Is Nimrod really that bad?

[lrpe]

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.

Nimrod is a Greenday album to me and it only takes one kid to bring up the idiot meaning for it to make things uncomfortable for your kid at school. Laszlo is pretty good though!

I know one, goes by Nimi.

Yes. It's not good at all. Sorry.

I’m in the south east of the UK. I vaguely recall hearing nimrod as an insult when I was a small child, possibly by my parents as an endearing term when I’d done something silly! But I haven’t heard it for 25 years at least.
I don’t think it’s commonly known as being an insult enough for you to decide not to call him it. Personally I think if you love the name you should go with it!
Without sounding too pessimistic, kids will be kids and will tease each other for so many reasons including whether a name rhymes with something funny, nevermind it loosely translating as an American insult! You’ll drive yourself mad if you tried to think of everything.
Ultimately if you want to stick with names from your homeland you shouldn’t feel like you can’t. If you did go with Nimrod see it as an opportunity to educate anyone who does think differently about the meaning of the name .

I do love Laszlo though

Really dislike Nimrod.

I’ve worked with both a Laszlo and a Zoltan, both lovely guys. Probably prefer Zoltan as a name.

When the writers had Bugs Bunny call Elmer Fodd a Nimrod, many people didn’r know who Nimrod was, so they thought it was an insult and not Bugs being ironic calling Elmer a great hunter (Nimrod).

How about Orion if you want the hunter hero theme.

Nimrod is not a British insult but it is recognised here. I personally know it from the inimitable Grease 2

Zoltan gets my vote!

When I hear the name Nimrod, I generally think of the funny robot math teacher from the TV show Strange Hill High. Therefore, I don't think of it as an insulting name.

I went to the funeral of a Nim last week, have known him 30 years and only realised his actual name was Nimrod from the order of service. The biblical Nimrod was one of Noah's great grandsons, grandson of Ham according to the vicar.

I too would only think of Elgar and aircraft rather than an insult.

Personally I wouldn’t go with it, it’s just too close to the slang word. Your other options are much nicer but ultimately the decision is yours and I’m sure you’ll be happy with what you pick in the end x

Love Zoltan & Laszlo

Watch any Bugs Bunny episode and you’ll hear him call the character who tries to hunt rabbits nimrod every time they fail. So I would definitely say it is used as an insult in the UK. Sorry.

Nimród would remind me of Elgar, which is no bad thing.
László and Zoltán are gorgeous names.

Bugs uses it the same people use genius when some does something not so smart. Ironically or facetiously.

Just use the name at home and have him called Nim among English speakers

As a native English person, I agree that if someone called me a nimrod, I would take it as an insult that they were calling me stupid. The meaning definitely has crossed the pond!

Nimrod is used as an insult in Australia too. I like the sound of László!

Nimrod is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis and Books of Chronicles. The son of Cush and therefore a great-grandson of Noah, Nimrod was described as a king in the land of Shinar. The Bible states that he was "a mighty hunter before the Lord [and] ... began to be mighty in the earth".
Wikipedia

I haven't heard it as an insult, but Nimrod is very traditional and the title of the piece of music voted the most popular by a British composer.

Of course Nimrod means a hunter. Reminds me of Edward Elgar. Go for it!

Laszlo is a better choice here in the UK