While parents have a lot of leeway in naming their newborns, the UK Deed Poll Office enforces certain guidelines to ensure that some names don't end up on a birth certificate – all in the name of safeguarding wee ones from potential distress. Why the red tape? Well, it's all about shielding kids from harm, mockery or confusion and keeping paperwork neat and tidy , reports the Mirror. Want to know which monikers are a definite no-no? The UK may not flaunt an official naughty list for names, but the rules are clear. The UK Deed Poll Office will nix any name if it: - Sports rude words or is outright offensive. - Features numerals, special characters or punctuation. - Is just plain tough to say or way too lengthy. - Could dupe folks, especially with titles like "Sir" or "General". - Comes across as improper or flies in the face of public norms. To cut to the chase: anything that could crank up the chances of a youngster being the butt of jokes, getting singled out or playing pretend Royal is probably a non-starter. Famous Cases of Names Being Axed. There's been quite the buzz around certain baby names getting the thumbs down in Blighty. For instance:. "Cyanide" – got the boot for its deathly connotations. "Martian" – called offside to dodge teasing. "King" – dropped to avoid title mix-ups. "Princess" – knocked back so as not to imply nobility. The UK Deed Poll Office website gives the lowdown on baby naming no-nos, stating: "While we don't have an official list of banned names, we assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and names that could cause a child harm or confusion will likely be rejected." It seems the baby naming bonanza has got international attention, with countries like New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland also laying down the law. For instance, Kiwis can forget about calling their tots "Lucifer, "4Real," or "Anal", and in Germany, it's a no-go for names such as "Adolf Hitler" and "Osama Bin Laden." Even in the UK, the debate over quirky baby names has stirred up drama. Remember the mum who fancied naming her twins "Cyanide" and "Preacher"? Yep, the courts put their foot down and said "Cyanide" was out of bounds but gave "Preacher" the green light. The UK Deed Poll Office explained its verdict by pointing out that Cyanide's unsavoury connection to poison just doesn't sit right. Wondering what happens when a baby name gets the thumbs down? Well, parents have to go back to the drawing board because things like birth certificates and passports are off the table until they pick a name that plays by the rules. And it doesn't end there – if a registered moniker ends up being questionable, it might face a legal tussle if it's not in the kiddo's best interests. However, don't fret about choosing a name that's both legal and wonderfully unique – just make sure it won't ruffle any feathers down at the registry office! The UK Deed Poll Office has some golden rules for parents to ensure they don't cross the legal line when naming their bundle of joy:. - Steer clear of naughty words. - Ditch the digits and symbols. - Keep it simple to spell and not too lengthy. - Forget fancy titles like "Lord" or "Sir". Unsure about a name choice? The Deed Poll Office is on hand with heaps of support and advice. Here's the scoop – Britain might be pretty chill with what you name your nipper, but there are lines you just can’t cross. The team at the UK Deed Poll Office say these guidelines are all about safeguarding children from future headaches and ensuring paperwork doesn’t turn into pandemonium. Contemplating a standout moniker for your tot? Just make sure it’ll pass muster legally before you get it inked on the birth cert!