In this episode of "Short Stuff" from the "Stuff You Should Know" podcast, Josh and Chuck delve into the legal and practical aspects of naming, specifically addressing whether one can live without a name. They discuss how, while it's not illegal to be nameless, it's virtually impossible to navigate modern society without one due to identification requirements for jobs, licenses, and other essential functions. The hosts explore various naming laws and restrictions in the United States and internationally, including prohibitions against numbers, vulgar words, and culturally sensitive terms, noting the stricter regulations in places like Portugal. They also touch on the process of registering a birth and the significance of middle names, which gained prominence through military enlistment forms and computer documentation, highlighting the United Nations' stance on a child's right to a name.
