NAMING OF CHILD: A HISTORICAL-LEGAL ANALYSIS OF NAMING LAWS IN INDIA, SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK, GERMANY, FRANCE, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

<b>ABSTRACT</b>Legal regulation of child naming exhibits considerable variation across different nations. This study employs a historical-comparative methodology to examine the development of naming laws in India, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. While child naming has traditionally been regarded as a private cultural practice, it has increasingly come under formal legal oversight. The analysis of statutory provisions, judicial decisions, and administrative practices reveals that India generally adopts a permissive stance, whereas several European countries— particularly the Nordic states—implement more restrictive measures grounded in concerns for child welfare, administrative order, and the protection of national identity. This paper argues for the adoption of a balanced legal framework that safeguards cultural diversity and personal dignity, while ensuring effective administrative governance.