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Original poster

Have you heard of a serial killer with first name Albert?

66 replies

moojie · 07/02/2012 14:00

We have chosen a name for ds2 due in a few weeks. I did a quick google to check the name with our surname and it came up with a notorious serial killer from the early 1900's I'm not sure if this is a problem or not.

I had never heard of this man before so WITHOUT googling do you know a serial killer with the first name Albert?

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phlossie · 07/02/2012 14:17

I agree with Tamoo. Albert's a lovely, classic name - I'd never heard of Albert Fish. If your surname were Fish, it would be a problem - but look at this list of serial killers - how many of these names are commonly used? Robert, Peter, Fred etc.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:17

Like Tamoo says, if you look hard enough, you'll probably find a negative connection with any name.
The most popular boys name in recent years has been Jack. Yet I bet if you asked Bunny or me, we'd say Jack the Ripper.

MuffinTheMilf · 07/02/2012 14:18

Empress- do you really know any children called Myra? I've never come across it, perhaps it was a more unusual name anyway that she made famous :( I know plenty of Ians born in the late 60s/70s though.

funnypeculiar · 07/02/2012 14:18

Oh, just read you have the same surname - had missed that bit from the OP Blush. Humm, don't think many people will have heard of him, tbh, but perhaps worth avoiding in that case. Sorry!

phlossie · 07/02/2012 14:19

Oh, I see - your surname is Fish. Might be best not to, then. Don't choose Michael either!

FaGins · 07/02/2012 14:20

He's in a book I have confiscated from ds2. He bought it in Asda.

Albert Fish is really well known.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 07/02/2012 14:25

I thought of Pierrepoint. My grandfather was a Bertie, from Robert.

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:25

Oh dear Sad I guess we will have to go back to the name books then. I have no idea how I hadn't heard of him before. It took us nearly 2 weeks to name ds1 and I thought we had picked the perfect name this time...

OP posts:
EverybodysSnowyEyed · 07/02/2012 14:27

If you like Bertie there are other names you can use that give it as a nickname

don't worry!

Blatherskite · 07/02/2012 14:27

I've never heard of Albert Fish but given that at some point everyone will Google their own name, I think I'd avoid it.

If this serial killer is so well known, then it's going to be the first 100 hits of any Google search and not a nice thing to be linked with however tenuously.

Robert is a good suggestion for an alternative. Still easily Bertie imo.

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:30

I don't like any of the other 'proper' names for Bertie. I guess we will have to think of something else!

OP posts:
notso · 07/02/2012 14:30

I have never heard of him.
DH has, though he does have an wierd interest in serial killers.

I never associate name with things like that though I know lots of people do.

I think Albert is a lovely name though.

LaFilleSurLePont · 07/02/2012 14:30

I presume you mean Albert Fish? If so then yes I have.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:31

He is regarded to be one of the first serial killers of the 20th Century.
And FaGins is right. You pick up any book on serial killer history and he will be in it.
He is in almost every single book I have.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:32

I shall do a quick test then report back.

TeWihara · 07/02/2012 14:34

Well now I have googled him, please don't do it. I would not want my little boy to search his name and read all that.

PersonalClown · 07/02/2012 14:36

Right...on a small test of 5 or 6 average men, including my DP, not one of them knew of Albert Fish.

LaFilleSurLePont · 07/02/2012 14:38

I wouldn't use it. I don't like Albert admittedly,but that's not why. I wouldn't care to share the full name of a serial killer.

I used to work with someone who shared the same name as a member of a popular 70's group who was later convicted for possessing child pornography,and he was very unhappy that he shared a name with him. His parents couldn't have foreseen the problem of course,but you can so I'd definitely avoid it.

FaGins · 07/02/2012 14:39

If your surname was Sutcliffe you wouldn't choose Peter. If your surname was Brady you wouldn't choose Ian.

This is the same. Seriously. Regardless of whether people say they wouldn't associate the name Albert with a serial killer you really can't call an innocent little boy Albert Fish

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 14:40

Thanks for that personalclown I going to have a chat with DH tonight. He had never heard of him either. We have a few weeks to think it over and out out a few RL feelers without taking too much offence!

Thank you for all your advice!

OP posts:
EmpressOfTheSevenOceans · 07/02/2012 14:49

Muffin DD was at nursery with one and there's now one in her Scout troop. So only two in eight years I suppose, but they didn't remind me of Hindley.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 07/02/2012 14:55

Just googled Albert Fish, it wasn't even his given name. What a shame for you, moojie. :(

Polkadotfanatic · 07/02/2012 15:23

"There are plenty of kids called Fred, Peter, Myra, Ian etc and I really doubt that's the first connection people make."

Fred, Peter, Ian totally agree. Whenever I think or hear of Myra, all I immediately see is that black and white pic of her staring the camera down with her bleached hair. shudders
That could just be me though...

Original poster
moojie · 07/02/2012 15:34

Ok just had a cry (hormones!) and decided we have to change the name. Going to leave it a few days and go back to calling bump 'baby' so we can start afresh!

OP posts:
LaFilleSurLePont · 07/02/2012 15:35

I hope you find another name that you love just as much.