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Baby names

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Original poster

Have you heard of a serial killer with first name Albert?

66 replies

moojie · 07/02/2012 14:00

We have chosen a name for ds2 due in a few weeks. I did a quick google to check the name with our surname and it came up with a notorious serial killer from the early 1900's I'm not sure if this is a problem or not.

I had never heard of this man before so WITHOUT googling do you know a serial killer with the first name Albert?

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TeWihara · 07/02/2012 14:34

Well now I have googled him, please don't do it. I would not want my little boy to search his name and read all that.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:32

I shall do a quick test then report back.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:31

He is regarded to be one of the first serial killers of the 20th Century.
And FaGins is right. You pick up any book on serial killer history and he will be in it.
He is in almost every single book I have.

LaFilleSurLePont · 07/02/2012 14:30

I presume you mean Albert Fish? If so then yes I have.

notso · 07/02/2012 14:30

I have never heard of him.
DH has, though he does have an wierd interest in serial killers.

I never associate name with things like that though I know lots of people do.

I think Albert is a lovely name though.

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:30

I don't like any of the other 'proper' names for Bertie. I guess we will have to think of something else!

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 07/02/2012 14:27

I've never heard of Albert Fish but given that at some point everyone will Google their own name, I think I'd avoid it.

If this serial killer is so well known, then it's going to be the first 100 hits of any Google search and not a nice thing to be linked with however tenuously.

Robert is a good suggestion for an alternative. Still easily Bertie imo.

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 07/02/2012 14:27

If you like Bertie there are other names you can use that give it as a nickname

don't worry!

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:25

Oh dear Sad I guess we will have to go back to the name books then. I have no idea how I hadn't heard of him before. It took us nearly 2 weeks to name ds1 and I thought we had picked the perfect name this time...

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 07/02/2012 14:25

I thought of Pierrepoint. My grandfather was a Bertie, from Robert.

FaGins · 07/02/2012 14:20

He's in a book I have confiscated from ds2. He bought it in Asda.

Albert Fish is really well known.

phlossie · 07/02/2012 14:19

Oh, I see - your surname is Fish. Might be best not to, then. Don't choose Michael either!

funnypeculiar · 07/02/2012 14:18

Oh, just read you have the same surname - had missed that bit from the OP Blush. Humm, don't think many people will have heard of him, tbh, but perhaps worth avoiding in that case. Sorry!

MuffinTheMilf · 07/02/2012 14:18

Empress- do you really know any children called Myra? I've never come across it, perhaps it was a more unusual name anyway that she made famous :( I know plenty of Ians born in the late 60s/70s though.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:17

Like Tamoo says, if you look hard enough, you'll probably find a negative connection with any name.
The most popular boys name in recent years has been Jack. Yet I bet if you asked Bunny or me, we'd say Jack the Ripper.

phlossie · 07/02/2012 14:17

I agree with Tamoo. Albert's a lovely, classic name - I'd never heard of Albert Fish. If your surname were Fish, it would be a problem - but look at this list of serial killers - how many of these names are commonly used? Robert, Peter, Fred etc.

grubbalo · 07/02/2012 14:17

If his name would be Albert Fish, then yes I'd avoid it now if that's the name of a serial killer! He will google his name, so will his friends at some point. Just not worth it - and it's a shame as Albert is a lovely name. If you were always going to call him Bertie though, could you choose another long version? Robert obviously springs to mind but there must be others.

funnypeculiar · 07/02/2012 14:17

Well, you can always guarantee you'll learn something on mn. If I hear Albert I think of a victim - not a serial killer poor Albert

FaGins · 07/02/2012 14:17

Don't use it. Albert Fish is quite well known and appears in an awful lot of those serial killer books

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 07/02/2012 14:16

If his name will be Albert Fish then I would avoid and go with bertam or Bertrand with nickname Bertie

People (especially when at school!) will google and then make fun of him! he will forever be linked and it sounds like there is plenty of mileage for teasing

If your surname is not Fish then I wouldn't worry and go with Albert (unless it is Speer)

LtEveDallas · 07/02/2012 14:15

Albert deSalvo sprung staight to mind (though not convinced he is a 'true' serial killer)

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:15

Umm the problem is we have the same surname Shock Like I say I don't have a problem with it personally but I just wondered how many people had actually heard of him for it to be a problem.

We could find another name if it was an issue but I just don't know!

OP posts:
RingMyBella · 07/02/2012 14:14

urgh I forgot about Fish - he killed a 12 year-old girl and sent a letter to her mother. :(

EmpressOfTheSevenOceans · 07/02/2012 14:14

I wouldn't worry though. There are plenty of kids called Fred, Peter, Myra, Ian etc and I really doubt that's the first connection people make.

Hassled · 07/02/2012 14:14

I'd never think serial killer. You're safe with Albert, I reckon.