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Summary for: Xia yes, Gambrinus, no: Czechia's 2026 list of approved baby names revealedExperts from the Institute of the Czech Language (ÚJČ) just published their 2025 statistics showing they issued 366 opinions on unusual baby names last year (down from 374 in 2024).
While names like Regulus, Germano, and Xia were approved last year, others did not pass the test. Linguists refused to recommend names such as Gambrinus (a popular beer brand) and Bonbóna (meaning "candy" in Czech).
Speaking to Czech Television, Pavel Štěpán, head of onomastics at the ÚJČ, noted that negative opinions are rare.
"We only issue them exceptionally. If we cannot provide a positive opinion, we notify the applicant, and the application is usually canceled," he said.
Wait, you have to have your baby's name approved?
Yes and no. Choosing a name for a newborn in the Czech Republic remains a process governed by strict linguistic standards, but more parents are successfully pushing the boundaries of tradition.
When parents in the Czech Republic select a name not found on the Ministry of the Interior’s official list (the updated list for 2026 can be found here), they must often seek a professional linguistic opinion.
What Will Your Child Be Named?
For parents navigating the bureaucratic waters of the Czech Republic, Miloslava Knappová’s "Jak se bude vaše dítě jmenovat?" (What Will Your Child Be Named?) remains the indispensable "Bible" of baby naming. Far more than a mere list of suggestions, this authoritative volume, now featuring over 17,000 entries ranging from traditional Czech variants to exotic international names, it serves as the official litmus test for registry offices (matriky) across the country
Linguistic opinions typically cost between 800 CZK and 1,500 CZK. The ÚJČ evaluates the name's linguistic correctness and existence in other cultures, though the final decision to record the name rests with the local registry office.
Among its unique recommended choices in 2025 are Malachiáš, Jera, and Christoforos for official registration. Gender neutral names are now included on official naming registers as well.
According to the latest update by the Ministry of the Interior at the end of March, it includes over 4,000 female names, more than 3,000 male names, and around 4,000 gender neutral names.
If both parents are foreign citizens (EU or non-EU), any suggested form of the baby’s name and second name will be accepted. If the baby is not on the list of officially recognized names and second names, the parents may need to jump through additional hoops.
Recent changes to the law
Despite a 2024 law change allowing for the registration of diminutive or "home" forms of names, interest remains surprisingly low, registry offices report.
While a few names like Mikeš or Honzík have appeared in registries, officials in Prague and Hradec Králové report that most parents eventually opt for standard versions.
Digitalization is expected to simplify the process further.
The Ministry of the Interior plans to launch "eMatrika" next year, an electronic system designed to accelerate communication between registries and provide better data on the frequency of unusual names across the country.
Despite the fact that many new parents are pushing the boundaries of tradition with unusual names, according to the Czech Statistical Office, the safest bets of Jakub and Eliška remain the most popular baby names in Czechia.
Curious to see how common your child's name is throughout Czechia? Try this tool.
