One baby girl born in Malta in 2012 was given the name Angelina Jolie.

Naming your baby can be quite tricky, as Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge would have realised last week when they opted to call their son – third in line to the British throne – a very ‘safe’ George.

However, George Alexander Louis pales in comparison with some of the more daring choices made my Maltese parents last year.

The Sunday Times of Malta has seen the list of babies’ first names registered in 2012.

Among them: Chazelle, Kimaya, Stoyan, Zvaiden, Shelston, Crivio, Blue May, Goodluck, America Lou, Caydel, Clayzin and Donnachienne.

In three years’ time, when children start kindergarten, their class register may sound more like the screen credits of a Hollywood film.

Several of the children of 2012 have been named after singers: Enya, Leona, (after British singer Leona Lewis), Miley (for teen star Miley Cyrus), and Kimora (after Kimora Simmons, an American fashion model).

There are four Rihannas, and for a more original take there is a Kiannha and a boy named Buuren (for the Dutch trance music DJ).

Boys’ roll call will sound like a football team

Actors’ names also make an appearance: there’s a Kendra (possibly for the actress and former Playboy model); a Deniro, and an Angelina Jolie! When she grows up Angelina Jolie might fall in love with Braden, or Bradley, or Brady or Bradym.

Boys’ roll call will sound like a football team: Beau Gerard (Pique, who plays for Barcelona), Ashley (Cole, who plays Chelsea), Kean (Roy, ex-Manchester United captain), Lionel (Messi), and Brooklyn (after David Beckham’s eldest son).

Occasionally it is the surnames of footballers which make it to babies’ first names: Gerrard, Cole, Kean, Zven Cole, Thiago, Keiran and Bergkamp.

Politics was clearly not on people’s mind when naming their children last year. There were only three Josephs, one Noah Lawrence, one Simon, but no Franco. Although there is a Frankly.

The Prime Minister’s daughter Soleil was certainly the inspiration behind Soleil Sofie – second name and all; and Solei Marie (missing the last ‘l’).

There seems to be a particular penchant for ‘Lee’ as a second name with Mason Lee, Amy Lee, Ana Lee, David Lee, Denzel Lee, Danny Lee, Ty Lee, Tylor Lee and Zaydon Lee making it on the registrar’s list.

Names starting with ‘Sh’ were very popular: Shayelle, Shamizion, Shania-Chayenne, Shaysyon, Sharlianne, Shasianne, Shaylynn, Shayzon, Shanesse, Shalazia, Sherizielle, Shicane, Shezoria, Shezlynn, Shazaya...

As were names starting in ‘Ch Chanel, Chanell, Chaya, Chayanne, Chayler, Chazen, Chazlea, Chesdon, Chazven and Chazyn.

Names with an ‘-loy’ or a similar sounding ending were also popular: Braylon, Kaylon, Lydon, Xylon, Daylon, Zylon, Shylon, Chaylon, Jaydon, Chayon, and Waylon. But maybe the parents’ of the latter are fans of our own court reporter, Waylon Johnston.

Teachers, however, may heave a sigh of relief that not all children will have tongue twister names. Most boys – 4.6 per cent – in 2012 were called Matthew or its numerous variations such as Matthias and Matteo.

For girls it was Eliza and its numerous variations, including Lisa, Elsie, and Elyse that proved most popular.

The most popular names in 2012 were traditional or biblical names – very safe for a royal infant. Jake, Luca, Liam, Nathan and Isaac topped the boys’ list and Emma, Julia, Ella, Leah and Amy were the girls’ favourites.

As for the name of the royal baby, only two Maltese boys were called George last year.

If next year there’ll be a surge in the name’s popularity we can only point our fingers at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Sunday Times of Malta only had access to the list of first names: no other information – such as surnames or addresses – was made available by the Public Registry due to the Data Protection Act.

What’s in a name in the eyes of the law?

The law does not impose specific limitations on the names that can be given to children. There is no list of acceptable or unacceptable names, nor is there one of names that have been refused.

Single-letter names and initials are not acceptable, and names that are an insult to society are considered irregular, and according to Chapter 16, Article 242 of the Civil Code, the Director of the Public Registry has the authority at law to refuse to register a birth name.

Top 5 boys, girls

Jake (74)
Luca (50)
Liam (40)
Nathan (39)
Isaac (38)

Emma (41)
Julia (37)
Ella (34)
Leah (32)
Amy (31)