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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Nimrod really that bad?

196 replies

lrpe · 03/09/2021 22:02

We are from Hungary where Nimród is a popular boy's name and we'd like to call our child Nimród. However, I've just learnt that in American slang "nimrod" means idiot, dimwit, stupid, etc. But I've never heard this in the UK.

I wonder how bad Nimrod sounds for a native English speaker in the UK. (We have no connections with the US and our son would grow up in the UK.)

Possible alternatives would be:

László
Zoltán
Vajk (pronounced: voyk)

Are they any better?

Thanks a lot.

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PluggingAway · 03/09/2021 22:54

Nimrod is an insult in my world.

I have moved around a lot over the years so I wouldn't think much of it, but I grew up in the UK and it was definitely used as an insult when I was there.

Crabwoman · 03/09/2021 22:54

I love Laszlo. I've never heard to Nimrod as an insult. To me it means:

  1. An incredibly beautiful piece of music by Elgar. Usually played at funerals or military services. This connection alone would rule it out for me (as it makes me cry!)
  1. An RAF jet
  1. A Greenday album.
Penville · 03/09/2021 22:53

I always thought nimrod meant idiot and apparently that’s Bugs Bunny’s fault 😊

dotandline.net/when-bugs-bunny-beat-the-bible/

chipsandgin · 03/09/2021 22:53

Definitely not Nimrod, because it would be awful for him, just not ok to use an insult as a name if you are living in the country where it is an insult.

Or Vajk, simply because if they grow up I the UK it will mean endless spelling out and correcting and mispronunciation.

We were living abroad when we had DS1 and tried to choose a name that would work in both counties for his sake, which counted out some of my favourites, so I do understand.

Lazlo and Zoltan are both lovely though, it depends if you think the UK connection is permanent though. As it turns out we came home, nonetheless I’m glad DS1 has a name that works in multiple languages. A hard no to Nimrod though!

NoSquirrels · 03/09/2021 22:51

Well, this is interesting. I’m firmly in the ‘beautiful Elgar music’ association and have never ever hear it used as an insult. In fact, if I did hear it I’d assume it was someone pretty ineptly dissing someone else - I’d assume they’d misspoke or misheard an insult!

Surprised by the love of Zoltan on this thread - to me, I always think Zoltar, from the movie Big. Obviously it’s a different name but I couldn’t shake that.

Marcee · 03/09/2021 22:51

I associate Nimrod with an insult

Wombat96 · 03/09/2021 22:51

Big plane with antennae in my world.

MilkywayMonarch22 · 03/09/2021 22:49

Zoltán and László are amazing names.

Nimrod wouldn't be good in the UK as you say.

BritishSummertime · 03/09/2021 22:47

Wasn't Zoltan the name.of the fortune telling machine in the film Big?!

He'll definitely be the only one in his class, I love it. It's also easy to spell and pronounce whereas Laszlo seems to have the S or Z as 'extra'

Keroppi · 03/09/2021 22:46

Zoltan is soooooo cool!!

OnlyFlans · 03/09/2021 22:46

@NantesElephant

László is lovely. Nimrod makes me think of the plane. Zoltan is ok.
Agree with this!
Peoniesandpeaches · 03/09/2021 22:45

I’d see it as an insult.

Wandawide · 03/09/2021 22:44

Laszlo sounds nice and would fit with a Hungarian sounding surname.
Was that the name of the character they were trying to get on the flight in Casablanca film?
A hero.

NantesElephant · 03/09/2021 22:44

László is lovely. Nimrod makes me think of the plane. Zoltan is ok.

HungryHippo11 · 03/09/2021 22:43

Nimrod is a (very mild) insult. Like "fool" or similar, not offensive but not what you would want to be named.

Vajk will be mispronounced and misspelled constantly.

The other two are nice

Ibizan · 03/09/2021 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OohThatCat · 03/09/2021 22:42

I always thought it was an insult for idiot, sorry. It’s also the title of a Green Day album.

LittleDoritt · 03/09/2021 22:40

Laszlo and Zoltan are really awesome. Nimrod is definitely an insult to my ear.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 03/09/2021 22:39

Definitely not Nimrod, honestly I thought this thread title was a joke as I didn’t realise Nimrod was a legitimate Hungarian name and have only heard the word used as an insult. As a name I don’t think it works in the UK unfortunately.

Laszlo is great and Zoltan is fine. I think there will probably be difficulties with English people getting the spelling and pronunciation of Vajk right but otherwise the name is fine too.

lottiegarbanzo · 03/09/2021 22:37

Elgar. Awesome tune. Terrible name for a person. Sounds like a drain clearance company.

Lazlo is lovely.

adeleh · 03/09/2021 22:36

@MrsCremuel

I associate it with Elgar and the Bible and I’m from the UK. Never heard of it as an insult?
Me too!
LadyCatStark · 03/09/2021 22:35

I’ve never heard of it as an insult but it is a pretty well known aircraft.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 03/09/2021 22:34

Never heard it as an insult, might come from the wrong part of the uk for it to mean that I guess. Like lots of others associate it with Edward Elgar and the RAF. I’m a massive What We Do In The Shadows fan so Laszlo would probably be a nope, or would it Grin

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 03/09/2021 22:33

I don't think Nimrod is a great choice for the UK - we get a lot of US TV here so a fair number of adults/kids may be aware of "nimrod" as an insult (I was).

Laszlo is lovely, Zoltan fine and Vajk okay (but will be constantly mispronounced).

Maggiesgirl · 03/09/2021 22:30

Means a plane to me ( probably as DB was one of the RAF pilots) but it just sounds to harsh.

Zolton is just brilliant though.

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