Can You Name Your Baby Anything in Louisiana?

Picking a name for a new baby is a big deal. Some parents go with family names, others look for something unique, and a few seem determined to make sure their child will never share a name with anybody else in the classroom.

But if you're expecting a little one in Louisiana, there's a legal side to naming your baby that might surprise you.

Before you settle on a name that's guaranteed to turn heads, here's what Louisiana law actually says about naming a child.

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Can You Name Your Baby Anything You Want in Louisiana?

ouisiana parents have plenty of room to get creative when choosing a first name. However, that doesn't mean every part of the naming process is completely unrestricted.

Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:34.2 explains how a child's name must be recorded on the original birth certificate. Much of the law focuses on the child's last name and how it is determined under different family circumstances.

For example, the rules address situations involving married parents, unmarried mothers, acknowledged fathers, and parents who agree to use a combination of surnames.

In other words, Louisiana has specific rules for recording a child's name, but they're more complicated than a simple list of names that parents aren't allowed to use.

What About Unusual or Outrageous Baby Names?

We've all heard baby names that make us stop and wonder what the parents were thinking.

Some parents choose unusual spellings, while others borrow names from celebrities, fictional characters, or just about anything that inspires them. And let's be honest, Louisiana wouldn't be Louisiana without a little creativity.

However, it's important to separate a name that people might consider unusual from one that is actually prohibited by law.

Louisiana's Rules for a Baby's Last Name

Louisiana law prohibits parents from using a hyphen for the child's last name. For instance, if the mother's last name Richard and the father's last name is Boudreaux, you can't hyphen them together as Richard-Boudreaux.

Also, it's against Louisiana law to name your child and obscenity. Seems pretty rediculous there needs to be an actual law for this, but it's obviously a law for a reason, and probably because people have tried to do it.

From thebump.com "You can’t name your child an obscenity in Louisiana, or use diacritical marks (so, André isn’t allowed). As for the last name, if the mom wasn’t married within 300 days of the birth, the baby’s surname must match his mother’s name. If mom is married, baby’s surname must be the same as her husband, unless the parents agree to change it."

The Louisiana Department of Health provides information about birth records and amendments, including procedures for adding or correcting names on birth certificates.

You can check Louisiana laws about baby names over at legis.ls.gov.

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Throughout time, some really odd laws get put on the books in just about every city around the country. However, Louisiana presents its own unique set of circumstances resulting in some seriously strange laws. Let's look at some of the weirdest.

Gallery Credit: Michael Dot Scott