Naming a child is one of the most personal and meaningful choices a parent can make. While many parents seek unique or culturally significant names, some names may be illegal to give your child—depending on the state.
In Georgia, like in many states, there are certain naming laws designed to protect children and ensure consistency in official records. These rules might surprise you, especially if you’re planning to get creative with your baby’s name.
Here’s a closer look at eight names you can’t legally give your baby in Georgia—and why they’re off-limits.
1. King
Although it may sound regal and powerful, “King” is one of several names that Georgia’s courts have rejected when used in a way that could imply a title or official rank. According to Georgia law, names that include titles like “King,” “Queen,” “Duke,” “Princess,” or “Emperor” can be denied on birth certificates. The reason? These names can mislead or imply a status or authority the child doesn’t possess, which conflicts with official naming conventions.
2. Jesus Christ
Religious naming is generally allowed in Georgia—names like “Mary,” “Noah,” or “Christian” are common. However, naming a child “Jesus Christ” specifically is typically denied because it can be deemed offensive or misleading, especially in official records. The name is considered sacred and using it in full may be viewed as disrespectful or blasphemous by some communities, prompting the state to reject it.
3. @ (At Symbol)
Parents looking to get ultra-modern or tech-savvy may think it’s quirky to name their child using symbols—like “@” (pronounced “at”). But Georgia does not permit names that include numerals or symbols not found in the 26-letter English alphabet.
That means names like “@John” or “M!ke” (with an exclamation mark) won’t make it onto a birth certificate. The state’s vital records office requires names to be clear and compatible with government databases.
4. Lucifer
“Lucifer,” the biblical name often associated with the devil, is a controversial name that has been banned in several countries and frowned upon in certain U.S. jurisdictions, including Georgia. While there’s no specific statewide law that singles it out, many clerks in Georgia are given discretion to reject names deemed obscene, offensive, or inappropriate. As such, “Lucifer” is generally not accepted.
5. III (As a Full Name)
Georgia allows Roman numerals as generational suffixes—such as Jr., II, or III—but not as stand-alone names. You can’t name your child simply “III” with no first or last name. The law mandates that a name must contain at least a first and last name to be valid. Suffixes can only be used in addition to a complete name, not as a replacement for one.
6. Hitler
This one is perhaps the most obvious. The name “Hitler,” due to its historical association with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, is considered offensive and inflammatory. Georgia allows officials to reject any name deemed racist, hateful, or highly offensive, and “Hitler” falls squarely into that category. While the Constitution protects free speech, the state can still prevent names that may incite outrage or cause harm to the child.
7. 1234
It might sound like a password, but some parents have actually attempted to give their children names made entirely of numbers. Georgia law explicitly forbids names that use numerals, even if they’re spelled out phonetically (e.g., “OneTwoThreeFour”). The state’s naming regulations require all names to be made of standard alphabetic characters for record-keeping and identification purposes.
8. N@meWith$ymbols
While this may seem like a fun or edgy way to stylize a child’s name, using special characters like “$,” “#,” or “%” is a no-go in Georgia. Even if a parent writes the name as a variation of “NameWithSymbols,” inserting these non-letter characters violates the naming policy. Georgia requires that baby names on official documents contain only standard letters to avoid confusion and clerical issues later in life.
Why These Rules Exist
Georgia’s naming restrictions aren’t about stifling creativity—they’re about ensuring consistency, protecting children from potential harm or ridicule, and maintaining order in official documents. Clerks at the Georgia Department of Public Health have discretion to approve or reject names based on guidelines involving character limitations, format, and decency.
Names that may seem like a harmless joke or artistic expression at birth could become a lifelong burden for a child—impacting everything from school records to job applications. That’s why Georgia’s laws aim to strike a balance between personal freedom and public responsibility.
Conclusion
Choosing a baby name in Georgia comes with some limitations, but most parents won’t run into trouble as long as they stick to names using the English alphabet and avoid titles, obscenities, or symbols. While creativity is encouraged, it’s always a good idea to check with the state’s naming guidelines if you’re unsure. After all, a name lasts a lifetime—and in Georgia, it also has to follow the rules. Are you surprised by any names on this list?
