[Opinions] Baby name
My uncle texted my mom earlier saying that his good friend’s sister in law had a baby. He knows that I’m a huge name nerd and told me the name was “the worst”. My first guesses were Jaxxon, Braxton, and Kingston. His next clue was that it was illegal in Germany. Apparently it was a family name, but the family still named their son Adolf. What do you think of this? I almost thought my uncle was joking.
Edit: My uncle told me that they changed it. Now the baby’s name is Odie, and they kept Adolf as a middle name to honor the family member.
Edit: My uncle told me that they changed it. Now the baby’s name is Odie, and they kept Adolf as a middle name to honor the family member.
This message was edited 7/21/2024, 12:43 PM
Replies
Sadly some names have negative thoughts that come with them and Adolf is on the top of that list.
I literally cannot imagine calling Adolf a pretty name simply because that one guy in history and his disgusting crimes. It’s like calling your kid Ripper after “Jack the Ripper”, or Dahmer or Bundy. Its nearly impossible to overlook a name after someone with that (sur)name who has committed horrible crimes.
I simply think that names with negative connotations shouldn’t be passed down? Like, how is that helping that boy get a good start in life?
Whats that poor kid gonna do when he gets bullied for his name?
“Oh it’s alright guys, I’m named after a relative.”
Yeah, that may be right, but EVERYONE knows the horrendous monstrosity of this ONE Adolf, and no one’s forgetting it soon. :(
I literally cannot imagine calling Adolf a pretty name simply because that one guy in history and his disgusting crimes. It’s like calling your kid Ripper after “Jack the Ripper”, or Dahmer or Bundy. Its nearly impossible to overlook a name after someone with that (sur)name who has committed horrible crimes.
I simply think that names with negative connotations shouldn’t be passed down? Like, how is that helping that boy get a good start in life?
Whats that poor kid gonna do when he gets bullied for his name?
“Oh it’s alright guys, I’m named after a relative.”
Yeah, that may be right, but EVERYONE knows the horrendous monstrosity of this ONE Adolf, and no one’s forgetting it soon. :(
My late father-in-law played tennis at a club in Johannesburg for many years. Among the other members was a man named Adolf; we never asked why, but he was a quiet, rather silly person and always known as Dolfie. Adolf, and Adolfus/Adolphus, are not widely used here in South Africa, but they do happen. Among the Afrikaans-speaking community are people of German as well as Dutch ancestry for whom it could well be a family name rather than a political statement. The country now known as Namibia used to be a German colony, for instance, and it's right next door to us. South African schools with boarding facilities used to get a few children from there, if their parents wanted them to learn English and Afrikaans as well as German, or just thought our schools were better; I don't know about that.
I grew up with a kid whose middle name was Adolf. It was his dad and his grandpa's middle name and he's a III. His grandpa had it before it became associated with Hitler. When we found out, as kids (middle/high school) we were not kind at all. I feel bad about it now because it wasn't his fault, but we weren't nice. He broke the tradition and did not include Adolf in his son's name.
You sure your uncle isn't pulling your leg?
Odie Adolf?
It sounds like a joke.
Odie is the big, stupid dog in Garfield comics.
Odie Adolf?
It sounds like a joke.
Odie is the big, stupid dog in Garfield comics.
Yes, I’m sure, because the friend, who my mom knows confirmed it.
I think they're messing with you
not a good choice on their part. they could have used Adolf as a middle name, but they used it as a first name, which I think is kind of selfish because the kid's name will negatively impact him and not them. if they really loved the sound of the name, they could have gone with Randolf or Ludolf or Ingolf or something. To honour family members with this name but spare the kid some of the unfair judgement and future embarrassment, they could have gone with Adalwolf. Even Adolfo would have been better.
I think the name should probably be reclaimed sometime, but now is still too soon. Then again, it was used in the Czech Republic long after wwii. Still not a good idea in north america, that's for sure.
I think the name should probably be reclaimed sometime, but now is still too soon. Then again, it was used in the Czech Republic long after wwii. Still not a good idea in north america, that's for sure.
Oh dear, where abouts are they. Wow, why