To think that Machiavelli is not a suitable name for a boy?

[HighDataUsage]

I was out in town today and heard a woman call out the name Machiavelli and a little boy ran up to her and answered 'yes mum'. Given that the historical figure Machiavelli was a manipulative schemer, AIBU to think it's not an appropriate name for a little child. I couldn't quite believe my ears the first time I heard the name but she repeated the name once more & the poor child responded once more to the name. The poor little fellow is going to be ripped apart when he grows older.

What on earth where his parents thinking when they chose the name. Can anyone top this name in the whackiest name poll?

I know a family with two children - Midas and Twinkle.

I've posted this before but the 'best' name I have come across is Galahad :)

It's one thing slating a name when someone's asked for an opinion on the baby names thread, but to come home and start a thread about an actual child is awful.

S'not about the child, tho, is it, it's about the name, different thing entirely.

I know a Ryan Ayr. Always makes me giggle.

How is it different? The thread is about a child called Machiavelli

Could have just called him Niccolò, which was his actual name.

You beat me to it Uterus.

Maybe DS 2 will be Rasputin.

Reminds me of that idiot who called her DD Ikea "it's such a pretty name"

Could it have been a nickname that stuck rather then his real name?

Could have just called him Niccolò, which was his actual name. And me.

I know a Zeus. He's great.

Round these parts the kid would be called Mackers. Bet his mum would be pissed off at that.

originalmavis a child at my school is actually called Lucifer!

Family friend named his daughter Fanny

OP, show me a town in the UK where the general public will know who Machiavelli was. Or even that it's the name of someone notable, and not a made-up name.

Um, every town in the UK?
There's even a word inspired by him, y'know, Machiavellian....

Could it have been a nickname that stuck rather then his real name?

What on earth would a small child have to be doing to earn that nickname?!

Our surname sounds a lot like H(air). We did once spend a happy evening in the pub thinking up names we couldn't give our children. Ryan, Bucky O, etc...

Isn't Machiavelli a surname? Double stupid on the parents behalf

I felt sorry for the child, it really wasn't a kind thing that the parents did there. Quite irresponsible and not very clever because the name Machiavelli attracts attention & becomes a talking point. Lots of people know what Machiavellian means. You don't need a degree in renaissance history to know the general gist behind the term Machiavellian.

I know of a Chaos, though I would argue that unlike Machiavelli, it would make a suitable name for most young boys.

Regarding Aston Martin. I once worked in a school that had a Porsche Mercedes. It really ought not be allowed.

Machiavelli is a terrible name, but it's always been my understanding that Machiavelli's negative reputation was largely undeserved.

Heh heh heh!
Love it.
DS has a name that, if you add three extra syllables (one in front and two at the end) it becomes the name of a fearsome Babylonian tyrant king.
Occasionally I address him by this name, but was still surprised when two close friends asked me (in confidential tones) if it was his real name.
Could be the same for Mackers, you know.

Poor Machiavelli gets such a bad rap that his name is synonymous with deviousness, tyranny and disgraceful politics even though it's now widely believed that The Prince was complete satire seeing as how it was the polar opposite of his stated beliefs and policies.

Similar I suppose to if Donald Trump wrote a book preaching tolerance, loving ones neighbour, putting down weapons and accepting peoples of all faiths but people didn't realise it was a big ol' reverse and thought this was what 'The Donald' actually championed. The term 'Trumpian' would be coined. It would mean 'a boss or leader with extremely embracing and accepting qualities who advocates a peaceful and diverse society'.

Machiavelli is still an unusual choice of name for a child though, not least because it's a surname. I'm not a fan of surnames as forenames. Although I'm sure at some point it was considered odd for your child to be called by the name of a flower or a plant but these days the names Lily, Holly, Daisy, Rose, Heather, Daphne, Ivy, Violet, Jasmine or Poppy generally wouldn't raise an eyebrow.

To be fair, many surnames are also first names.

Machiavelli was an author. Charachters in his book were manipulative and scheming. Machiavelli wasn't necessarily. It's not like he committed atrocities or was renowned for his own evil acts. He just wrote books.

Um, every town in the UK?
There's even a word inspired by him, y'know,Machiavellian....

I was thinking exactly this, but you beat me to it.