Your nation's rules for naming children

[Kavaliers]

What laws, if any, regulate which names may be given to children in your nation?

To start off, in Kavaliers:

First names:
1) Titles cannot be used as given names (e.g. Sir, Doctor, Judge, Justice, President, Sergeant, Bishop)
2) Children cannot be named God, Jesus, Messiah, Saint, or other religious titles
3) Children cannot be given offensive or insulting names (e.g. Satan, Hitler, swear words, names of diseases).
4) Names may not contain non-Latin characters, numbers, or punctuation other than hyphens. Accent marks are allowed though so names like José, Lucía, or Zoë are OK.
5) Children cannot be given names that clearly belong to the opposite gender (e.g. James for a girl or Elizabeth for a boy). Unisex names like Sydney or Addison are allowed for both boys and girls, though.
6) Brother, Sister, Boy, Girl, Baby etc. are also banned, along with anything else that's obviously not a name (so you can't name your child "Mountain" or "Simplicity" for instance).
7) "Creative" spellings are allowed, but only within reason. Alyson (for Allison), Kevyn (for Kevin) and Lucie (for Lucy) are permitted - but Aylysyn, Khevan and Looci are not.
8 ) No nicknames (Ed, Abby, Steve, Maddie) as full names.

There are fewer regulations on adults changing their own names, only the first four rules apply.

Last names:
The child's last name must be:
a) The mother's last name
b) The father's last name
c) A combination thereof: e.g. if one parent has the last name Fitzgerald, the other parent has the last name George, the child may be given the last name "Fitzgeorge", "George-Fitzgerald" or "Fitzgerald-George".
Last names with no clear link to either parent's last name may be rejected.

Children might receive last names according to the following conventions:
1) Sons receive mother's surname, and daughters receive father's surname (also fairly common)
2) Daughters receive mother's surname and sons receive father's (less common than in the past)
3) All children receive father's/mother's last name (most common. More often than not the father's surname, but not uncommonly the mother's.) Edit: The typical convention is for children to receive the older parent's last name, which is more often the father.
4) All children receive a combined last name

EDIT: No nicknames as given names.
EDIT: Added Last Name Rules

[The Grand Duchy Of Nova Capile]

In Nova Capile, there is an official list of names which can be given to children. The list includes almost one thousand different names for each gender. These names are most often traditional Capilean names, although the list is updated yearly, so modern and foreign names are sometimes included. The primary reason for this to prevent parents from attempting to gain attention or notoriety by giving their children ridiculous or controversial names that would only humiliate the child. (In fact, giving a child an unlisted name could qualify as child abuse, depending on the case in question.) Leniency is given on middle names (a surname as a middle name could be permitted, for example) as well as spelling deviations, though these must be submitted to the government for review before being made official.

In all of this, Capile follows the standard already established by European countries, though enforced perhaps more rigidly.

[Alinghi Federal-Democratic Republic]

Naming rule officially is a cantonal issue, but actually no canton sets naming rules. However, in all cantons is easy to change name for who have over 14 or 15 years, is sufficent go to Lander's* anagrafic office pay z. 1.00 (ca. $ 4.50), and ansk to change your name.
The principal reason that not exist naming rule is because it want incetive to give original and uncommon name, and naming rules can obstacle unwillingness to this.

*The Lander is a equivalent of municipality/city, where the Landmeister in german name (the equivalent of mayor) work officially

[Ru-]

Ru has very few laws governing given names, the large and historic cultural diversity in Ru has led to a huge variation in names.

The right to name your child or yourself whichever name you so choose has been ruled by various courts to be protected under the Ruvian constitution. There are exceptions, however, and these have to do mostly with practicality: There is a limit to the number of characters that can be used, due to government record keeping software limitations. For similar reasons, numerical digits and symbols are banned as well. Ru also doesn't allow the use of obscenity in names. Also, (in the case of child names) if a court determines a particularly insulting or offensive name may constitute actual child abuse, it might not allow it.

Other then this, it's pretty much open. This leads room for some rather unusual names as a result.

[Aikoland]

As Aikoland is comprised of three states with completely different naming customs, regulations regarding the naming of children has been delegated to the individual states rather than the central government.

In general, all three states have relatively lax rules regarding the naming of children, with Taiwan having no official regulations or restrictions in regards to children's names.

In Japan, the regulations almost entirely concern the usage of kanji in given names. As of 2075, there are only around 3000 kanji permitted to be used in a child's name, the permitted characters are a mixture of 'name kanji' and 'commonly used characters', with the intent of ensuring names can be read and written by anyone fluent in Japanese without issue. There are no official restrictions in regards to the usage of hiragana or katakana in a child's name.

In Korea, much like Japan, there is an official list of hanja characters that can be used in given names, currently totaling 8000. However, most Koreans in Aikoland nowadays record their names exclusively in hangeul with hanja used only for official documentation. While there were once no restrictions regarding the length of a given name, since 1993 (predating the establishment of Aikoland), Korean given names may be no longer than five syllables. This came as a result of people registering extremely long names comprised of native Korean words, such as the sixteen syllable Haneulbyeollimgureumhaennimbodasarangseureouri (하늘별님구름햇님보다사랑스러우리, which can translate to 'More beloved than the stars in the sky and the sun in the cloud).

In the Aiko City Capital District, the name regulations and restrictions for Japanese and Korean names are the same as in Japan and Korea, respectively.

[Ghost Land]

In Ghost Land, people are automatically assigned at birth a randomized 10-digit number as their name. People are typically called by the first three digits of their name or by a nickname; for example, someone named 1876381094 would be known as 187 in social situations. Numbers cannot be changed, and there are some numbers that have been reserved: 1234567890, 0987654321, 1111111111, etc. These cannot be assigned as names, nor can any number that is currently in use by a living person or someone who has died within the past 122 years, so that all personal memories of a person are erased before his or her name is recycled.

Edit: This is my 172nd post, just like my favourite number!

[Thermodolia]

We don’t have any rules for naming children. The government has far more important things to worry about than that

[Luziyca]

As long as they're not profane, and they can fit onto the states' computer databases, you can name your kid anything you want.

[Kroraine]

1. An individual must have both a surname and at least one given name. A surname does not necessarily have to be a family name.
2. The surname need not be a family name or clan name. In Kroraini names, patronymics and matronymics may be used.
3. Only a single surname will be used for collation in individuals with multiple family/clan names. This is decided during at-birth name registration.
4. Grammatically feminine names may not be given to male children. The reverse is not the case, as many traditionally female names are rendered grammatically masculine.
5. Names must be able to be written with either Kroraini Devanagari or the Kroraini Latin alphabet, or with machine-readable Chinese characters. Persons with Chinese names are encouraged to use Chinese orthography, as many pinyin characters are not recognised as part of the Kroraini Latin alphabet.
6. Cardinal numbers or numeric characters may not make up any part of a surname or given name.
7. Names written with Chinese characters need not reflect the pronunciation of the name if the name is a common Kroraini name, as long as they carry the same meaning (e.g. the common given name Gunacaṃdre can be written as 德月).
8. Any name that is considered to be harmful to the child; names that are considered offensive, inappropriate, or "in otherwise poor taste" can be rejected at registration.
9. Certain names may be rejected at registration if they are considered divisive, extremist, or having connotations of separatism. Many common Muslim names are rejected under this section.

[Merther]

1. The name must be of French ethnicity or belong in one of the French languages groups. Names will be written in Latin characters
2. An individual must have 2 names and one last name (Composed last names and composed names are allowed).
3. A male individual cannot have a female name. A female individual cannot have a male name.
4. Names musn't expose an individual to possible bullying or be a curse word. (e.g : "Syphillis" or "Coward" should not be a name).
5. An individual cannot have the name of one of his parents.
6. Classic names can have different spellings, as long as the pronounciation stays the same. (e.g : Thibaut, Thibault, Thibau, Tibaut or Tibeaut have the same pronounciation. Thibalt however does not, and shall not be allowed as a name).

[Great Thallands]

1. Names cannot contain numerals.

2. Names that are insulting (i.e. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, names of diseases) aren't allowed.

3. Go hog wild, otherwise.

[Diopolis]

1) Children must be named after a saint canonized prior to 1962. The saint's name must conform to the child's gender. Masculine or feminine forms of a name are provided.
2) No more than three middle names may occur in any child's name.
3) Commoners may not use a nobiliary particle. Surnames may not be changed between generations. Children must take the father's surname if legitimate.
4) Names may not constitute puns.

[Earthbound Immortal Squad]

One rule no names after nouns, verbs adjectives adverbs.

[Crackistanistan]

everybody's last name must be leader's first name
Also
No racism
No democracy
No communism
No idealogies basically
No royal names
No religion-affiliated names
No word names i.e Mr. Dead Pot

[Tinhampton]

There is no list of proscribed names. You may name your child whatever you wish, so as long as they have a name in the first place, are not deemed "publically disgusting," and are no longer than 32 characters (the Ministry of Internal Affairs' computers are still stranded in 1996).

[Vallermoore]

Any name is ok as long as it is not ridiculous or too long for forms and would not cause bullying. Most names are therefore allowed.

[New Melvonia]

Legally there are no restrictions on naming in Melvonia, and anyone of any age can legally change their name by posting a Deed of Renomination in public view at any civic building and/or publishing a public notice to that effect in the Official Gazzette.
In practice, Melvonian naming conventions are, naturally, complex and pretentious. People usually have a given name, a family name, a paronymic and/or matronymic, demonym, "temple name" or Saint's Name, clan name, and an official name which is usually a (badly) Latinised version of any or all of the above.
In our anarcho-apathist culture, where engaging in any form of political action is considered somewhat undignified, many people adopt a pseudonym if they want to make a political point - for example, when gaining unauthorised access to the Doge's chill-pad to yell at him about issues. These are usually formed of an entertaining mixture of celebrity first and last names (such as Sigmund Obama or Meghan Navratilova), and the current Doge has been known to decide issues solely on the basis of who has the best.

[Trinadaed]

Naming Rules of Trinadaed

- No restrictions, really. Trinadaed is very free

[Orna]

They aren't given a name. They're given a serial number. If they last more than a week on the battlefield? Then they get a name.

[Ungvarnfjall]

Legally, names are preferred go in the traditional Vinir order, but if you have a name to go by and a family name you can pass.
However, traditionally, names are in this order: (Chosen name, Family name, Father's name-sson or -dottir depending on the child's sex.) For instance, if you were in the Kjudar family and your father was Jarl Ulfric and your parents named you 'Angvor', your name would be Angvor Kjudar Ulfricsson. However, let's say your brother has the same exact name. You'd then be Angvor Kjudar II Ulfricsson, but never go by 'Angvor The Second', instead as 'Angvor Kjudar' or 'Angvor Kjudar The Second'. The patrilineal part of the name is usually only used when writing your full name on an official document, like a legal agreement or a trade contract.

[New Pyrrhius]

there is nothing left to hide from

[Magical Equestria]

Pony names tend to be very idiosyncratic and reflective of their bearer's personality. So, parents usually refrain from naming their offspring until they start exhibiting signs of what that personality may be. Sometimes it's not very obvious, and the parents name the foal after its appearance--color or other distinctive physical traits.

Customarily, Earth Pony, Pegasus and Unicorn names tend to be based on their different roles in society. Earth Pony names are usually food- or agriculture-related, Pegasus names weather-related, and Unicorn names astronomical or referring to various abstract concepts. The usual convention is a two-word name, with the first word being an adjective describing the second. Single-word names are sometimes used, although often with clever word-play such as using spoonerisms or portmanteau words. Only a few pony families actually use "family" names, although it's not uncommon to give a foal a variation on a parent or ancestor's name.

There is one iron-clad rule that all Pony races observe: Every Pony name MUST be unique--it's an Equestrian legal requirement. As it's difficult to keep track of an entire nation's worth of names, parents usually give their foals very unusual or obscure names, just to be on the safe side. If two ponies are discovered with the same name, one of them has to change theirs. Needless to say, that keeps the lawyers busy.

There is some flexibility in the system, fortunately. A pony may change his or her name at any time, and the process is very easy. This usually happens when the pony gets their cutie mark and discovers a name more suitable for their "special talent" and "destiny" (concepts found in Pony philosophy). Names may also be changed for other life-changing events, such as marriage. Ponies tend to identify themselves via their cutie marks rather than their names, so changing one's name is not as dramatic a thing for us as it is for other creatures. In fact, it's not uncommon for a Pony to have one or more "unofficial" names, which they often use interchangeably with their "legal" one.

[Coconut Palm Island]

According to The Birth and Death Certification Act:
"All names must be reasonable, as is defined by a judge. No name that predictably will cause the child, or others, significant discomfort or distress may be given. Parent(s) in violation of this act will be sentenced to 3 hours of community service and be given the opportunity to re-name the child. Parent(s) who again violate this act after being given a second chance will be sentenced to 20 hours of community service and fined 750 Sand Dollars (about 1,500 USD), and the child will be named by a judge. Such decisions may be appealed to the appropriate District Appellate Court, but not the District High Court or the Royal Court."

This law was intentionally left very vague, as the than-King and the Senate reasoned that there's no way to write a list of rules to classify a name as good or bad. So, the judge is given wide discretion. The first time, the parent gets 3 hours of community service (a slap on the wrist) and the chance to rename the kid. If they can't get it right by the second try, the penalty goes up to 20 hours of community service and a moderate fine. And, most significantly, the judge gets to name the child. The judge will pick a mundane name, something that everyone can be happy with. In most cases, if parents refuse to provide a non-obscene name, the judge will name the child after one of the parents.

Because of the subjective nature of the law, decisions can be appealed to a District Appellate Court. However, because of the sheer number of naming cases, appeals to either a District High Court or the national Royal Court is forbidden.

[Eahland]

It has to be writable in Columban letters, for record-keeping purposes. So you can't name a kid one of the symbols from Lead Æþmscip iv, or change your legal name to an unpronounceable trademarked glyph, and if you use runes or Kentric letters or whatnot, they'll just get transliterated into Columban letters, but anything else goes.

[Victorious Decepticons]

Decepticons typically change their names upon reaching maturity, so these rules apply to both Coders naming their kids, and adults renaming themselves.

Laws will be marked with "L." The rest are strong conventions, but not legally mandated.

- L - Names must not be "silly." As with some nations' definitions of obscenity, what counts as SILLY evolves through the years. Generally, if it draws smirks or other untoward responses just by itself, you have to pick another name.

- L - You may not name your kid "something stupid" or "anything likely to cause developmental glitches." So, No UsedOilFilters, RAMlesses, or RejectParts allowed. Adults have more leeway when it comes to naming themselves, but they still must avoid "stupid" and/or "silly" names.

- L - No one except Megatron, may be called Megatron. The penalty for using this name is a duel to the death against the actual Megatron. Coders who name their kids Megatron will be forced to fight in the child's stead, while the kid is renamed by the ranking local government administrator.

- It is not mandatory, but it's also a good idea to avoid the names of all prominent government personnel. Not only would they get angry and likely challenge you to a duel over the name, almost all of them have gained some serious enemies from their governmental and/or non-governmental activities. You wouldn't want an assassin to accidentally blow up your house (with you in it) because he heard that your address was actually one of, say, Skywarp's houses.

- It is not mandatory, but it is a good idea to avoid the names of well-known mobsters and such. They are even more likely than government people to attract assassins, and it's also less likely for the assassins to know where they actually live (causing them to hit you by mistake).

- L - No Autobot name may be used. There will be no penalty if the Autobot was so obscure as to have been legitimately forgotten (or never known), but once the connection is discovered, such names must be changed. In all other cases, it is High Treason to use one of their accursed names.

- L - It is illegal to name yourself (or your offspring) after any biological, or to use a name that sounds as if you did so. Adults may use biological-esque names when undercover on another planet or when working a con against such a place, but not here or as their real names. [UPDATE: Special exemptions may be given to immigrants who have earned extreme fame/infamy under their original names. Typically, Leader Megatron himself must approve these.]

- L - Biological conventions, such as names associated with genders, surnames, middle names, etc. are also to be avoided. (Update: See exception for biological-sounding names in the point directly above this one.)

- (L depends on the specific name) Names should have some sort of obvious meaning or clearly-discernible correlation to real words and/or concepts. No names that you have to look up the meaning of, such as James, Tim, Nancy, or Dorothy. Such nonsensical names are for biologicals!

- Compound names (which are standard here) should be no longer than three words, and preferably, use only two. (For example, "Skywarp" as opposed to "He Who Warps Across the Skies to Get Places.")

- L - Spellings must make sense. Oddball versions that are sure to be spelled wrong by the majority of the populace are especially to be avoided.