QuickCheck: Does the NRD discourage parents from naming babies after fruits or colours?
The Malaysian National Registration Department classifies names based on fruits, colors, and natural phenomena as 'undesirable' for birth registration. While not strictly prohibited, officials advise against these names under the Births and Deaths Registration Act.
Why it matters
Illustrates the intersection of cultural naming conventions and government regulatory authority over personal identity.
GWYNETH Paltrow named her daughter Apple. Elon Musk called his son X Æ A-Xii. In Malaysia, one couple named their son Muhammad Dhury Yan after the durian and their daughter Nur Rambutt'an after the rambutan.
The durian and rambutan children made it through registration, but not without a conversation with the authorities first.
Does the National Registration Department really discourage Malaysians from naming babies after fruits or colours?
The National Registration Department (NRD) has official guidelines that classify baby names into three categories: objectionable names that are outright prohibited, undesirable names that the department will advise against, and names linked to hereditary titles that require verification.
Names of fruits, vegetables, animals, insects, colours, household items and food all fall under the "undesirable" category, according to NRD director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias in a statement reported by The Star in March 2025.
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