diff --git a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/ChapterAmbassadorStepTwo.vue b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/ChapterAmbassadorStepTwo.vue
index 79978288f..e9a736aa6 100644
--- a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/ChapterAmbassadorStepTwo.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/ChapterAmbassadorStepTwo.vue
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 
         <div class="formulate-input-wrapper name-group">
           <FormulateInput name="firstName" id="firstName" type="text" label="First Name" placeholder="First Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="First name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pr-2" />
 
           <FormulateInput name="lastName" id="lastName" type="text" label="Last Name" placeholder="Last Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="Last name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pl-2" />
         </div>
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/JudgeStepTwo.vue b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/JudgeStepTwo.vue
index 9047f7a7b..596954068 100644
--- a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/JudgeStepTwo.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/JudgeStepTwo.vue
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 
         <div class="formulate-input-wrapper name-group">
           <FormulateInput name="firstName" id="firstName" type="text" label="First Name" placeholder="First Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="First name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pr-2" />
 
           <FormulateInput name="lastName" id="lastName" type="text" label="Last Name" placeholder="Last Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="Last name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pl-2" />
         </div>
 
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
           @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" />
 
         <p class="italic text-sm -mt-6 mb-8" style="margin-top: -12px;">
-          Your phone number will be shared with the Technovation Ambassador for your region and may be used to contact you
-          regarding volunteer opportunities. Providing your phone number is optional.
+          Your phone number will be shared with the Technovation Ambassador for your region and may be used to contact
+          you regarding volunteer opportunities. Providing your phone number is optional.
         </p>
 
         <FormulateInput name="gender" :options="genderOptions" type="select" placeholder="Select an option"
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@
           </h4>
 
           <FormulateInput name="judgeTypes" id="judgeTypes" type="checkbox" :options="judgeTypeOptions"
-            validation="required" :validation-messages="{ required: 'This field is required.' }" @keyup="checkValidation"
-            @blur="checkValidation" @input="checkValidation" />
+            validation="required" :validation-messages="{ required: 'This field is required.' }"
+            @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" @input="checkValidation" />
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/MentorStepTwo.vue b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/MentorStepTwo.vue
index 617d17b5e..f07f988d8 100644
--- a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/MentorStepTwo.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/MentorStepTwo.vue
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 
         <div class="formulate-input-wrapper name-group">
           <FormulateInput name="firstName" id="firstName" type="text" label="First Name" placeholder="First Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="First name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pr-2" />
 
           <FormulateInput name="lastName" id="lastName" type="text" label="Last Name" placeholder="Last Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="Last name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pl-2" />
         </div>
 
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@
           @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" />
 
         <p class="italic text-sm -mt-6 mb-8" style="margin-top: -12px;">
-          Your phone number will be shared with the Technovation Ambassador for your region and may be used to contact you
-          regarding volunteer opportunities. Providing your phone number is optional.
+          Your phone number will be shared with the Technovation Ambassador for your region and may be used to contact
+          you regarding volunteer opportunities. Providing your phone number is optional.
         </p>
 
         <FormulateInput name="mentorSchoolCompanyName" id="mentorSchoolCompanyName" type="text" label="Company Name"
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@
           </h4>
 
           <FormulateInput name="mentorTypes" id="mentorTypes" type="checkbox" :options="mentorTypeOptions"
-            validation="required" :validation-messages="{ required: 'This field is required.' }" @keyup="checkValidation"
-            @blur="checkValidation" @input="checkValidation" />
+            validation="required" :validation-messages="{ required: 'This field is required.' }"
+            @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" @input="checkValidation" />
         </div>
 
         <div class="mentor-information" v-show="mentorProfileExpertiseOptions.length > 0">
diff --git a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/StudentStepTwo.vue b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/StudentStepTwo.vue
index 350c2c9d0..70d68df65 100644
--- a/app/javascript/new_registration/components/StudentStepTwo.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/new_registration/components/StudentStepTwo.vue
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 
         <div class="formulate-input-wrapper name-group">
           <FormulateInput name="firstName" id="firstName" type="text" label="First Name" placeholder="First Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="First name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pr-2" />
 
           <FormulateInput name="lastName" id="lastName" type="text" label="Last Name" placeholder="Last Name"
-            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /[a-zA-Z]/]]" :validation-messages="{
-              matches: 'Must contain at least one alphabetical character.'
+            :validation="[['required'], ['matches', /^[^.-].*/]]" :validation-messages="{
+              matches: 'Must start with an alphabetical character.'
             }" validation-name="Last name" @keyup="checkValidation" @blur="checkValidation" class="flex-grow pl-2" />
         </div>
 
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
         <div class=" border-l-2 border-energetic-blue bg-blue-50 p-2 mb-8">
           <p class="text-left">
             The cutoff date used for division assignment is <strong>{{ divisionCutoffDate }}</strong>.
-            Based on the birthday you entered, {{ pronoun }} will be <strong>{{ ageByDivisionCutoff }}</strong> years old
-            by this date.
+            Based on the birthday you entered, {{ pronoun }} will be <strong>{{ ageByDivisionCutoff }}</strong> years
+            old by this date.
           </p>
         </div>
 
diff --git a/app/models/account.rb b/app/models/account.rb
index f0c7c5700..2bdffede3 100644
--- a/app/models/account.rb
+++ b/app/models/account.rb
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ def chapter_ambassador
 
   validates :first_name, :last_name,
     presence: true,
-    format: {with: /[A-Za-z]/, message: "must contain at least one alphabetical character"}
+    format: {with: /\A[^.-].*/, message: "must start with an alphabetical character"}
 
   validates :date_of_birth, presence: true, if: -> { !is_a_judge? && !is_chapter_ambassador? }
   validates :meets_minimum_age_requirement, inclusion: [true], if: -> { (is_a_judge? || is_chapter_ambassador?) && new_record? }
diff --git a/spec/models/account_spec.rb b/spec/models/account_spec.rb
index b961ee709..0472df828 100644
--- a/spec/models/account_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/account_spec.rb
@@ -142,6 +142,16 @@
         end
       end
 
+      context "when the first name contains a special character not at the beginning" do
+        before do
+          judge.first_name = "Billie-Jean"
+        end
+
+        it "is valid" do
+          expect(judge).to be_valid
+        end
+      end
+
       describe "#last_name" do
         let(:judge) { FactoryBot.create(:judge) }
 
@@ -164,6 +174,16 @@
             expect(judge).not_to be_valid
           end
         end
+
+        context "when the last name contains a special character not at the beginning" do
+          before do
+            judge.last_name = "A."
+          end
+
+          it "is valid" do
+            expect(judge).to be_valid
+          end
+        end
       end
     end