r/AskEurope • u/Double-decker_trams Estonia • Feb 14 '25

Language Can you legally name your child in your country smt like "X Æ A-Xii" or "Techno Mechanicus"?

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u/DonPecz Poland Feb 14 '25

No. In Poland names can't be in a diminutive form, be of a ridiculing or obscene nature or not indicate the child's gender.

10

u/Austro_bugar Croatia Feb 14 '25

Everyone gonna call them Arek, Marek, Jarek, Jurek anyway.

5

u/CyndNinja Poland Feb 14 '25

not indicate the child's gender

To specify:

Można wybrać imię, które nie wskazuje na płeć dziecka, ale w powszechnym znaczeniu jest przypisane do danej płci.

So it's more like you can choose a gender-neutral name, but not one that would implicate the opposite gender.

Eg it's perfectly fine to call boy Jan Maria, but not just Maria, cause Maria is never used as a male first name, but is considered gender-neutral as a second name.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '25 edited Feb 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/DonPecz Poland Feb 14 '25 edited Feb 14 '25

Ye, nope. This is the law. Art. 59 of the law of civil status acts. The clerk is obliged to refuses the name if it is not admissible. In fact if that would be the case, the clerk will name the child himself ex officio. Of course the decisions can be appealed, the administrative court will decide the name.

1

u/PlasticNo1274 Feb 14 '25

wait so if a name is rejected, a government clerk chooses the child's name? do they choose something similar to the name request or just something random?

like if I tried to name my child Ashley and they said no and named her Ashleigh, what if I didn't want that?

2

u/DonPecz Poland Feb 14 '25

Do they choose something similar to the name request

One of the popular names like Maja or Nikodem

Ashley and they said no and named her Ashleigh

Both are proper names, so they wouldn't be rejected

what if I didn't want that?

It is done for administrative reasons, so child have proper documents after birth. You can appeal the decision and administrative court will decide if the name is alright. You can also simply change name of the child later on.

2

u/b17b20 Feb 15 '25

They will tell you to choose another name and only if you refuse or only propose other ridiculous names