How may I name my child, and which names are not allowed?
Parents agree on the child's name and report it to any administrative unit within 30 days of the birth; a name that would harm the child's interests may not be entered. Personal names are governed by the Personal Name Act (ZOI-1). A name consists of a first name and a surname, and the former limit of at most two words for legal transactions no longer applies – it was abolished by the 2019 amendment, so multi-word first names and surnames may now be entered. If the parents cannot agree on the name, the social work centre helps them, and in the end the court decides the dispute in non-contentious proceedings. The principle of the child's benefit governs: the competent authority warns the parents if the chosen name does not comply with the law or could harm the child's interests (e.g. an offensive or degrading name). The myth that you may give a child at most two first names and two surnames therefore no longer holds, nor is it true that with names 'anything goes'.
📋 The rules
- Parents agree on the child's name and report it to any administrative unit within 30 days of the birth.
- The limit of at most two words for a first name and two for a surname in legal transactions no longer applies – it was abolished by the 2019 ZOI-1 amendment.
- If the parents cannot agree, the social work centre helps them; in the end the court decides in non-contentious proceedings.
- The principle of the child's benefit applies: the authority warns the parents if the name does not comply with the law or could harm the child's interests.
- The personal name is entered in the register of births; the name is the child's right and the basis for identity documents and exercising rights.
🔓 Exceptions
- If one parent is unknown or not alive, the other parent determines the name; where there are no parents, the competent authority or guardian determines it.
- With dual citizenship or entries from foreign registers, first names and surnames may be entered as they appear in the foreign documents, even if multi-word.
- A later change of the child's name is possible under the rules on changing a personal name; for a child over 9, the child's consent is also required.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A wrong choice of name does not bring a 'fine' as with a traffic offence, but it does have other consequences. If the parents do not report the name in time or cannot agree on it, the social work centre is brought in, and the dispute may be decided by the court in non-contentious proceedings, which prolongs and burdens the process. The competent authority does not enter a name that does not comply with the law or would harm the child's interests (an offensive or degrading name), so the entry may be refused or delayed. An unsuitable or wrongly entered name later causes complications with identity documents, school, healthcare and inheritance, and corrections require further procedures. A later change of name is tied to an administrative fee and, for an older child, to the child's consent. The biggest cost of a wrong decision is thus not a fine but delays, administrative and court proceedings and consequences for the child, who carries the name for life.
📎 Official sources
- PISRS · register of legislation (Personal Name Act, ZOI-1) →
- e-uprava · personal name and the birth of a child →
- gov.si · administrative unit and the register of births →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to report my child's name?
Parents must agree on the child's name and report it to any administrative unit within 30 days of the birth. If they do not report it in time because they cannot agree, the social work centre is brought in, and the dispute may be decided by the court.
May I give my child more than two names?
Yes, the former limit of at most two words for a first name and two for a surname in legal transactions no longer applies, as it was abolished by the 2019 amendment. Multi-word first names and surnames may now be entered, which matters especially for entries from foreign registers.
Which names are not allowed?
A name that does not comply with the law or would harm the child's interests is not allowed, for example an offensive, degrading or otherwise harmful name. The competent authority warns the parents about this and, if necessary, does not enter such a name, as the principle of the child's benefit applies.
What happens if the parents disagree about the name?
If the parents cannot agree, the social work centre helps them reach a consensual decision. If they still fail to agree, the court decides the name in non-contentious proceedings on the proposal of one or both parents.
Can I change my child's name later?
Yes, a later change of the child's name is possible under the rules on changing a personal name and is tied to an administrative fee. If the child is over 9 and able to express their will, the child's consent is also required for the change.
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