🌍 Culture & inspiration · During pregnancy

🏷️ Choosing your baby’s name: gut feeling, data and golden rules

Choose a name you value and check the registration rules where the birth occurs.

What to know

1. What to prepare
Agree spelling, order, diacritics and surname with the other legal parent where appropriate; consider how the name will appear on documents.
2. What to check
Use the local registrar’s process and obtain advice if parentage or surname consent is disputed. Do not assume a French naming rule applies locally.
3. In South Africa
Register the birth with Home Affairs within 30 days. Ask which parentage documents are needed for your family; late registration has extra requirements. A birth certificate, citizenship and permission for international travel are separate issues.
4. In South Africa
Nappies, cot, clinic and Road to Health booklet are useful terms. Families use many languages and caregiver names; ask preferences rather than portraying one South African or African parenting culture.

A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team