at the Registrar’s Office. The two laws authorized arrests of, and violence against, Jews. @Angela Serena Gilmour Oh, very interesting, Angela! Nov. 3, 2004. So, when inspiration strikes, make sure to consult the clock first! I will update the post to include this information!! Selling an item. Previously, the rule was that a baby’s first name had to indicate their gender clearly, and if it didn’t, then either the name had to be changed or a second, gender-specific name had to be added. A naming law restricts the names that parents can legally give to their children, usually to protect the child from being given an offensive or embarrassing name. The analysis of the German naming system is very good. Germany is one of those countries that have quite strict standards regarding the names of babies. Back to Top ten weird German laws and rules » « Start. Divorce. 1/101 - … Today I thought we’d look at Germany’s baby naming laws. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorname_(Deutschland)#Namensgebung_und_-%C3%A4nderung. Jews in Germany followed the custom of using only a given name and the name of the father, such as Isaac, son of Abraham (Isaac ben Abraham). The Instructions for Registrars adopted by the Ministry of the Interior state that male children may only have male names and female children only female names, with the exception being “Maria” as a second name for a male child. In the new August 1938 law, authorities decreed that by January 1, 1939, Jewish men and women bearing first names of “non-Jewish” origin had to add “Israel” and “Sara,” respectively, to their given names. The surname of a German national must conform to German law, irrespective of the name appearing on a foreign birth certificate. Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and In the case of children born to a married couple, the choice will automatically apply to any other younger siblings. The married name must be demonstrated by a German marriage certificate or name certificate. Personal names in Germany follow the structure common in Europe and the rest of the western world. A child whose parents are married at the time of the child’s birth and who bear a married name (“Ehename”) according to German law, will obtain the parents’ married name as a birth name. Your baby’s name cannot be a surname, product, or object. It is therefore up to the discretion of the individual judge and varies in the different regions in Germany. Azerbaijan. If the name you choose gets rejected by the Standesamt, you can either appeal this decision or pick a new name. Apart from possibly adopting the partner's name upon marriage, German citizens may only change their name for a recognised important reason. Sophie/Sofie 2. As was common in many countries, Germans generally followed some basic naming patterns or customs when choosing names for their children. © 2021 Transparent Language, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Family names are also prohibited as first names, except if there is a regional practice to the contrary. responsible for everything that you post. Required fields are indicated with an * asterisk. In Switzerland the rules are similar, with a few extra ones. It is the foremost duty of the parents to give their child a name which it cannot yet give itself. I'm half English and half German, and have been writing about German language and culture on this blog since 2014. Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. There are only first names (Vorname) and surnames (Nachname/Familienname). According to the court, the Instructions for Registrars are non-legislative acts without any legal force and can therefore not limit the constitutionally guaranteed parental right to name a child. 25.02.2020 - Article German citizens are subject to German law with respect to their use of a name. 3 When referring to denominators that are greater than 100 and the last two digits are 01, 03 or 07 the single-digit 'rules' are often used. 18th Century Pennsylvania German Naming Customs. We further reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to remove a user's […].” (docket no. Here also the government decides what name to choose for the new born baby. I guess it must be better-known as a brand over there. Germans love their silence, even if it needs to be upheld by a battery of laws, rules and regulations. Apart from these exceptions, a person who would like to change his or her first name needs to show that there is a compelling reason for it. It is also an Irish name. If you would like to know how other countries regulate names, don’t forget to check out our other blog posts on that topic, among them Elin’s recent FALQs: Name Day Celebrations in Sweden, Kelly’s post on Banning Baby Names in New Zealand, Laney’s on how many times you can change a name in Taiwan, or Elin’s post on Icelandic name laws. The court stated that although it is an Islamic name that shows his membership in the Islamic community, it sounds foreign to a German, is difficult to pronounce, and subjected the child to ridicule from his classmates. In honor of the 70th anniversary of the GfdS, this year’s list included  70 names total instead of the usual ten names per gender. privilege to post content on the Library site. However, these patterns were not always adhered to, and as German emigrants began new lives in America, many anglicized their names and began to adopt American naming customs in the latter part of the 1800's. I noticed the name Kiran was approved by court by exception. (Photo by Flickr user mulan. The court held that changing the name would help the child better integrate into the school community. German names are governed by German Naming laws. In Germany, there are three rules when it comes to naming your baby: Previously, the rule was that a baby’s first name had to indicate their gender clearly, and if it didn’t, then either the name had to be changed or a second, gender-specific name had to be added. It also shows that Germans tend to stick to traditional names. To help you navigate your way through naming practices in Germany, we've put together this handy guide to German names, including naming rules, popular and traditional boy and girl names in Germany, and information on how to change your name. Comment and Posting Policy. Lisa 4. It is all pretty up in the air. Baby Ronja Borussia? In many countries, there are no legal regulations regarding first names. 3 UR III 2334/95), Stone (a child cannot identify with it, because it is an object and not a first name) Amtsgericht Ravensburg [District Court Ravensburg], docket no. If a neutral name is chosen, a second, gender-specific … the Library of Congress may monitor any user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to For example, Swiss babies cannot be named after brand names; biblical villains; or place names. Most Jews did not adopt hereditary family names until required to do so by law. According to the German Federal Constitutional Court, “a name expresses the individuality of a person […] and makes him or her distinguishable from other people. Previously rejected names in Switzerland include Judas (biblical villain), Chanel (brand), Paris (place), Schmid (surname) and Mercedes (brand). You are fully The constitutional right of the parents to name their child as they please is only limited if the name choice could adversely affect the well-being of the child, for example by exposing the child to ridicule or by being offensive. In Germany, there are three rules when it comes to naming your baby: All babies’ names in Germany must be approved by the Standesamt (German civil registration office). The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. If both parents are German nationals, only German law can be chosen for the name usage (first box on page 4 - Sections 1617/1617b of the German Civil Code). Daniel and Philipp (tied) 4. For example, the Federal High Court of Justice has ruled that making music or practicing your instrument in rental apartments is only allowed between 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-20:00. I’ve been away this week spending most of my time down in good old New Jersey. Please read our Standard Disclaimer. What brought me to this article is that my personal name is Shannon. Still, German names must be officially approved by the local office of vital statistics (Standesamt). Names that the courts have allowed include: Names that have been denied by the courts include: Babies Fanta, Galaxina, and Pumuckl? a previous married name). Normal wear and tear of a used item is not considered a defect. Naming Laws: Just like Germany, the naming laws are quite stern in Mexico. from Müller to Mueller or from Weiß to Weiss is regarded as a name change). I grew up in Tabernacle township, Burlington County, NJ and worked for the state for nearly 26 years. German names: German names containing umlauts ä ... German naming law accepts umlauts and/or ß in family names as a reason for an official name change (even just the change of the spelling, e.g. 1 BvR 576/07). These differ from country to country, with some countries having more relaxed laws than others. As is the case almost anywhere, German children's names can be subject to tradition, trends, and the names of popular sports heroes and other cultural icons. 3 Z 1/86). In 1982, a naming law was enacted in the country that was intended to prevent families from using the names of the nobility. Used under Creative Commons License 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.). Several names may be combined to one name and common short forms of names are acceptable as first names. @Derek Yes, I agree! Most men with the name Shannon are around my age or older (nearly 50) and most women with my name are five years or more younger. However, this is no longer the case, and names can be gender-neutral. It stated that gender-neutral names generally do not adversely affect the well-being of the child, because the child can nonetheless identify with its gender. “… muss nicht mehr wie bis 2008 eindeutig männlich oder weiblich sein, sondern darf auch neutral sein”. Top ten weird German rules and laws . The state has a right and a duty to protect the child from an irresponsible name choice. However, this is no longer the case, and names can be gender-neutral. 1.German law: both parents are German citizens, German law is applicable for the name of your child. There are no provisions in the various laws regarding names that regulate the naming of children. After a divorce recognised in Germany or the death of a spouse, it is possible to change back to the birth name by making a name declaration. A name declaration is not necessary. However, the actual practice at the registrar’s office is different. Since 2004, it has been included in the Statistical Yearbook of Germany by the German Statistical Office (Destatis), thereby making it the semi-official German list, as the German government does not publish its own list. The right to name a child is part of the parental right to take care of the child, codified in article 6 of the German Basic Law (constitution). Maria and Stephanie (tied) 3. @Shannon Ware Leon 5. When Germany was completely under Nazi rule, the number and severity of laws increased. This blog does not represent official Library of Congress communications and does not represent legal advice. (Photo by Flickr user mulan. These are often inspired by godparents or other relatives. (VG Koblenz [Administrative Court Koblenz], docket no. remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. What names you can have or not have are regulated by rules that courts enforce! If one or both parents are from a different country and opt for a name native to their home country, then the relevant foreign embassy will be consulted for this name. Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. The parents will have to file a suit in civil court requesting that their name choice be honored. […] The right of the parents to choose a first name is only limited if it adversely affects the welfare of the child. Take a look at this website for more details. Many countries around the world have such laws, with most governing the meaning of the name, while some only govern the scripts in which it is written. The possible names which may be used under German law may deviate from those entered in US vital records or identification documents. In Germany, names are regulated to a large extent. Mercerdes of course has long been used as a girl’s name in Spain meaning “gracious gift”. Despite common belief, German parents are generally unrestricted in their name choice. According to the German Personal Status Act, the registrar has to register the name and the gender of the child in the birth register. Many foreign or unique names that used to be unacceptable are now commonplace. German law has very strict requirements regarding the registration and possession of firearms and other weapons. Child custody determines naming rights Since the reform of the child law in 1998, children born of unmarried parents get their surname based on who has custody of the child. Marie 1. Changing a first name in Germany is only allowed under exceptional circumstances, for example according to the Transsexual Act, after an adoption, or in order to Germanize a foreign name. There are a new set of laws which can bar any name that is considered as insulting, deprecatory, unfair or has no proper meaning. Alexander 3. Names in Germany. A name is usually cited in the " Western order " of "given name, surname", unless it occurs in an alphabetized list of surnames, e.g. " The GfdS has been publishing this list since 1977. BReg. Please check your inbox for your confirmation email. So what happens if the registrar refuses a name chosen by the parents based on the Instructions for Registrars? The Nuremberg Laws were announced after the annual Nazi party rally in Nuremberg on 15 September 1935. So I wondered how the German authorities would treat someone wanting to give a boy my name. Inspector General | Legal | Accessibility | External Link Disclaimer | USA.gov, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/, how many times you can change a name in Taiwan, Pfefferminze (peppermint) (name of a healing and spice plant which will submit the child to ridicule) (AG Traunstein [District Court Traunstein], docket no. About | Press | Jobs | Donate By the 1820s, most small German states had extended civil rights to Jews and required them to adopt surnames. I wrote a post a little while back about common baby names in Germany, if you’re interested! Anything an individual sells (including a car) automatically carries a six-month warranty under law unless this has been explicitly excluded. Thank you! Chip. 1. Nevertheless "siebtel" is the dominant term. The content of all comments is released into the public domain Interesting comment about the name Mercedes not being allowed in Switzerland being regarded as a brand name. Servus! You may either choose the father’s or the mother’s name. In Germany, however, certain rules have to be observed when choosing the first name of your baby: It must be possible to determine the gender of the child by its first name. Firstly, what is a naming law? In addition, the GfdS also published a list of the Top-5 all-time favorite first names since the list started 40 years ago. Guten Tag! The Federal Constitutional Court held with regard to non-gender specific names that the fact that the registrar has to register the name and the gender of the baby does not mean that children need gender-specific names. However, an analysis of German birth certificates by First Names Germany found that Mia, Emma, and Sofia/Sophia were the top three German female names in 2016. In the Anglophone world, your bank cards will have your first and last names. Lastly, you cannot name your baby anything that might negatively affect them when they are older. But what about parents who prefer more exotic or unique names for their child? This also applies to changing a name after marriage or going back to a former name ; again … In this case a second name, one which would more clearly define the child’s gender, would be required. Common German Boy Names “Sabsudin” was therefore able to legally change his name to “Sebastian Sabsudin”. Baby names that have been previously rejected in Germany include: Matti (gender not clear), Kohl (possibly because it’s a surname, or because it means cabbage), Stompie (gender not clear/not clear as a first name), Osama bin Laden (will negatively affect child), and Adolf Hitler (will negatively affect child). I once tried to get my middle name taken off my bank card, only to be greeted with a solemn stare from the … In Germany, they have everything including academic titles, if applicable. Read our Mostly in middle eastern Germany and eastern/south eastern Austria. Anyway, I started going thru some more stored noted & documentation today. In Germany, you must be able to tell the gender of the child by the first name, and the If one of the two parents has a different nationality than German, the naming law of the country of citizenship of that particular parent can also be chosen instead (third box on page 4 - Art. In addition, attitudes towards what names are acceptable are subject to constant change. Marie and Sophie are still the top-2 girls’ names, whereas Alexander and Maximilian still occupy number 2 and 3 of the boys’ list. That courts enforce with some countries having more relaxed laws than others citizens may only change name. 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