Department of Internal Affairs releases 2017 list of declined names
The Department of Internal Affairs has released its annual list of names that were declined in 2017, when registered through SmartStart. A name or combination of names must not cause offence to a reasonable person, be unreasonably long, or include or resemble an official title or rank.
Names appearing not to meet these criteria are reviewed by the Registrar-General and the family have an opportunity to present their reasons for the name. Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages Jeff Montgomery says a name may be disallowed in one circumstance but allowed in another.
“Less than one percent of babies have their proposed name considered but the name of any baby born and registered in New Zealand must comply with New Zealand’s rules, regardless of the nationality of the parents,” Jeff says.
Please see below the list of names that were not approved by the Registrar-General in 2017.
| Name | Count |
| . | 1 |
| / | 1 |
| Chief | 1 |
| Duke | 2 |
| Ida-Qween | 1 |
| II | 1 |
| III | 1 |
| IV | 1 |
| Jahstice | 1 |
| Judge | 1 |
| Justice | 1 |
| Justus | 1 |
| Justyce | 1 |
| Justyce-Krimson | 1 |
| King | 1 |
| Lady | 1 |
| Legion-King | 1 |
| Majesty | 1 |
| Major | 1 |
| Messiah | 1 |
| Miss | 2 |
| Priince | 1 |
| Prince | 4 |
| Prince-Pahata | 1 |
| Prynce | 1 |
| Regal | 1 |
| Rogue | 1 |
| Royaale | 1 |
| Royal | 3 |
| Royale-Lee | 1 |
| Royall | 1 |
| Royalty | 3 |
| Saint | 2 |
| Sovereign | 1 |
| Triple M | 1 |
| X | 1 |
