‘Could cause embarrassment’: Brazilian court rejects baby name citing bullying concerns

A Brazilian court initially rejected a couple’s chosen name for their newborn son, citing concerns about potential bullying.
Catarina and Danillo Prímola wanted to name their baby Piyé, in honor of the first black Egyptian pharaoh. However, the court in Minas Gerais, along with the registry office, deemed the name too similar to “plié,” a Portuguese term for a ballet dance step.Despite the different spelling, the court determined that the parents could not register names that might expose their child to ridicule.
The court said, “They could cause future embarrassment to the child.” The decision also delayed the baby’s required vaccines and screening for rare health conditions.

‘Bullying can be combated by studying…’

Danillo Prímola said that bullying could not be addressed through prohibition or oppression but it could only be tackled by educating and addressing the ignorance within society as a whole. “Bullying can be combated by studying and addressing societal ignorance,”he said, as quoted by the New York Post.
The Prímolas discovered the name Piyé while preparing for the 2023 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. After researching, they learned that Piyé was a Nubian warrior and Egyptian ruler who founded the 25th dynasty. The couple believed naming their child Piyé would be a “powerful way to reshape the narrative of Black history.”

Court reverses decision

After the Prímolas explained the cultural and historical significance of the name in court, the judge reversed the decision and allowed them to register it.

Previous cases

In 2013, a Tennessee judge ordered a baby’s name to be changed from Messiah to Martin following a child support hearing. The judge argued that the name Messiah might offend religious individuals in the area, explaining that it is a title reserved for Jesus Christ and could create challenges for the child. The judge emphasized, “The name Messiah could offend religious residents in the area,” as reported by the New York Post.
In France, courts have also intervened in similar cases. Names like Nutella and Prince William were rejected due to concerns that children with such names might face ridicule.