There Are More Than 10 Illegal Baby Names in Maine

You won't find these names on a Mainer's driver's license.

Get our free mobile app

While Maine is generally more relaxed compared to other New England states and the entire country, there are specific names that are off-limits for our children.

USBirthCertificates.com reports that very few names are banned in the United States. This is, in part, due to the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, which supports a parent's right to choose their children's names as a form of expression.

However, let's talk about common courtesy.

While some states have stricter naming laws, Maine only restricts names banned nationwide. In fact, in New England, Maine boasts the least strict baby-naming laws.

In Connecticut, you have the freedom to choose any name as long as it's not for fraudulent or nefarious purposes, does not infringe on someone else's rights, and uses English characters.

Massachusetts limits baby names to letters found on the standard English keyboard, so no æ, ë, or ñ, unfortunately.

In New Hampshire, the total number of characters for first, middle, and last names must not exceed 100.

Rhode Island doesn’t allow diacritical marks—any mark, shape, stroke, or sign added or attached to a letter for a particular reason—on birth certificates, but it does allow parents to use Aña or Zoë on other documents.

Vermont, known for its leniency, permits the use of trademarked names, diseases, and obscenities, although they strongly advise against it.

Moreover, many states mandate at least two names on a birth certificate—a family name and a given name chosen by a parent. In some states, when parents are married at the time of their child's birth, the child must take the father's surname, while in others, the child may take the mother's maiden name if both parents agree.

Keep scrolling to see the baby names banned in Maine, throughout the United States, and around the world!