These completely ordinary baby names are banned in some countries

I found choosing two baby names very easy. Yes, you don't hear that very often, do you?

Everyone always finds it difficult and hard, because it is quite an important decision. But we were incredibly quick to decide when I was pregnant. I always knew that I find Bo a really nice name for a boy or a girl, and that's how we came up with Bodi. Just a bit longer, so he can shorten it himself when he is older and wiser (but for now, just stay nice and small with mom.

Furthermore, I think short and Dutch names really suit us and are actually also of this time. So I immediately thought of Daan. Very nice. But there are already so many with that name. Then I thought of David, I found it a bit more of the past, that quickly got shortened to Davi and then I thought: Bodi and Davi is a bit too much for twins. Daaf, I said out loud once, and my husband was immediately a fan. Me too. It doesn't happen often, but it's smooth, Dutch, and hip. It sounds like Daan but just a bit more modern, in my feeling. It also fits us (and also Bodi) and that is the most important thing about a baby name.

I did some research. In 2017, only 33 boys in the Netherlands were given the first name Bodi. Daaf occurs even less than 25 times. Ha, we are nicely special then. I love that.

Still, I'm lucky to live in the Netherlands, because in many other countries very ordinary baby names are not allowed. You think: how come?

1. If you live in Portugal, you cannot name your child Tom. They find it too short and that's not allowed. Charlotte is also forbidden. That is a ‘too foreign name’. Okay.

2. In Iceland, you cannot be named Chris and also not Chloë. And actually, you cannot have any name with a C, Q, or W. Those letters do not occur in their alphabet.

3. In Saudi Arabia, Linda is forbidden because the royal family thinks it is ‘too western’.

4. You cannot name your daughter Alex or Sam in Germany: they are not fans of unisex names there.

5. Malaysia is not fond of names derived from nature, so Lily, Violet, or Roos are not allowed.

6. And tough luck for Peter: you cannot give your son that name in Denmark. In this country, there is a list of 7000 baby names you must choose from. You can forget about that creativity with shortening and a striking spelling.

7. And also unfortunate for Steven: he better not move to Hungary or be born there. Because that name is not allowed because a king from the past had that name and he has somewhat claimed it.