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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

names that mean something in other languages

84 replies

LoucheLady · 28/08/2016 10:49

I live in an area with high immigration where 75% of kids at DC1's school are bilingual in a particular minority language. When I introduced newborn DC2 to our neighbours with her standard English name, they were a bit Hmm and Grin and said "you know what that means in XXX language, don't you"? Oh shit I thought, I've called her the XXX equivalent of dogbreath or something. Turns out it's not that bad, it just means daytime, but it got me thinking, it would be interesting to hear what other names have, erm, unfortunate meanings in other languages. Like my poor French friend Fanny.

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margaritasbythesea · 30/08/2016 14:14

DH not she

margaritasbythesea · 30/08/2016 14:13

Cardigans are often called Rebeccas in Spanish because of the fashion in the film of the novel. Or so says Spanish she.

Mummyoftwo91 · 30/08/2016 14:12

My last name the word hero in Turkish, Spiderman obsessed ds thinks this is super cool

MrsFlorrick · 30/08/2016 14:08

Isla means family in Dhivehi. Smile

Fayaa · 30/08/2016 14:03

Feia means ugly in Portuguese.... I went by my full name there WinkConfused

user1471734618 · 30/08/2016 14:01

Pippa is probably the rudest name in the English language.
It has a variety of meanings ranging from 'cunt' to 'blowjob' in various European languages.
As I do happen to know a particularly vile 'Pippa' it always makes me giggle a bit.

ptumbi · 30/08/2016 13:56

Linda in Czech means, ermm, front bottom!

I once taught a Russian girl who was called Nactia (pronounced Nastier) - she changed it to anastacia. I always thought it was quite pretty.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/08/2016 13:52

Yes, I am aware. I did consider trying to explain the pronunciation difference but decided I couldn't write it in a way which would adequately do so.

Written down, they're the same though.

AmserGwin · 30/08/2016 13:39

'Beth means what in Welsh'
Pronounced completely differently so not really just spelt the same

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/08/2016 13:14

Beth means what in Welsh.

Ham69 · 30/08/2016 00:57

Lots of typos. Off to bed!

Ham69 · 30/08/2016 00:57

I early called DS Ned until I googled it and it stands for 'Non Educated Delinquent' and is a derogatory term
used a lot in Scotland.

BaronessBomburst · 29/08/2016 22:30

Oh yes! Emma is bucket in Dutch.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 29/08/2016 17:57

Peter means "to fart" in French.

Kione · 29/08/2016 17:46

Linda meaning pretty/beautiful as above, but it is a very common name for a female dog in Spain Blush
Pippa in spanish is pipe, or seed

KatharinaRosalie · 29/08/2016 16:07

Amber means 'bucket' in Estonian, is also a slang term for gaffe or blunder.

WeDoNotTalktoPennilynLott · 29/08/2016 15:54

Linda means lovely/beautiful in Spanish

BaronessBomburst · 29/08/2016 15:49

The Irish name Bina means 'almost' in Dutch.

MrsGardenIng · 29/08/2016 15:44

ClaudiaWankleman (what a username! Grin ) could you expand on other meanings for Joe please? I have Joseph (likely nn Joe) on my shortlist.

MephistoMarley · 29/08/2016 08:00

Anna is 'I am' in Arabic

SmallBee · 29/08/2016 03:34

I came on to say we almost called DD Pippa but a graduate at work pulled me aside and warned me of the alternative meanings. She is not called Pippa.

THEMrsSmith · 29/08/2016 03:30

Kim is who in Turkish

PunkAssMoFo · 28/08/2016 22:25

Friend of a friend is called 'wankey'.

squoosh · 28/08/2016 13:16

Pippa has a host of 'colourful' meanings in other countries.

Zhabr · 28/08/2016 12:55

Poppy sounds very similar to "bum" in Russian.
Also Thusa ( pronounced Too-Sha) means "cadaver of the dead animal).
My friend called her DS Wassily ( like Kandinsky) and the teacher said that's not a good name and asked what NN can be used instead.

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