Nor may names be obscene, in bad taste, too similar to any existing name, or more than 16 letters long.

ECONOMIST: Today we have naming of parts

But the list was long: there, too, was Mr Zahid's name, and relations of Mr Anwar.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia

However, other groups, such as trade unions, could potentially neutralise the advantage of those private Republican fortunes because they, too, may spend unlimited amounts in the name of free speech, as long as this is not co-ordinated with any candidate.

ECONOMIST: California votes

An ostentatious name, Benedict has never really fitted anywhere - too Catholic to be upper class, too long and Latin-sounding to be matey.

BBC: Growing up as a Benedict