France Allows Diacritics on Letters - France finally legalizes the tilde in first names after years of legal battles

France has officially allowed the use of the tilde (~) in first names after years of legal disputes. The Justice Ministry confirmed the change on Tuesday evening, ending restrictions that had blocked parents from choosing names like Fañch. The decision follows repeated court rulings in favour of families seeking traditional Breton and Catalan names.

The issue began with a 2014 decree that listed approved characters for French names—but excluded the tilde. Parents wanting to give their children names such as Fañch faced rejections and were forced into legal battles. The supreme court consistently sided with the families, yet the law remained unchanged until now.

The shift comes as no surprise to some, given that France's Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, already bears a tilde in his surname. The new rule ensures that names from Breton and Catalan traditions, where the tilde appears, will no longer be contested. No other French regional languages use this accent in proper names.

The legal update removes a long-standing barrier for families with Breton or Catalan heritage. Names featuring the tilde can now be registered without challenge. The decision aligns with previous supreme court rulings and reflects the government's recognition of linguistic traditions.