Child With 'Star Wars'-Themed Name Faces Passport Issues

Unique names have become more common in recent years, from Elon Musk naming his child a combination of numbers and letters to parents taking inspiration from shows like Game of Thrones for their children's monikers. Of course, this can present a bevy of issues when dealing with legal documentation. 

One British couple learned about some of these obstacles the hard way. Their son was born on May 4, 2017 on the annual Star Wars Day, so the Star Wars fans knew they had to name him something special. They opted for the unique name of Loki Skywalker Mowbray. 

The family planned to go on vacation to the Dominican Republic next month, but when they tried to get Loki Skywalker's passport in order, the U.K. Home Office—similar to the U.S. State Department—informed them that they cannot process the application as "Skywalker" is a trademarked name by Disney. As such, they would have to get permission from the entertainment conglomerate in order to get a passport. 

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"We were not aware that this could be a potential issue,” father Christian Mowbray told Suffolk News. "We understand that Loki’s middle name is copyrighted, but we have no intention of using it for personal gain.”

"I understand their [the Home Office’s] position and reasoning, but I believe they need to recognize that modern names are evolving," he continued. "I can understand if an adult changes their name for a 'stunt,' but this is not the case for a child from birth."

Luckily, the issue was sorted out and their vacation is going forward.