You Wanna Name Your Kid "King Midas"? Hold Your Horses, Texas Has Rules!
Ever dreamt of giving your child a name so unique, so powerful, it would make angels weep and lesser mortals faint? Well, hold onto your Stetsons, Texas parents, because the Lone Star State has a few...quirks when it comes to naming your mini-me.
Forget the Fairytale Titles, Your Majesty
Apparently, Texas isn't too keen on raising a royal brood. King, Queen, even Majesty are a big ol' nope on the birth certificate. You can kiss your dreams of a "Prince Kevin" or "Princess Brittany" goodbye. Maybe stick to "Duke" for the family dog?
Numbers? Symbols? Not in This Rootin' Tootin' Name Town
Ever considered naming your child after your favorite athlete, like "NumberOne" Jones? Forget it! Texas draws the line at numerals and symbols. So sayonara to "@lexa" or "XxX-treme DylanXxX" (although, bless your heart for trying, Brenda).
Shakespeare Would Weep: Accents Are Out
Does your family tree boast a rich heritage with names like "Aïsha" or "Sébastian"? Unfortunately, Texas' computer systems might have a meltdown. Tildes, ñs, and umlauts (those fancy dots and squiggles over vowels) are a no-go in the name game.
100 Letters? Not Enough for Your Family Lineage?
Think you can create a name so grand it requires a whole novel to write it out? Think again! Texas has a character limit of 100 letters for the entire first, middle, and last name combined. So, Bruce "Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr." might have to be shortened to Bruce Jr., for your sanity and the poor clerk's sake.
Caution: Certain Deities and Dictators Are Off-Limits
Texas might be known for its independent spirit, but there are a few lines you just don't cross. Adolf Hitler and Jesus Christ are big no-no's. Look, there's a time and a place for everything, and a birth certificate probably isn't the best place to make a statement.
Of course, these are just a few of the funny (and sometimes frustrating) rules for naming your child in Texas. But hey, at least you can still name your kid "Maverick" or "Sue Ellen" and keep that Texan spirit alive!
