Montanans: Be Careful What You Name Your Children

BUTTE, MT - Attention parents to be!

Get our free mobile app

If you've ever considered naming your child after your favorite movie hero, you might want to put down your lightsaber and read this first.

A family in the UK was recently told to either change their son's middle name "Skywalker" or get Disney's blessing to receive a passport. Yes, you read that right: they need Disney's permission to name their own child. Could this insane legality come to Big Sky Country next?

Let's dive into this saga.

The Galactic Gaffe

In a plot twist stranger than fiction, a British family was gearing up for a dream vacation to the Dominican Republic when, after seven years, the unthinkable happened. The Passport Office slammed the brakes on their plans, refusing to issue a passport for their son because his middle name was—you guessed it—"Skywalker." Officials claimed that "Skywalker" is a registered trademark owned by Disney, and using it without permission could possibly lead to a legal case of copyright infringement.

What This Means for Montanans

Now, Montana is no stranger to unique and movie-esque names (looking at you, Maverick). But this international incident raises a planet-sized question: Could Montanans face similar issues if they name their kids after famous, fictional characters?

Think about it. Naming your son "Thor" or "Jamiroquai" might seem mighty cool until the Big Mouse's lawyers start hurling legal thunderbolts your way. Don't worry though, there's no law like this on our Treasure State horizons, but you never know...

Names You Probably Should Avoid

To help you navigate this naming minefield, here's a list of names we came up with that might earn you more than just a side-eye at the next PTA meeting:

- Elsa Frozen: Let it go... for God's sake.

- Darth Vader: Prepare to stock up on inhalers. And therapy sessions.

- Buzz Lightyear: To infinity... but not beyond a courtroom.

- Wonder Woman: Wonderful! Until DC Comics wonders how much cash they can get out of you.

- Obi Wan: Actually, that one is pretty cool. Might be worth the legal battle.