Revealed: The names to not name your self if you’d like a UK Passport
Parents who want to name their children after Disney characters, global brands, football teams or sci-fi heroes may well want to think again, as it could make travelling a nightmare in time to come.
That was the scenario facing one family this week when they faced missing a dream holiday to the Dominican Republic because of their son’s name.
A passport application for youngster Loki Skywalker Mowbray was thrown out by Home Office officials ‘for copyright issues’.
His disappointed father, soldier and massive Star Wars fan Christian Mowbray, 48, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, was told to change his son’s name or get permission from the copyright owner Disney to use the name ‘Skywalker’.
While the Home Office has since U-turned on their decision, their experience serves as a cautionary tale to others – including people considering changing their birth names by deed poll – not to fall foul of the Home Office’s pernickety rules for passports.
According to the rules, names that could cause offence, contain symbols, or breach trademark or copyright laws are all off limits.
So which names could land you in trouble? MailOnline has compiled a list of the top 10 most likely to land your passport application in the bin…
Adolf Hitler: Likely to cause offence
It goes without saying that naming your child (or yourself) after Adolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator, who propelled nations into the Second World War and murdered six million Jews and millions of others, would fall under the category of ‘names that may cause outrage or offence’
A name like Adolf Hitler won’t get you anywhere close to the airport doors. According to the Passport Office, such a name would fall under the ‘likely to cause offence category’. This includes ‘names associated with criminal gangs or extremist organisations; names promoting, encouraging or inciting crime or anti-social behaviour; and reference to any past, present or future activity, which may cause public offence’
X Æ A-12: Using numbers and symbols
Billionaire and CEO of X Elon Musk might have all the resources to go travelling, but UK passport officials would almost certainly throw out an application for his unusually-named son
Elon Musk would likely struggle to take his son X Æ A-12 Musk on holiday if he needed a UK passport. Under the guidelines, ‘any names that include numbers, symbols and punctuation marks (diacritical characters and accent characters) are prohibited.’ This is largely due to symbols and numbers on passports causing IT issues when being processed.
Musk and musician partner Grimes welcomed their first child together in May 2020 and decided to name the baby boy X Æ A-12 (pronounced ‘Ex Ash A Twelve’).
But he soon changed it to ‘X Æ A-Xii’ as it was reported that the child’s original name violated California naming laws. Under these laws only the 26 letters of the English alphabet, including hyphens, could be used.
Queen’s Park Rangers: Trademark and copyright
Naming yourself or your child after a football team could land you in passport trouble
While it might seem a good idea at the time, naming yourself after a football team could prompt a rejection from the Passport Office as it violates trademark and copyright law.
Mike Barratt, chief executive officer of UK Deed Poll Service, told the BBC he had heard of such a case before.
‘We had a family once, a man who changed his name to Queens Park Rangers, and his son did too.
‘The Passport Office refused to issue them with passports and said they were violating a trademark.’
The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince): Using numbers and symbols
The singer with an unpronounceable name: Prince famously changed his name to a symbol
The late singer Prince Rogers Nelson famously changed his name in 1993 to an unpronounceable symbol that was a mash up of gender symbols for man and woman. Despite the artistic sentiment, that maneuver would never have got him past the Passport Office rules, which state that ‘any names that include numbers, symbols and punctuation marks (diacritical characters and accent characters) are prohibited.’
Khaleesi: Trademark and copyright
Throne-out application: Naming your child Khaleesi could cause a passport headache
Game of Thrones fans may well be tempted by the exotic name Khaleesi, a title meaning ‘Queen’ given to Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) in the series.
But it’s a name that has also caused trouble before with Home Office officials.
In August, six-year-old Khaleesi Holloway had her passport application rejected ahead of a dream holiday to Disneyland because she is named after the character.
The Passport Office said they were unable to issue a passport unless Warner Brothers agreed, because it owned the trademark for the name Khaleesi.
Officials originally told her mother to contact the US film and entertainment studio to get permission to use it, but eventually U-turned on their decision.
Happy birthday: Unacceptable name
Celebrate now, pay later: Calling yourself Happy Birthday won’t get you far on a passport application
While calling yourself or your child Happy Birthday might elicit smiles and greetings every day of the year, a combination of words which make up a saying rather than a recognised name are a big no-no, according to officials.
Jesus Christ: Likely to cause offence
Naming yourself after Jesus Christ could cause offence to some who deem it blasphemous
According to the Deed Poll office, names with religious connotations could be potentially blasphemous and cause offence. Naming yourself after the Messiah could fall into this category, though Jesus on its own is considered acceptably and is a common name in some cultures.
Pudsey Bear: Unacceptable name
Bear in mind: Naming yourself or your child after a fictional character could set you up for passport rejection
Eileen de Bont changed her name to Pudsey in a bid to raise £4,000 for Children in Need, but was later refused a passport on the grounds her name change was ‘frivolous’
In one un-bear-lievable tale, kindly charity fundraiser Eileen de Bont changed her name to Pudsey in 2009 in a bid to raise £4,000 for Children In Need. But she soon found herself in trouble with officials when they rejected her passport application over the ‘frivolous’ name change. According to the guidelines, any ‘unacceptable’ names on applications will be thrown out.
Coca Cola: Trademark and copyright
Holidays are coming…but not if you name yourself after major brand Coca Cola
It might seem refreshing to have a different name, but calling yourself after a major brand like Coca Cola will result in Home Office officials rejecting a passport application as it violates trademark and copyright law.
King of Ink Land King Body Art The Extreme Ink-Ite: Unacceptable name
Mathew Whelan aka Body Art ran into trouble with officials over his unusual moniker
King of Ink Land King Body Art The Extreme Ink-Ite, 34, was refused a passport renewal in 2014 because of his unusual moniker, which he adopted by deed poll four years ago.
The 34-year-old formerly known as Mathew Whelan – now called Body Art for short – has covered 90 per cent of his body in ink, including tattooing his left eyeball black, has spent more than £25,000 on his passion.
