Side-by-side comparison
Compare Baby Name Laws
Naming rules vary dramatically across Europe. Some countries maintain strict official lists, others are highly permissive. Use this comparison to understand how 25 European countries handle baby naming.
| Country | System | Official list | Gender rule | Foreign names | Max names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | Strict | Limited | 3 | ||
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Strict | Limited | 2 | ||
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Strict | Accepted | No limit | ||
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Strict | Committee review | 2 | ||
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Moderate | Relaxed | No limit | ||
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Moderate | 3 | |||
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Moderate | Relaxed | No limit | ||
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Moderate | 3 | |||
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | Moderate | 3 | |||
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | Moderate | 2 | |||
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Moderate | Relaxed | No limit | ||
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Moderate | Relaxed | No limit | ||
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Permissive | 2 | |||
| 🇫🇷 France | Permissive | No limit | |||
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Permissive | No limit | |||
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Permissive | No limit | |||
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Permissive | No limit | |||
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Permissive | No limit | |||
| 🇫🇮 Finland | Permissive | 4 |
Key insights from the comparison
Strictest: Iceland
Iceland requires names to match Icelandic grammar and use only letters from the Icelandic alphabet (no C, Q, W, Z). A special committee (Mannanafnanefnd) reviews every new name.
Most permissive: France & Sweden
France (since 1993) and Sweden (since 2016) have removed most restrictions. Gender-neutral naming is allowed, and any culturally valid name is generally accepted.
Countries with official lists
Portugal, Iceland, Hungary, and Denmark maintain official lists. Denmark's list has over 50,000 names — one of the most extensive in Europe.
Gender rules
Iceland, Portugal, and Italy still generally require names to indicate the child's sex. Sweden removed this rule in 2016; Germany has relaxed it significantly.
Check your name across all 25 countries
Our free checker tells you instantly where your chosen name is approved.
Check a Name →Themed baby name guides across Europe
Beyond country-by-country differences, certain naming traditions cut across borders. The same Old Norse name (Freja) is registered in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway in different forms. The same Greek mythology name (Sofia) is the most popular girl name in Italy, Spain, Slovakia and Greece. Use these themed guides to choose a name that travels well within Europe.
Nordic
Viking & Norse Baby Names
Legal across Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden.
Romance
Roman & Latin Baby Names
For Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Romania.
Hellenic
Greek Mythology Baby Names
For Greece, Cyprus and the rest of Europe.
Naming for multicultural and expat families
If your child will live across multiple countries — for example, a Spanish-Swedish family planning to register a name in both Madrid and Stockholm — the safest approach is to pick a name with a single international form, valid spelling in both languages, and acceptance by both civil registries. Read our guide to names that work across multiple countries for the full process and a curated shortlist.
Country-specific guides
Last updated: April 2026. Comparison based on official regulations. Always consult your local civil registry for definitive answers.