Just askin' - what do you think of...

"It's an unusual name in many parts of the uk and dr dre is very very famous."

Yeah, I know that. However, I don't know of any Camillas round my way (and am a teacher so cast a fairly wide net) but like I wouldn't start hooting "Camilla Parker Bowles" and behaving as though it's a hugely uncommon name simply because no-one I know is called it.

Not the same though, is it? Because 'Camilla' and 'Dre' don't start on an even playing field, do they?

Really sorry to post and run, but my takeaway will be arriving in a minute so I'm going to disappear for a while. Not ignoring anyone.

coconutty
"I really hope that you're not suggesting that I am racist because I said it will be perfect if he becomes a doctor?"
What did you mean then? Please explain.

Maryz
"Accusing people of "white privilege" and "middle-class white snobbishness" is racist, by the way."
No it's not. It's absolutely not. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack is a very useful starting point on this, for those who haven't come across it before.

musttidyupmusttidyup
"I am surprised to hear that this is not an uncommon name in some areas - but I assume (and am aware that I might be wrong again) that it is a relatively new phenomenon (not as a short for Andre) and ties in with the popularity of Dr Dre?"
Why are you surprised? Because you assume that every area has exactly the same commonly used names as your area? And if you haven't heard of it then it's defintely 'uncommon'?

No, it's not a relatively new phenomenon. It's a perfectly standard shortening of Andre, which has been used for years and years and years. Again, just because you only heard of it via Dr Dre says nothing about how often it was used previously to that or since.

TaperJeanGirl
"nothing wrong with saying a type of name sounds black/asian/chinese......."
No, there's nothing wrong with assuming things about someone's ethnic (or even class) background based on their name.

Dre is mainly used by the Afro-Carribean communities where I live. Just as Afzal is mainly used by Pakistani communties. The problem lies in then extrapolating that if you are (probably) black then therefore you've been named after a rapper (equals murderous gangster) and have got no fucking chance of ever being taken seriously as a doctor, then there's a whole fuck load wrong with that.

I'm assuming nothing - I'm calling some folk out. But if you want to nurse your own defensive hurt feeling because you know that you are totallynotracistnowaynohow, then go ahead, I can't stop you. I'm just pointing out the glaring prejudice on this thread.

It's an unusual name in many parts of the uk and dr dre is very very famous.

That's all.

Banana Do you ever think your own view of the world is very Londoncentric? Life exists in the far flung provinces too you know. I?ve met a lot of babies, never heard of a Dre. If people's only experience of the name Dre in relation to Dr Dre that doesn?t make them racist. And in that case the ?Doctor? joke is an obvious if rather weak one to make.

I certainly don?t assume that my ?own experience is universal?. I have a brain, I realise that my experience is just that, mine. I know there?s a big world out there even though I may not have seen most of it.

The baby name threads on MN can be pretty ferocious, ?too chavvy?,? too posh?,? too try hard? are thrown around all the time. It?s not for the faint hearted. Someone recently wanted to call her daughter Persephone and was torn to pieces. And as for your assertion that people are supportive of name like Millie, that?s just not true. Lots of people have very strong views that abbreviated names are Not The Done Thing. Some think it is child cruelty to give your child a name other than something that can befits a QC/Surgeon/Show Jumper whatever. And no, I don?t agree that a name can hold a person back professionally.

I know there is a strong ?anti Chav? element on these boards. Britain is the only country (in the most part) that has ?chav? names. I?m not British so I don?t get on board with that. There are loads of names I hate but it isn?t usually because I?m peering down my nose disapprovingly of someone?s socio economic status!

Sorry but it's awful. I would cringe every time I read it out on the register. Andre would be lovely though.

I've just had a squiz and it says it's s shortened version of a Andreas meaning manly.

With a Greek origin originally.

Interesting.

I'm not very white, def not privileged

Banana, I couldn't agree more.

I was referring to the us on this thread that you are calling racists banana.

I am not so self important that I think my experiences encompass the whole world.

Different names are popular in different parts of the country. Just because I havent come across a Dre in my life apart from dr dre dosent make me a colossal racist bastard.

Alright.

I do know a little Dre actually, as far as I know his parents arent Dr Dre fans, wouldnt have crossed my mind to ask tbh...

I think BananaPhone has jumped so high to conclusions here, they have missed and landed in another thread.

Scratches head and wonders how this is racist AT ALL

I think Dre sounds pretty cool actually, but if ds came home from school and spoke about a mate called Dre, I would assume he were black, like his friends Denzel, Dante, Tyreece, I knew they were black before I met them, just like I knew his mates Abdul, Hamid and Mohammed were all Asian, I guessed his mates Jack, Alfie and Patrick were white, they are, nothing wrong with saying a type of name sounds black/asian/chinese.........My theory goes out of the window though when I go into my local post office, the men there are all Pakistani, but are called Charles, Paul, and Patrick!

No. No it's fucking not.

Because Eminem is a made-up name riffing on a packet of sweeties. And Professor Green is a made-up name riffing on a title and a surname.

I can't belive this, I really can't.

Dre is actually a fairly commonly used name in this country - at least the part of it I live in. Who are you talking about when you say the 'majority of us', anyway? How on earth do you know that most people here have only ever heard the name Dre used with the prefix Dr? Again, it's the epitome of white privilege to assume your own position as the norm.

Anyway op I think it could be a good nickname as well

It's very short like al or ed for eg so it would be nice to have a longer name so you can get dre or other options.

Banana I spend hours on baby names objecting to comments like chav and I can't stand some of the snobbery on here.

But to say dre, or snoop dogg or whatever sounds like a rappers name, when the majority of us have only ever heard it associated with a rapper is being snobby and racist is a bit of a leap tbh.

I thought of dr dre. Same as if it was emeinen or professor green!

"as in Dr Dre? Not really, a bit too 'rappy' for me"

"Maybe he'll aspire to enter the medical profession as he grows. I have heard of it actually. In 'merica"

"I think it is awful - trying too hard to be American rappers"

"Perfect name if he turns out to be a Doctor."

Yuh, totes no race or class prejudice going on on this thread, is there? Fucking hell.

Yes. which is why I italiised the "you've". And then went on to say that it's not the same of everyone.

In other words, your assumption that your own experience is universal isthe epitome of white privilege. So for that matter, is being defensive and refusing to own it when you're called on it.

Read this thread again. Let go of your Ican'tbelieveI'vebeencalledaracist outrage for a moment and just read it. You really don't see the barely disguised subtext?

Ummm, I've never met or heard of a Madonna or a Dre apart from the Madonna and the Dre. So for me it is the same. (14 years of convent education so it's safe to say I've heard of Jesus' Mother but as we're talking about pop culture here . . . . )

Obviously I'm only talking about my own experience, people I've met. I would have thought that was obvious. Can't believe this needs spelling out.

So do not accuse me of being racist when you know not the first fucking thing about me.