I don't think that demographic is likely to be making latin jokes. I mean, we're referring to folks that can't really even speak the language of the country they were born in.
I am no longer surprised by what people come up with to name their children. After "4-Real" aka Superman and "La-a" (supposedly pronounced Ladasha "the dash aint silent"). Quovadus Mahomes sounds completely reasonable.
The other day, I noticed a girl working the counter in a store with Shillelagh on her name tag... She was a skinny stick of a girl.
It is actually kind of a cool sounding name. Like other Latin names such as maximus. I seriously doubt that the Latin part was intentional however. Must just be the cynic in me
Say what you want about silly-sounding given names. The ones people are born with are often worse.
One of the Soldiers in my unit is named Kyle Chwaszczewski. Lake County, Indiana is full of eastern European names like Grncic, Czyz, Bajic, Djukic, Radosavijevic and so on. My own surname sounds like a sneeze.
The truly sad part is not, 'Oh, look at those silly people, making up names', it's that it means that they have no idea that names have meanings, and a connection with history. The first name of our illustrious hostess means, for instance, 'palm tree' in Hebrew. Mine is 'rest, comfort' (interestingly, in the feminine form, it means 'motion'), by way of the same language.
Granted, most people don't realize this, but still stick with traditional names because, well, tradition. The scattershot 'it sounds good' is, I worry, symptomatic of a much deeper disconnect with the broader culture, and a severing from even a personal, familial history.
Yeah, I'm probably overthinking this. History major.
Now, all that said, 'Mahomey' could be a pretty common corruption of 'Dahomey', which does have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey>historical significance. </a>
Oh, yay, verily I say onto you, pity the poor dude checking into a Holiday Inn with his knock-out, brick-house wife who dresses a little trampy whose name is "John Smith". Cuz you KNOW what the check-in clerk's thinkin'....
Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? Quem ad finem sese effrenata iactabit audacia?
How long, O Catiline, will you abuse our patience? And for how long will that madness of yours mock us? To what end will your unbridled audacity hurl itself?
-Marcus Tullius Cicero, consul of Rome, 63 BC
The history of this reads like a "Star Wars" plot line:
I have heard from several sources, but have no proof of, interns in various big city hospitals naming the infants of various...hm-m-m, how to nicely put this...women availing themselves of various recreational substances while on public assistance. It seems they show up at the ER, in hard labor, no pre-natal care at all, usually premedicated for the convenience of the docs. Often so premedicated they don't even know they're giving birth.
It's rumored to be something of a contest among them to come up with the most "interesting" names.
My cousin is a high school teacher in northern Indiana. He regaled us with the story of twins in his class, named "Amerika" and "Afrika"...as in 'ama-reeka' and 'afa-reeka'.
After that laugh-fest, I'd believe anything could be a name; lately it seems the more outrageous, the more likely.
Not that it probably entered into the thinking of mom and dad, but "quo vadus" means "near the ford" meaning water-ford or shallow stream.
Who can say? The OIC of my last deployment went home on leave to be present for the birth of his son, Jace. Not short for Jason, BTW. I have no clue whence this name derives; however, he was the one member of his family who actually left the trailer park and made anything of himself.
My wife, kiddo and I were checked in to an overpriced hotel/water-park a couple of weekends ago by a young lady who's nametag read "Treasure". I had to look around at other employees' tags just to make sure...yup, there was an "Anna" and "Carl". So its an actual nametag, not a nickname tag. *sigh*
I have a vewwy gweat fwiend in Wome named Biggus Dickus. He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia Buttocks.
ReplyDeleteIt's a question *and* an answer!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that demographic is likely to be making latin jokes. I mean, we're referring to folks that can't really even speak the language of the country they were born in.
ReplyDeleteI suppose he could have been named by the doctor.
Vewy well, I shall wewease Bwian!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI am no longer surprised by what people come up with to name their children. After "4-Real" aka Superman and "La-a" (supposedly pronounced Ladasha "the dash aint silent"). Quovadus Mahomes sounds completely reasonable.
The other day, I noticed a girl working the counter in a store with Shillelagh on her name tag... She was a skinny stick of a girl.
s
Every week I scan the local paper for birth announcements and post the best in a weekly feature called "The Name Game"
ReplyDeleteI find this example fascinating.
MC
Maybe Henryk Sienkiewicz Mahomes was to hard to spell.
ReplyDeleteGerry
How about L-A? La-dash-a, the dash don't be silent!
ReplyDeleteAnybody who wants to have a little Klan rally can have it elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteIt is actually kind of a cool sounding name. Like other Latin names such as maximus. I seriously doubt that the Latin part was intentional however. Must just be the cynic in me
ReplyDeleteSay what you want about silly-sounding given names. The ones people are born with are often worse.
ReplyDeleteOne of the Soldiers in my unit is named Kyle Chwaszczewski. Lake County, Indiana is full of eastern European names like Grncic, Czyz, Bajic, Djukic, Radosavijevic and so on. My own surname sounds like a sneeze.
gvi
I give thanks my name is so common it is not always believed.
ReplyDeleteThe truly sad part is not, 'Oh, look at those silly people, making up names', it's that it means that they have no idea that names have meanings, and a connection with history. The first name of our illustrious hostess means, for instance, 'palm tree' in Hebrew. Mine is 'rest, comfort' (interestingly, in the feminine form, it means 'motion'), by way of the same language.
ReplyDeleteGranted, most people don't realize this, but still stick with traditional names because, well, tradition. The scattershot 'it sounds good' is, I worry, symptomatic of a much deeper disconnect with the broader culture, and a severing from even a personal, familial history.
Yeah, I'm probably overthinking this. History major.
Now, all that said, 'Mahomey' could be a pretty common corruption of 'Dahomey', which does have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey>historical significance. </a>
ReplyDeleteOh, yay, verily I say onto you, pity the poor dude checking into a Holiday Inn with his knock-out, brick-house wife who dresses a little trampy whose name is "John Smith". Cuz you KNOW what the check-in clerk's thinkin'....
ReplyDeleteQuo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? Quem ad finem sese effrenata iactabit audacia?
ReplyDeleteHow long, O Catiline, will you abuse our patience? And for how long will that madness of yours mock us? To what end will your unbridled audacity hurl itself?
-Marcus Tullius Cicero, consul of Rome, 63 BC
The history of this reads like a "Star Wars" plot line:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catiline_Orations
Erin Palette,
ReplyDelete"I have a vewwy gweat fwiend in Wome named Biggus Dickus. He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontinentia Buttocks."
Please accept this Great Big Internet Hugz as a token of my appreciation! :)
Incidentally, for those that didn't get the gag, the explanation is here: http://montypython.50webs.com/scripts/Life_of_Brian/13.htm
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJMRxbECzow
ReplyDeleteOne of my guys stopped a gentleman going by the nom Orangelo, but spelled on his DL as Orangejello. Hand to Jebus
ReplyDeleteI have heard from several sources, but have no proof of, interns in various big city hospitals naming the infants of various...hm-m-m, how to nicely put this...women availing themselves of various recreational substances while on public assistance. It seems they show up at the ER, in hard labor, no pre-natal care at all, usually premedicated for the convenience of the docs. Often so premedicated they don't even know they're giving birth.
ReplyDeleteIt's rumored to be something of a contest among them to come up with the most "interesting" names.
Noah said: "Now, all that said, 'Mahomey' could be a pretty common corruption of 'Dahomey',..."
ReplyDeleteYou mean, like the legendary walking tree of Dahomey?
My cousin is a high school teacher in northern Indiana. He regaled us with the story of twins in his class, named "Amerika" and "Afrika"...as in 'ama-reeka' and 'afa-reeka'.
ReplyDeleteAfter that laugh-fest, I'd believe anything could be a name; lately it seems the more outrageous, the more likely.
It is possible that this kid's parents saw the 1951 film on TV or something. It's only surprising that they got the spelling right.
ReplyDeleteYep, there is actually a large street gang in SLC called QVO, which they loosely translate as 'what's up?'
ReplyDeleteNot that it probably entered into the thinking of mom and dad, but "quo vadus" means "near the ford" meaning water-ford or shallow stream.
ReplyDeleteWho can say? The OIC of my last deployment went home on leave to be present for the birth of his son, Jace. Not short for Jason, BTW. I have no clue whence this name derives; however, he was the one member of his family who actually left the trailer park and made anything of himself.
gvi
My wife, kiddo and I were checked in to an overpriced hotel/water-park a couple of weekends ago by a young lady who's nametag read "Treasure". I had to look around at other employees' tags just to make sure...yup, there was an "Anna" and "Carl". So its an actual nametag, not a nickname tag. *sigh*
ReplyDelete