In Switzerland, can we give the first name you want to your child? – Rts.ch

Last Sunday. However, the maternity hospital of the Leipzig University Hospital announced on Instagram the coming to the world of a newborn man named Yahya Sinwar, of the full name of the former head of Hamas killed last fall by the Israeli army. However, Man is considered one of the main instigators of the massacre of October 7, 2023 in Israel. Similarly, Relayed by the German press. However, then by several international media, the news was not long in making a stir, fueling questions about the legality of appointing her child as well.

What are the rules in Switzerland? – Switzerland, can we give first

There is no official list of prohibited first names in Switzerland. switzerland, can we give first Similarly, Article 37c. paragraph 3, of the civil status order simply specifies: “The civil status officer refuses the first names manifestly detrimental to the interests of the child.” Each case is therefore examined individually by the competent civil status offices. which have the possibility of refusing a first name. However, this refusal can be challenged before a court by the parents.

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Before formally rejecting a first name. the civil status seeks to discuss with the parents. According to several offices and cantons interviewed, this allows, in the vast majority of cases, to find common ground. One of the solutions may be to give the problematic first name as the second first name. explains Madlen Brunner, head of the civil status office of the city of Lucerne. “For example, we once accepted Hurricane as the switzerland, can we give first second first name.”

The refusals are rare

Ultimately, it is rare that the name chosen by the parents is formally refused. The Office of the Population of the Canton of Bern indicates that it is. as much as possible, a few isolated cases each year. Since January 1, 2024, only one first name must have been rejected in the canton.

Same observation in the civil status of the city of Lucerne, where the refusals are very uncommon. A precedent judicial dates back to the early 1990s. when a couple wanted to call their child “Schmucki” – the name of the mother of the mother. The Federal Court had finally dismissed the parents.

The Department of Justice. Safety of the Canton of Basel-Ville, for its part, notes a slight increase in requests for not very common first names, even if the problematic cases remain rare.

The reasons to re -turn a first name

Most often. the problem switzerland, can we give first is that the first name coincides with a known brand, specify the Basel authorities. In this case, the civil status discusses it with the parents. However. it can happen that they can demonstrate that the first name has a cultural justification, for example if it is common in another region of the world.

In Bern. first names clearly identified as female will not be accepted for boys, and vice versa, underlines the Cantonal Population Office. Combinations containing figures or special characters – such as “M1L@” – are also refused.

Another current reason for refusal: the family name of one of the parents is chosen as first name. as in the example of Schmucki. Indeed, Swiss law does not authorize the double name for children. “The junior first name. often used in Brazil, also regularly arouses discussions,” notes Markus Stoll, head of the civil status department of the canton of Zurich

That said, in switzerland, can we give first terms of first names, civil status offices have now become much more flexible than at the time.

Livia Middendorp, SRF