🇭🇺 Hungary
4,518
Total names
1,942
Male names
2,576
Female names
Naming Rules
Official approved list
Hungary maintains an official register of approved first names. Names not on the list require approval from the Research Institute for Linguistics.
Hungarian form preferred
Foreign names are generally accepted only if they have a Hungarian equivalent or are well-established internationally.
Name must indicate gender
The name must clearly correspond to the child's sex.
Maximum two first names
Children may receive up to two first names.
No diminutives
Nicknames and short forms cannot be used as official names.
Legal basis: Act I of 2010 on Civil Status Registration and related Ministry decrees.
Authority: Nyelvtudomanyi Intezet (Research Institute for Linguistics)
Popular Names in Hungary
Top 15 Boy Names
1.Bence
2.Mate
3.Levente
4.Dominik
5.Noel
6.Adam
7.Marton
8.Balazs
9.Daniel
10.Milan
11.Oliver
12.Marcell
13.Botond
14.Zsombor
15.Hunor
Top 15 Girl Names
1.Hanna
2.Zsofia
3.Anna
4.Luca
5.Emma
6.Boglarka
7.Lili
8.Nora
9.Reka
10.Petra
11.Dorina
12.Flora
13.Janka
14.Viktoria
15.Kata
Registering a baby name in Hungary
Deadline
30 days after birth
Processing
1-30 days for names outside the list
Fee
Free
Appeal to
Research Institute for Linguistics (Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont)
Hungary places the family name before the given name in the official order (Nagy István = István Nagy). The Institute publishes the full list of approved names publicly — always a good first stop.
Traditional Hungarian names
Hungary keeps an official list of approvable first names, maintained by the Research Institute for Linguistics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Names not on the list can be proposed — the Institute reviews them against Hungarian phonology and historical precedent.
Examples of names refused or restricted
While Hungary accepts most well-known names, the Anyakönyvvezető (Registrar) has refused or restricted the following types:
- Names with non-Hungarian spelling — must be Hungarianised (e.g. Christopher → Kristóf)
- Names judged aesthetically inappropriate — occasionally refused by the Institute
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register a baby name in Hungary?
Parents must declare the name at the Anyakönyvvezető (Registrar) within 30 days after birth. Processing typically takes 1-30 days for names outside the list. The standard fee is Free.
What names are rejected in Hungary?
Refusals are rare but not unknown. Examples include: Names with non-Hungarian spelling (must be Hungarianised (e.g. Christopher → Kristóf)); Names judged aesthetically inappropriate (occasionally refused by the Institute). The core principle is that no name may harm or humiliate the child.
Can foreign parents use a non-Hungarian name?
Yes. Foreign-origin names are generally accepted in Hungary, provided they can be written in the local alphabet and do not conflict with the rules above. Parents from abroad may be asked to show their own passport or the child's prior documents as supporting evidence.
What can I do if the registrar refuses my chosen name?
You can appeal the decision before the Research Institute for Linguistics (Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont). In practice, submitting evidence of historical use (saints, writers, previous bearers of the name) or a minor adaptation of spelling usually resolves the case.
Check a name in Hungary
Search 4,518 names in our Hungary database — plus 24 more European countries.
Check a Name →Last updated: April 2026. For informational purposes only. Always consult your local Nyelvtudomanyi Intezet for definitive answers.