What can I name my child — which names are allowed?
It depends on the name chosen — parents choose freely and by agreement, but a few limits apply, and the myth that "you can give a child as many names as you like" is wrong. Under the Civil Code a child is given no more than two first names, chosen by the parents by agreement; if they disagree, the name is set by a court or the child-rights authority. Names in civil-status records are written in Lithuanian, according to the rules of the language, must match the person's sex and must not contradict good morals or public order. The key point people miss: a name may not damage the honour and dignity of its bearer, and in unclear or unusual cases the civil registry must ask the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language for an opinion. Original (non-Lithuanian) spelling with the letters w, q, x may be entered only in specific cases set by law — for example, where one of the parents is a foreigner.
📋 The rules
- A child is given no more than two first names (Civil Code)
- Parents choose the name by agreement; if they disagree, a court or the child-rights authority decides
- The name is written in Lithuanian, by the rules of the language, and must match the sex
- The name may not contradict good morals or damage the honour and dignity of the person
- In unclear cases the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language is consulted
🔓 Exceptions
- Original spelling with w, q, x is possible in specific cases set by law (e.g., one parent is a foreigner)
- A long or compound name received abroad may be entered on a free-form request
- The name can later be changed under the general name- and surname-change procedure
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Here the point is not a fine but that an unsuitable name may not be registered. If the chosen name does not meet the requirements — it breaks the rules of the Lithuanian language, does not match the sex or contradicts good morals — the civil registry may refuse to register it, and in unclear cases it must ask the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language for an opinion. What people miss: if the parents disagree over the child's name, the dispute is decided by a court or the child-rights protection authority, so the process can drag on. If the name is to be changed later, that is a separate name-change procedure with a state fee and the reissuing of every document — passport, identity card. The practical harm falls on the child too: a name that mocks or shames can cause lasting difficulty, which is why the law protects the child's interest rather than the parents' wish to stand out.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Civil Code, Art. 3.166 (giving a name) →
- State Commission of the Lithuanian Language · personal names →
- Centre of Registers · registration of birth →
❓ Frequently asked
How many names can I give a child?
Under the Civil Code a child is given no more than two first names, chosen by the parents by agreement. If the parents cannot agree on a name, it is set by a court or the child-rights protection authority, having regard to the interests of the child.
Can I give a child a non-Lithuanian name?
Names in civil-status records are written according to the rules of the Lithuanian language, but original spelling with the letters w, q, x is allowed in specific cases set by law. Such a case is, for example, where one of the child's parents is a foreign national.
Can the registry refuse to register a name?
Yes, if the name does not meet the rules of the Lithuanian language, does not match the sex or contradicts good morals, the office may refuse to register it. Where there is doubt about the name, it must ask the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language for an opinion.
Must the name match the child's sex?
Yes, under the rules the name in a civil-status record must match the person's sex and must not contradict good morals or public order. In addition, the name may not damage the honour and dignity of its bearer, so mocking or degrading names are not registered.
Can the child's name be changed later?
Yes, the name can be changed under the general name- and surname-change procedure, but that is a separate process with a state fee. Once the name is changed, all documents have to be changed too, so it is easier to choose a suitable name from the start.
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