Austria Bans Brand Names as Baby Names — No, You Can't Call Your Kid 'Nutella'
The Short Answer
Austria genuinely prohibits parents from giving their children names that are brand names or product names, as part of a broader child welfare naming law. However, the framing that a 'government approval' process exists to bypass this ban is misleading — brand names are categorically rejected, not subject to a special approval pathway.
The Full Story
Austria's baby naming rules sit within a well-developed civil registration framework rooted in the Personenstandsgesetz (Civil Status Act) 2013. The guiding principle is straightforward: a name is a lifelong identifier and giving a child a ridiculous, offensive, or non-personal name is considered an act contrary to their welfare and best interests. The prohibition on brand names flows naturally from this logic — names like 'Nutella,' 'Sputnik,' or a car marque are objects or trademarks, not human identities, and forcing a child to carry one through life is seen as potentially embarrassing and harmful. Austria is not alone in this; Germany, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden all operate similar regimes. The 'government approval' angle in the claim appears to stem from the fact that parents must formally register their chosen name with the Standesamt before a birth certificate is issued — a process that does involve official review. However, this is better understood as a vetting/rejection mechanism than an approval-on-application system. There is no documented avenue to petition for special permission to use a brand name specifically; such names fall into a categorically rejected class. A 2021 Kurier report highlighting a non-exhaustive list of banned Austrian baby names — including Nutella, Satan, and Sputnik — generated wide international coverage and likely refreshed the viral circulation of this claim.
Common Misconceptions
The claim implies parents can obtain 'government approval' to name a child after a brand — as if there's a special application process. In reality, brand and product names are simply refused by the registry office as categorically not suitable as personal names. There is no documented approval pathway to override this. A second misconception is that the law is uniquely Austrian or strange; in fact, most European countries have broadly similar child-welfare-based naming restrictions. Finally, the rule technically only applies to children with Austrian citizenship/personal status (Personalstatut), not to children of foreign nationals born in Austria.
Actual Legal Text
Under Austria's Civil Status Act 2013 (Personenstandsgesetz 2013, PStG 2013) and related naming provisions, a child's first name must not be detrimental to the child's welfare, and must not be ridiculous or offensive. Names not typically associated with a person — including car brands, product names, cities, and comic book characters — are categorically prohibited. The name must also correspond to the child's gender. All first names must be submitted to the local registry office (Standesamt) before a birth certificate can be issued; if the office rejects a name, it alerts the guardianship court.
Current Status
Actively Enforced
Penalty
Prohibited name is refused registration; birth certificate cannot be issued until an acceptable name is provided. In cases of parental disagreement or non-compliance, the guardianship court (Pflegschaftsgericht) may be notified. No specific criminal fine for attempting to register a banned name.
Last Verified
May 11, 2026
Enacted
January 1, 2013
Jurisdiction Notes
National law applying across all of Austria. Applies specifically to children with Austrian 'personal status' (Personalstatut), typically Austrian citizens.