Legal Necessity of Having a Name

• Cannot live without a name legally - not illegal but extremely impractical
• Required for: getting jobs, driver's licenses, any form of identification
• Names are primary identification method before social security numbers
• Essential for hospital tracking, government documentation

US State Naming Laws and Restrictions

• Laws vary by state - at least dozen states have no naming restrictions
• States with laws commonly prohibit:
  • Numbers (but can spell out: "three" instead of "3")
  • Vulgar words
  • Religious names like "Jesus Christ"
  • Historical figures like "Adolf Hitler"
  • Brand names like "Nutella"
  • "Santa Claus" in some places
  • Racial slurs
  • Names intended for fraud/debt avoidance
  • Emojis (banned across the board)

International Naming Restrictions

• Portugal: very strict laws
  • Must select from approved name list
  • Must be "gender appropriate"
  • Government enforcement
• Iceland and Denmark: similar approved name lists
• Generally stricter than US regulations

Birth Registration Requirements

• Parents legally obligated to register birth with government (vital records/health departments)
• Common misconception: don't need to name baby before leaving hospital
• Hospital assigns temporary names like "Baby Girl Smith" if unnamed
• Study showed more specific temporary names ("Jane's Girl Smith") reduce hospital mix-ups

State-Specific Registration Procedures

• California example: supplemental name report required if naming after hospital discharge
• California allows up to one year to decide on name
• Birth certificate issued after name registration

UN Convention on Rights of Child

• All children have right to name from birth
• Exception: highly stressful situations allow temporary names like "boy" or "girl"

Middle Names History and Evolution

• Not always common practice
• Medieval origins: first name + saint's name + surname
• Eventually non-religious middle names became acceptable
• Often mother's maiden name or family name
• WWI: first official US government recognition on military enlistment forms
• Computer systems programmed for three names (first, middle, last)
• "NMI" (No Middle Initial) inserted for people without middle names
• Some people have multiple middle names (UK example: Justin Neil Alexander Stewart)