The Funniest and Strangest Baby Names Ever Registered (Australia & Beyond)

Posted by Koala News Oct. 30, 2025

Whimsical watercolor illustration showing four overlapping birth certificates with unusual names like “Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii” and “Number 16 Bus Shelter,” surrounded by soft eucalyptus leaves — symbolising the funniest and strangest baby names in Australia and beyond.

😄 When creativity goes too far

Most parents spend weeks choosing a name that’s meaningful, melodic or timeless. And then there are the few who... take another path entirely. Around the world, birth registries are full of wild stories — some hilarious, others unbelievable — proving that naming can be both art and chaos.

Australia has had its fair share of curious cases, but the real gold lies in the global list of names that made officials scratch their heads.

🇦🇺 Aussie originals

Here are a few that actually made it past the registration desk in Australia over the years:

  • Banjo – A nod to poet Banjo Paterson; unusual but proudly Aussie.
  • Pharaoh, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, and Galaxy – celebrity picks that inspired plenty of copycats.
  • Harley Quinn – yes, after the DC character; now surprisingly common in Queensland and WA.
  • Number 16 Bus Shelter – an actual registered name from NZ that’s become urban legend across the Tasman.

While Australia’s naming laws prevent overtly offensive or title-based names (sorry, no Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock), the system still leaves space for creativity.

🚫 Names that didn’t make it

Not every idea gets a green light. Some proposals were flat-out banned — and for good reason. In Australia and New Zealand, these have all been officially refused:

  • Jesus Christ
  • Lucifer
  • Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii (yes, that was real)
  • King, Duke, Messiah — titles aren’t allowed
  • @, III, Blank Space — anything resembling symbols or gibberish gets declined

The reasoning is simple: clarity, dignity, and practicality. Imagine calling out “@, dinner’s ready!” across a playground.

🌎 Around the world, it gets weirder

  • Ikea (Sweden) – banned for being a brand.
  • Nutella (France) – rejected; parents had to settle for Ella.
  • Anal (New Zealand) – absolutely not.
  • Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (Sweden, 1991) – parents claimed it was “a protest name” pronounced Albin.
  • Wolf-8, Metallica, Batman bin Suparman (Singapore) – all real.

These oddities remind us that cultural boundaries shape what feels acceptable. What’s banned in one country might be perfectly legal in another.

🎭 The fine line between clever and cringe

There’s a sweet spot between creative and catastrophic. Quirky spellings (Jaxon instead of Jackson) or cultural twists (Arlo from art and music) often work beautifully. But once a name becomes a meme or courtroom case, it’s probably time to rethink.

A simple rule: if the name could headline a viral Reddit thread — maybe keep scrolling.

💡 Final thought

Naming your baby is one of the few creative acts that lasts a lifetime. Whether you go poetic, vintage, or proudly Aussie, remember: the best names age gracefully — and don’t require a judge to fix later.