While some state laws are enacted for the benefit of the child, other laws aren’t so cut-and-dry.
In fact, some of them are just downright wacky.
Do you live in a state with a completely bonkers set of laws?
Keep reading to find out the wildest baby naming laws throughout the United States.
No name?
That’s okay in Connecticut and Michigan
Situated in New England,Connecticutis a beautiful state.
It is home to Yale University, quaint towns, boutique shops, and impressive foliage in the fall.
As odd as that may be, Connecticut is not the only state that does this.
Eventually, you will have to come to an agreement, right?
Well, that greatly depends on where you live.
If you live in Florida,state lawdictates that, if you two can’t decide, they will.
This doesn’t just apply to first names, either.
If a couple cannot decide on whose last name to choose,bothparents' surnames will be used.
So, if you don’t want Florida to pick your child’s name, you better decide!
Unfortunately, some states don’t impose such restrictions.
Likewise, Delaware, Maryland, and Montana also remain pretty hands-off when it comes to naming babies.
The same sort oflaw applies in Tennesseeas well.
Needless to say, these laws are a blast from the past and not in a good way.
California doesn’t allow accent marks
Thinking about naming your baby Beyonce in California?
This is certainly a frustrating law for Spanish-speaking residents of California.
That didn’t fly, however.
“We thought it was an issue of the keyboard,” Espinoza explained.
Espinoza, and likely many others, hope this law will one day change.
According toThe Chicago Tribune, California also bars “pictographs” and “ideograms.”
Pictographs date as far back as 3000 BC and make up the earliest known form of writing.
Emojis are, in fact, modern day examples of pictographs.
A no smoking sign is a good example of an ideogram and, likewise, aterriblename for a baby.
If you live in Kentucky, you need not worry.
The options are essentially endless.
Kentucky even spells out who gets to pick the name.
And you thought picking a first name was difficult!
Basically, anything goes, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, toldNJ.com.
The motivation seems to be entirely selfish, at the cost of the child’s emotional health."
Nevertheless, New Jersey law allows such names to be given to children.
If you have a baby in Massachusetts, you’ll be limited to 40 characters.
