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HelpRe: Names you can't use
in reply to a message by NockNock
Is Grey in Norwegian not an appropriate name? English speakers use it, but hey, every culture is different.
There aren't any names that I want to use currently, that would sound wrong in English. But there are English names that I happen to like such as Coy, Dash, Cash, Chase and Trace, and they sound strange to some native speakers. However, those names are popular in the US right now. So, some parents like the names enough to use them, and don't find them inappropriate at all.
Ana might sound weird to some Japanese people, because it sounds like the word "hole". But they still use it if they like. That's because they could use whatever kanji they want in order to change the meaning, or they can give it no meaning by spelling it in hiragana or katakana. They have many options, so there are some girls out there named "Hole", except it doesn't mean Hole.
The name Anna is more popular in Japan than Ana, probably for the reason I stated above.
Some people commented that Jude means "Jew" in German and that Tod means "death" in German. I don't know if that's true, but if so, then I think that a Jude has gone to Germany before, and he has been in for a real surprise - but not really a life-altering one. And the Todd spelling is more common than the Tod spelling, so Todds going to Germany might have better luck... I am not sure. And one Danish commenter said that Tessa meant "to pee" and was outlawed in Denmark.
Practically every name sounds stupid in some language. As long as the name doesn't mean death or disease, its probably not a big deal.
And by the way, according to Wikipedia some traditional Hawaiian names have bad meanings. Some superstitious parents do this to protect the children from curses. I think that the disturbing meanings are meant to humble the children, so no evil spirits will deem vain for having pretty names with nice meanings, like Moana, I suppose. If that's true, then I think that that's considerate of the parents. Kids named Kapuka meaning "Ugly" are not teased in Hawaii, only by foreigners who go there, and do not understand the reasoning behind it. Its considered bad in English culture, but not considered as such in Hawaii, which just so happens to be in an English speaking country. The United States doesn't have an official language. There are numerous languages here, so any name is allowed, I guess? Just not EVERY name.
You know which names are right for your children more than others do.
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/356294
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/356351
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/member/181370
There aren't any names that I want to use currently, that would sound wrong in English. But there are English names that I happen to like such as Coy, Dash, Cash, Chase and Trace, and they sound strange to some native speakers. However, those names are popular in the US right now. So, some parents like the names enough to use them, and don't find them inappropriate at all.
Ana might sound weird to some Japanese people, because it sounds like the word "hole". But they still use it if they like. That's because they could use whatever kanji they want in order to change the meaning, or they can give it no meaning by spelling it in hiragana or katakana. They have many options, so there are some girls out there named "Hole", except it doesn't mean Hole.
The name Anna is more popular in Japan than Ana, probably for the reason I stated above.
Some people commented that Jude means "Jew" in German and that Tod means "death" in German. I don't know if that's true, but if so, then I think that a Jude has gone to Germany before, and he has been in for a real surprise - but not really a life-altering one. And the Todd spelling is more common than the Tod spelling, so Todds going to Germany might have better luck... I am not sure. And one Danish commenter said that Tessa meant "to pee" and was outlawed in Denmark.
Practically every name sounds stupid in some language. As long as the name doesn't mean death or disease, its probably not a big deal.
And by the way, according to Wikipedia some traditional Hawaiian names have bad meanings. Some superstitious parents do this to protect the children from curses. I think that the disturbing meanings are meant to humble the children, so no evil spirits will deem vain for having pretty names with nice meanings, like Moana, I suppose. If that's true, then I think that that's considerate of the parents. Kids named Kapuka meaning "Ugly" are not teased in Hawaii, only by foreigners who go there, and do not understand the reasoning behind it. Its considered bad in English culture, but not considered as such in Hawaii, which just so happens to be in an English speaking country. The United States doesn't have an official language. There are numerous languages here, so any name is allowed, I guess? Just not EVERY name.
You know which names are right for your children more than others do.
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/356294
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/356351
https://www.behindthename.com/polls/member/181370
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Replies
Grey is in my opinion synonymous with boring or unnoticeable in Norwegian, possibly due to terms like "grå mus" (grey mouse, an unnoticeable person lookwise) and "kommunegrått/musegrått" (grey blonde/mouse grey colour of hair). It isn't terrible, but some might see it as a greater burden than others. I think there is a difference between names that come from words still used today and archaic words. Words that where used and meant grey 1000 years ago wouldn't bother me as much.
Part of the problem for me is the sound. GRAW doesn't sound nice to me, but Gro does.
What matters most to me is that the name doesn't burden the child in the languages they will use in their childhood and teens. If it means something bad or sounds like something bad (depends on how bad) in a language they don't know, I agree, it's not a big deal. There is of course a dilemma if we where to move to a different country where the name stands out and starts burdening them. I wouldn't want them to feel resent towards their name. I hope that I would be able to prevent that and make sure they understand the value of the name in its language of origin.
Jüde and Tod does mean jew and dead in German. Jude is pronounced differently from Jüde, but not sure if it's different enough for the germans not to take notice. Either way, as you said, the meaning isn't life changing.
Culture definetly does have an impact on what people deem apropriate, when it comes to naming their children :)
I think the other views you have mentioned are very interesting! I imagine, if people grew up with other people with names with "bad" meanings, they wouldn't see a reason to bully.
Part of the problem for me is the sound. GRAW doesn't sound nice to me, but Gro does.
What matters most to me is that the name doesn't burden the child in the languages they will use in their childhood and teens. If it means something bad or sounds like something bad (depends on how bad) in a language they don't know, I agree, it's not a big deal. There is of course a dilemma if we where to move to a different country where the name stands out and starts burdening them. I wouldn't want them to feel resent towards their name. I hope that I would be able to prevent that and make sure they understand the value of the name in its language of origin.
Jüde and Tod does mean jew and dead in German. Jude is pronounced differently from Jüde, but not sure if it's different enough for the germans not to take notice. Either way, as you said, the meaning isn't life changing.
Culture definetly does have an impact on what people deem apropriate, when it comes to naming their children :)
I think the other views you have mentioned are very interesting! I imagine, if people grew up with other people with names with "bad" meanings, they wouldn't see a reason to bully.
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I think you'd make a responsible parent, if you aren't one already! You have clearly put a lot of thought into this, which people should do before naming with their kids. Its too bad that the grey mouse association is hanging there, though. I actually like Gro/Groo. Hmm..
I think we have some unfortunate terms for people. Our "grey mouse" would be Plain Jane. For idiots: Simple Simon. For creepy people: Peeping Tom...the English language is polluted with those, as if we really needed more words for that kind of stuff. And then Braxton Hicks labor contractions. People are still calling their sons Braxton, but poor Dick and Fanny may never see the light of day again.
And Willy reached the charts this year instead of Willie. The latter spelling has been used to refer to penises. Willie: guy. Penis: guy part. *sigh* Some names just don't make it. Lol
I think we have some unfortunate terms for people. Our "grey mouse" would be Plain Jane. For idiots: Simple Simon. For creepy people: Peeping Tom...the English language is polluted with those, as if we really needed more words for that kind of stuff. And then Braxton Hicks labor contractions. People are still calling their sons Braxton, but poor Dick and Fanny may never see the light of day again.
And Willy reached the charts this year instead of Willie. The latter spelling has been used to refer to penises. Willie: guy. Penis: guy part. *sigh* Some names just don't make it. Lol
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