[perching_aix]

In certain cultures yes. Where I live, you can only select from a central, though frequently updated, list of names when naming your child. So theoretically only (given) names that are on that list can occur.

Family names are not part of this, but maybe that exists too elsewhere. I don't know how people whose name has been given to them before this list was established is handled however.

An alternative method, which is again culture dependent, is to use virtual governmental IDs for this purpose. Whether this is viable in practice I don't know, never implemented such a thing. But just on the surface, should be.

[Muromec]

>So theoretically only (given) names that are on that list can occur.

Unless of course immigration is allowed and doesn't involve changing a name.

[taneliv]

Not the OP, but immigration often involves changing your name in the way digital systems store and display it. For example, from محمد to Muhammad or from 陳 to Chen. The pronunciation ideally should stay the same, but obviously there's often slight differences. But if the differences are annoying or confusing, someone might choose an entirely different name as well.

[chx]

Yes but GP said

> Where I live, you can only select from a central, though frequently updated, list of names when naming your child

I was born in such a country too and still have frequent connections there and I can confirm the laws only apply to citizens of said country so indeed immigration creates exceptions to this rule even if they transliterate their name.

[bjackman]

I still don't see how any system in the real world can safely assume its users only have names from that list.

Even if you try to imagine a system for a hospital to register newly born babies... What happens if a pregnant tourist is visiting?

[Y_Y]

For example in Iceland you don't have to name the baby immediately, and the registration times are different for foreign parents.https://www.skra.is/english/people/registration-of-children/...

Of course then you may fall foul of classic falsehood 40: People have names.

[rrr_oh_man]

For today's lucky 10,000: Falsehoods programmers believe about names (https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-...)

[Skeime]

For today's lucky 10,000: Ten Thousand (https://xkcd.com/1053/)

[perching_aix]

With plenty of attitude of course :)

I've only ever interacted with freeform textfields when inputting my name, so most regular systems clearly don't dare to attempt this.

But if somebody was dead set on only serving local customers or having only local personnel, I can definitely imagine someone being brave(?) enough.

[onionisafruit]

The name a system knows you as doesn’t need to correspond to your legal name or what you are called by others.

[tomtomtom777]

This assumes every resident is born and registered in said country which is a silly assumption. Surely, any service only catered only to "naturally born citizen" is discriminatory and illegal?

[lmm]

> Surely, any service only catered only to "naturally born citizen" is discriminatory and illegal?

No, that's also a question that is culturally dependent. In some contexts it's normal and expected.

[marcus_holmes]

I read that Iceland asks people to change their names if they naturalise there (because of the -sson or -dottir surname suffix).

But your point stands - not everyone in the system will follow this pattern.

[perching_aix]

Obviously, foreigners just living or visiting here will not have our strictly local names (thinking otherwise is what would be "silly"). Locals (people with my nationality, so either natural or naturalized citizens) will (*).

(*) I read up on it though, and it seems like exceptions can be requested and allowed, if it's "well supported". Kinda sours the whole thing unfortunately.

> is discriminatory and illegal?

Checked this too (well, using Copilot), it does appear to be illegal in most contexts, although not all.

But then, why would you want to perform name verification specific to my culture? One example I can think of is limiting abuse on social media sites for example. I vaguely recall Facebook being required to do such a thing like a decade ago (although they definitely did not go about it this way clearly).