Names That Don't Work in Other Countries / Cultures...Just for Fun

[35andThriving]

I was just wondering what perfectly ordinary names wouldn't work in other parts of the world.

I have heard that the name Penelope has the Spanish word for penis in it, and Pippa is rude in several countries.

It just made me think there must be other examples and that it could be an interesting topic for a thread.

I can't think of too many the other way round, but Dutch names can be a bit/lot weird in English. For example Tjerk (Tyurk) is a boys name, Fokje (Fok-ya) a girls name...

Fanny works in many other countries. Not so much here...

Sharon gets some weird looks in the Israel denying places in the Middle East/Arab world.

I was going to say Pippa. I think some names don't work even in their native language, US olympians have included 'Misty Hymen' and 'Desiree Hooker'

Penelope Cruz is Spanish and her name doesn't appear to have held her back.

Apparently she is known as Pé to her friends.

I came on to mention 'Pippa'. Which has a variety of meanings from 'cunt' to 'blow job' across Europe.
Funnily enough the only Pippa I have come across in real life 100 per cent deserved it.

Oh no its two Pippa's now I think of it they both deserved it.

I wonder whether we know the same Pippa.

The name Kai doesn't work in New Zealand ..... Its the word for food in maori.

Melena or varients make me feel ick, as Melena/melaena is a medical term for black tarry stools resulting from digested blood.

Conn won't work in France. Peter is to fart.

Holly sounds like the word for interrogate in Welsh, Molly like the word for praise.

@peperethecat..is she horsey?

@lekkerkroketje also see Freek, Goof en Joke...

Perdita doesn't work in Italian as it means loss or discharge.

Jesus is one of those very popular South American/Hispanic names which would be odd here.

@Destroyedpeople I'm not sure, possibly. She's one of those people is into whatever is cool at the time. I haven't seen her for over 10 years but back then she had fake boobs and long blonde hair and was the archetypal Mean Girl.

Both dreadful Pippa's that I know are horsey.

Perfectly normal Dutch names:
Floor, Lot, Job, Mark, Joke, Tiny, Harm

British names I would feel a bit sorry for if they grew up in the Netherlands:
Blake. Dutch: pale (bleek)
Kip: chicken
Brooke: Trousers (broek)
Erin: in it. Prepare for a lifetime of sexual innuendo's. Still used though
Zak/Zack: Means pocket and ballsack, but due to that second meaning it's also avery common swearword

Jude is a Jew in German, pronounced Yoo-de. It's not considered a name there.

Jude is not really a name here either. Judah maybe.

Tia (aunt in Portuguese)

Pia (sink as in the kitchen sink - slightly old fashioned)

Veit is a Germanic boys name it's pronounced fight in English.

I live in Spain, it was so hard naming my DC but it is funny hearing some of my friend's kids names ..

Laia (pronounced liar)
Xabi (pronounced shabby)
Alien (pronounced allyEN)

a friend is called Nick, which means "me" in the local language so he always appears to be talking in the third person when talking about himself.

Thanks everyone for joining in.

I remembered another one - Cara means face in Spanish.

Emma means blood in Greek.