Oscar and Oscar Pistorius

[fionadal]

Am currently pregnant with DS2 and thinking about names. I used to like Oscar (yes, I know it's popular) but for me it's been completely ruined by the associations with the Oscar Pistorius trial, and all the horrible stuff that went on there.

I was just looking at the "last 5 boys you know thread" and it seems that it's still a very popular name. Does no-one else worry about this association?
(I have a South African friend who says that Oscar is now a VERY unpopular name there!)

[InfinitySeven]

Everyone is hoping it'll die down.

It will, eventually. But with the appeal, it'll probably be a good few years.

I like Oscar, too. DP vetoed it.

[merrymouse]

I think there are too many other Oscars for it to be a problem.

Oscar to me means the 10 year old over he road, not a disgraced South African athlete.

[KatherinaMinola]

That connection doesn't occur to me (even though it's all over the news). Oscar to me means Oscar Wilde.

[Username12345]

If you're going to write off all names with a negative association. You're going to end up with a very small pool of names.

And what if you choose a name and then someone with the same name commits a barbaric act(s).

Forget associations and choose a name you like.

[AugustaGloop]

I do not think it is an unusual enough name to be overly associated with this. For example, I think Myra is not usable but Ian, Fred and Rosemary are (because there are enough others). I think the name reeva would be associated but not Oscar.

[BikeRunSki]

Oscar is too commonly used to be associated with a single person who is in the news at the moment.

DS is called Amy. She was born shortly after Amy Winehouse died. She is not named after her, and no one has ever asked if she is.

[OpalQuartz]

I agree with those who have said that if a name is a well known name it is fine. It's unusual names like Reeva that would have a much stronger association.

[Valsoldknickers]

No, I don't make that link. Lovely name and if you like it you should use it. It's hardly like calling a baby Adolf or Sadam.

[cheesecakemom]

I just wouldn't do it - same reason not using Myra and names like that.

[MiddletonPink]

Myra and Oscar are not the same.

Oscar is very popular right now. There are lots of little boys around called Oscar. It's a trend.

If Oscar Pistorius was called Aristotle Pistorius and you named your ds Aristotle then that would jump out.

Oscar won't.

[moxon]

Mneh. I know a South African who recently named her ds Oscar and couldn't care less about it. Tbh I don't think it is that much of a deal either in south Africa or in the UK. It's a nice name. He is one guy. Oscar isn't equivalent to Adolf in the name-stakes.

[squoosh]

Oscar Pistorius is way down the list of Oscars that spring to mind when I hear the name.

[fionadal]

Thanks for your replies. It appears that not many people would make the association.

However, this may be completely mad, but the name is now tainted for me - I followed the case quite closely.

I'm probably over-thinking it all, but then again there are lot of other nice names out there. Back to the drawing board!

[BreeVDKamp]

We're considering Oscar and Pistorious didn't come to mind until I read this thread. In fact I only just REALISED he is an Oscar. I know that sounds weird but I do that a lot - he's always Oscarpistorious or Pistorious so I never even really considered him to be an Oscar ha! How weird.

[squoosh]

I'm the same Bree, I think of him as Oscarpistorius too.

[TinyMonkey]

Oscar is the only boy's name me and DP have agreed on, I hadn't even twigged about the Pistorious connection until my dad mentioned it.

Fuck it, I'm still going to use it if the baby's a boy. No one is going to say 'oh, Oscar as in that trigger happy South African Paralympian runner?' in a few years time.

I think of Oscar Wilde more automatically.

[fionadal]

Yes, i'm sure you're right - the association may exist at the moment, but I doubt people will think of it 5 years down the line.

However, rightly or wrongly, I am put off - both by that and by its incredible popularity.Have just checked the ONS stats and it's number 7! I had no idea it was so well-used.

Having recently discovered Asher, I'm getting really keen on that. Same no of syllables and a soft-sounding name like Oscar but without the insane popularity!

Thanks for all input by the way!

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

There are masses of Oscar's. I don't associate ir with Pistorius. It is like Jack or James or Matthew - so popular I don't think of an individual.