to think that it is too late to change DS (3yo) name?

[kindersurprise]

We are more than likely moving to French speaking Switzerland next year and DH has just heard that DS's name means "idiot" in French.

DH has suggested using DS's second name. I think that would be confusing for everyone, especially DS.

Any ideas? And can anyone tell me if Connor really does mean "idiot" in French.

Idiot in French is "idiot" afaik.

translate.google.com/translate_dict?q=idiot&hl=en&langpair=en%7Cfr

ditto hunker. i definitely remember my french teacher calling peolple a combination of "idiott' and imbecile obviously in a french accent.

They might be thinking of "conard" but tbh I wouldn't worry about it.

same as HM says

just had alook at the translation, so that means that Damn idiot would be : con idiot ?? am i right?

so maybe this is where he is getting it from. i dont hitnk there will be any problems with people thinking Conner is the same as Idiot.

conard means idiot.

what does conard mean then copper? i cannot find it i my french dictionary.

x posts.

You cannot change a child's name on a whim.

Sorry, it's supposed to have 2n's. An American translation here.

Unless you are likely to be somehwere very remote, think Swiss dialect mispronunciation could lead to teasing and are liekly to stay long term it isn't an issue. More international Swiss communities are perfectly used to such differences.

It is not a whim though, I am worried that he might get teased.

If it is not a commonly used word then that is ok, I can live with it

Thanks Lizs, it will be Geneva, so I guess the most international of the Swiss cities.

dp reckons connard means something rather stronger than idiot...

conard means gawkiness

connard means jerk/idiot

apparently it has various different translations, but doesn't list what dp thought (c-word)

If you want to do so there's info here
I know no French, but I have friends who have name changed.

Thanks, I guess that we will just have to wait and see.

Does anyone know, how the Swiss-French language is, in comparison to the normal French that we are learning at the moment? I know that Schweizer-Deutsch is like a completely different language and i find it difficult to understand even though I speak German.

Why not call him Con?

Would changing DS's name be more confusing for him than being known by his middle name? Or are you actually looking for someone to say "no it doesn't mean idiot (or worse)" and I'm totally barking up the wrong tree trying to be practical?

It seems acceptable in German Switzerland (as a derivative of Conrad) so really doubt it would be any less so in Geneva.

I am looking for someone to say, no your DH is an idiot (or Connard) who has heard wrong.

Or alternatively, your DH is an idiot, how can you change names now.

Just tell me I am right please everyone, his name is his name and how can we change it now?

Might start calling him Con though.

Crumbs no, not Con, it's an equally insulting variation of connard.

But Connor would be pronounced Kon-nore which is much as you'd say it in English, but with more emphasis on the 2nd syllable than in English which will detract from the the first syllable's negative connotations and make it sound different enough from connard.

The French are used to anglo-saxon names, they often adopt them in fact, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

I really dont think you can change it now. not at his age. its who he is, isnt it!

well, I dont mind saying I think your DH is an idiot. its not on to start changing a child identity at his age.

Think of all the differnt languages we have spoken here. my local corner shop where we grew up, used to laugh ,very sweetly at mums name as in punjabi ( i think it was ) Millie/ Milly means 'found it'

there are always going to be meanings to names in different countries, meaning a variety of different things. we cant all go round changing our names to suit.

it seems written down, it will not be a problem. your son can just point that out, should he get any problems when he's at school.