Message: "Re: English" - Behind the Name

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Re: English

by Maris (maris112)

1/9/2023, 7:54 PM

I want to know who would actually name their child after a language, it should only be used as a language or ethnicity instead.

For genders, I dislike both equally.

This message was edited 1/9/2023, 7:58 PM

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- Dianatiger

1/10/2023, 5:47 AM

From the web:

"English Gardner (born April 22, 1992) is an American track and field sprinter who specializes in the 100-meter dash. Her personal best of 10.74 seconds, set in 2016, ranks her in the top ten all-time for the distance." An Olympian

- Dianatiger

1/10/2023, 5:44 AM

Well I don't know about language but for nationality there's America Ferrera

- Gaia (ciara23) +7

1/9/2023, 8:27 PM

I’ve never actually seen it on a real person, but a while ago I read a book with a character by the name of English Jones. I thought it was weird too, but intriguing.

I don’t see how it’s much different from naming a child German.

ETA: I met a girl named Eng’Lish just on Friday, thought of this post 💀 I knew it wasn’t terribly unusual.

This message was edited 3/5/2023, 12:56 PM

- Dianatiger

1/10/2023, 5:45 AM

There's also an Olympian named English as well

This message was edited 1/10/2023, 5:48 AM

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki) +5

1/10/2023, 5:28 AM

That German has a history of use? It’s the same difference between Rose and Tulip.

- Gaia (ciara23) +4

1/10/2023, 12:19 PM

Well no kidding German is more used and legitimate as a name than English, but I was just saying the two are not that different popularity aside.

- ari. +3

1/10/2023, 12:34 PM

Not really. English is, well, English. It means English in English. German is used in Russia and Spanish speaking countries, and sounds nothing like the Russian or Spanish words for German.

This message was edited 1/10/2023, 12:36 PM

- Gaia (ciara23) +2

1/10/2023, 12:48 PM

Maybe it’s because I’m American and I see German literally as a nationality or language. Even though it is it’s own separate name derived from another name. I was just saying of course as English speakers we’re bound to find English as a given name bit idiotic.

Genuine question; Do Germans name people German?

- ari. +1

1/10/2023, 12:59 PM

There are, according to Forebears (not the best source out there!) Germans named German - but I imagine a) most are immigrants b) it's less problematic than being named English in an anglophone country, as the German word for German isn't German.

- Gaia (ciara23)

1/10/2023, 1:57 PM

Ah, that is true. I just imagined English in America was like being a Britton in England, or being named France in France. Hell, even America in America. But I see the point.

This message was edited 1/10/2023, 1:57 PM

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