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Baby names

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Original poster

Is it okay to call an English child Klaus?

35 replies

Cammy007 · 02/07/2016 14:59

My family are Scottish and English but i really like the name Klaus but it is German, I only have 2 German cousins but their blood is English (if you know what I mean)

Would it be okay to call him Klaus? (baby boy btw)

If not what are some similar names if not?

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1horatio · 07/07/2016 13:27

As for my personally aversion to the name Klaus... My gradfather's nn was Klaus. Seeing as he was an arse I am obviousy biased. But Klaus is outdated in pretty much every German speaking country, I think.
For me personally it's in the category of Arnold, Hans, Werner, Hermann... But it's just my opinion.

VioletBam · 07/07/2016 13:19

One of my daughters has a Spanish name and I almost called DD2 Femke which is German. I only didn't because I knew some people wouldn't be able to pronounce it.

1horatio · 07/07/2016 13:18

Now I feel stupid, for some reason I've always assumed it was written with a G.Blush
But yes, I was happy when he died... He was just such a scumbag.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 07/07/2016 13:05

I like it! I know a Welsh man with an Italian name who has no Italian heritage. Nobody has ever commented on it, it's a nice name which suits him.

squoosh · 07/07/2016 12:00

I would avoid because it makes me think of Klaus Barbie.

That was my first thought too! I'm sure there have been thousands of top notch Klauses but he's the one I think of.

midsomermurderess · 07/07/2016 11:47

It's really interesting to get an insight into how names are viewed where they originate. Thanks for that.

Wolpertinger · 07/07/2016 08:42

I would assume at least 1 parent was German. I have a foreign name and get asked about it at least once a week even though I'm now 40 - doesn't bother me, I love having an unusual name and getting to explain where I'm from. However it might be a bit odd saying 'I've got 2 German cousins' as an explanation.

2nds · 07/07/2016 08:39

1Horatio in Game of thrones it's Joffrey not Geoffrey and he's an evil scumbag :-)

Zhabr · 07/07/2016 08:33

DS2 is called Nicholas. DH sometimes calls him Klaus as a joke. I really like the name Nico and wish I have put it on BC.
And yes, Alegretto, it reminds me of Klaus Barbie, whose name was actually Nikolaus. Also Klaus Kinski, his eldest daughter recently said that she was sexually abused by him.

WeAreEternal · 07/07/2016 07:21

DS (9) has a friend called Klaus, his full names is Nicholas - pronounced Nick-lous - but he only seems to go by Klaus as that's the name his mother chose.
I like it, it's unusual but has a classic feel.

MissWimpyDimple · 07/07/2016 07:10

V old fashioned but quite sweet. It should be Pronounced to rhyme with mouse and not like claws.

Had a few much older Klaus uncles. One changed his name to Claude.

allegretto · 07/07/2016 06:42

I would avoid because it makes me think of Klaus Barbie.

Slumberparty · 07/07/2016 06:34

How about Nicklaus? You can call him Klaus but as he gets older he can shorten to Nick if he feels the need?

BettyDraper1 · 06/07/2016 22:00

I really like it but I think it depends on your surname.

Dontrocktheboat · 06/07/2016 21:57

Klaus makes me think of a chubby boy with a Herr Flick hairstyle, round wire rimmed glasses and 1950s schoolboy shorts. So based on that and the fact it sounds like it may be the German equivalent of Colin or Nigel, I would say probably not!

Nicholas is great though, and you could use klaus as a nickname.

1horatio · 06/07/2016 21:50

Btw, imo Derek or Geoffrey (well, before GoTs) would be much better than Klaus. But if you feel like Klaus is the name then you should go for it.

1horatio · 06/07/2016 21:45

I personally like Nicholas. And Nicco or Klaus would be really cute nns.

What about Niccola/Nikkola? (in the UK for a girl, not a boy). It sounds lovely imo :)

HeteronormativeHaybales · 06/07/2016 21:30

In answer to your title, it's not even OK to call a German child Klaus. The rough Brit equivalent would be Geoffrey or Derek.

Nicholas is good.

EssentialHummus · 06/07/2016 20:51

No, bit of a grandad name and he'll be fielding Santa jokes forever.

NotYoda · 06/07/2016 20:49

It's OK, but he would probably always be explaining his name because it sounds very German. It can get a bit tiresome to do that.

What about:

Karl
Calvin

dexy24 · 06/07/2016 20:49

There's a Klaus in the tv show The Originals. In this case, as a PP has already mentioned this is a shortening of Nicklaus-what about that then you could shorten to Klaus or Nick if you prefer?

PotteringAlong · 06/07/2016 20:47

Like Santa? No.

NataliaOsipova · 06/07/2016 20:47

People will assume that you or your DH is German. It's a bit odd otherwise, but not bad - in my opinion, anyway!

PsammeadPaintedTheLion · 06/07/2016 20:44

My fil is Klaus. How about Nicholas, which is where Klaus is derived from?

Pipilangstrumpf · 04/07/2016 14:02

Klaus is a very untrendy name at the moment, in Germany. It's like Clive, Bernard or something middle aged. Not something I would choose.