naff names

[Adam Atkinson]

I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.

How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?
I know it's different in different English-speaking countries,
actually, since I have encounteded UK/USA disagreements on naffness
of the same names.

Kevin and Tracy are about the naffest names possible, though
Wayne and Dwayne are also very naff male names, and Stacey is another
very naff female name.

What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?
My mother used to predict academic success based on forename, and she
was eerily accurate. Of course, she knew perfectly well it was mostly
a reflection of the class/taste of the parents.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?
I know it's different in different English-speaking countries,
actually, since I have encounteded UK/USA disagreements on naffness
of the same names.
Kevin and Tracy are about the naffest names possible, though
Wayne and Dwayne are also very naff male names, and Stacey is another
very naff female name.
What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?
My mother used to predict academic success based on forename, and she
was eerily accurate. Of course, she knew perfectly well it was mostly
a reflection of the class/taste of the parents.

Allora... Intanto, ho solo un'idea generica di naff come qualcosa di
squallido e negativo, quindi vado a guardare il Picchi che precisa

naff
(slang) inelegante, grossolano, senza stile, privo di valore
a naff dress un vestito pacchiano.

Riferito ai nomi, credo che si possa dire un nome "ridicolo",
"brutto", "infelice", "imbecille", e cosi` via con gli aggettivi per
dire che papa` e mamma avrebbero fatto meglio a scegliere
qualcos'altro.

Godono pessima fama i nomi femminili con acca finale, che lasciano il
sospetto di una mamma che ha guardato troppe telenovela: Deborah,
Soniah, Tamarah...

Ci sono poi i nomi-antichaglia, roba d'altri tempi, che solo a
sentirli si sbotta a ridere: Ermenelgildo, Asdrubale, Evaristo, ma
anche (meno gravi) Goffredo, Leonida, Saturnino, Eloisa, Teodora... Ma
per fortuna di chi li porta, sono abbastanza rari.
Uno dei peggiori e` Oronzo, che non solo e` antiquato ma ha anche una
rima infame...

Alcuni nomi diffusi al Sud d'Italia fanno sorridere i
centro-settentrionali: Carmine, Carmela, Assunta e simili, forse anche
Salvatore. Sono in genere nomi con riferinenti religiosi. Per esempio,
il Salvatore per antonomasia e` Gesu Cristo.

Sfidano il ridicolo anche alcuni nomi maschili composti, che
trasmettono un senso di presunzione. Piersilvio (Piero piu` Silvio),
tra l'altro, e` il nome del primogenito del nostro amato premier Silvio
Berlusconi.
Per le donne, invece, non vale lo stesso effetto: Annamaria,
Mariateresa o Annalisa non sono nomi presuntuosi.

Poi, naturalmente, ci sono tanti altri nomi non proprio popolari.
In genere, quelli piu` insoliti, quantomeno in una certa zona, suonano
anche male. Gennaro o Gaetano, per esempio, possono essere comuni al
Sud, ma si notano (non proprio favorevolmente, credo), al Nord.

Alcuni nomi fanno pensare a una "buona famiglia" o addirittura a
nobili origini, altri invece sono piu` comuni e ordinari, pero` questa
non e` questione di nomi belli o brutti. Una Eleonora o una Camilla, o
un Niccolo` o un Federico, per esempio, potrebbero essere di famiglia
piu` agiata di un qualsiasi Pasquale o Anna. Ma non e` detto.

Alcuni nomi vanno piu` di moda tra le giovani coppie, da qualche anno
a questa parte, ma de gustibus...: Mattia, Matteo, Martina...

Si potrebbe continuare!

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?
I know it's different in different English-speaking countries,
actually, since I have encounteded UK/USA disagreements on naffness
of the same names.
Kevin and Tracy are about the naffest names possible, though
Wayne and Dwayne are also very naff male names, and Stacey is another
very naff female name.
What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?
My mother used to predict academic success based on forename, and she
was eerily accurate. Of course, she knew perfectly well it was mostly
a reflection of the class/taste of the parents.

Allora... Intanto, ho solo un'idea generica di naff come qualcosa di
squallido e negativo, quindi vado a guardare il Picchi che precisa

naff
(slang) inelegante, grossolano, senza stile, privo di valore
a naff dress un vestito pacchiano.

Riferito ai nomi, credo che si possa dire un nome "ridicolo",
"brutto", "infelice", "imbecille", e cosi` via con gli aggettivi per
dire che papa` e mamma avrebbero fatto meglio a scegliere
qualcos'altro.

Godono pessima fama i nomi femminili con acca finale, che lasciano il
sospetto di una mamma che ha guardato troppe telenovelas: Deborah,
Soniah, Tamarah...

Ci sono poi i nomi-antichaglia, roba d'altri tempi, che solo a
sentirli si sbotta a ridere: Ermenegildo, Asdrubale, Evaristo, ma
anche (meno gravi) Goffredo, Leonida, Saturnino, Eloisa, Teodora... Ma
per fortuna di chi li porta, sono abbastanza rari.
Uno dei peggiori e` Oronzo, che non solo e` antiquato ma ha anche una
rima infame...

Alcuni nomi diffusi al Sud d'Italia fanno sorridere i
centro-settentrionali: Carmine, Carmela, Assunta e simili, forse anche
Salvatore. Sono in genere nomi con riferinenti religiosi. Il Salvatore
per antonomasia e` Gesu Cristo.

Sfidano il ridicolo anche alcuni nomi maschili composti, che
trasmettono un senso di presunzione. Piersilvio (Piero piu` Silvio),
tra l'altro, e` il nome del primogenito del nostro amato premier
Silvio
Berlusconi.
Per le donne, invece, non vale lo stesso effetto: Annamaria,
Mariateresa o Annalisa non sono nomi presuntuosi.

Poi, naturalmente, ci sono tanti altri nomi non proprio popolari.
In genere, quelli piu` insoliti, quantomeno in una certa zona, suonano
anche male. Gennaro o Gaetano, per esempio, possono essere comuni al
Sud, ma si notano (non proprio favorevolmente, credo), al Nord.

Alcuni nomi fanno pensare a una "buona famiglia" o addirittura a
nobili origini, altri invece sono piu` comuni e ordinari, pero` questa
non e` questione di nomi belli o brutti. Una Eleonora o una Camilla, o
un Niccolo` o un Federico, per esempio, potrebbero essere di famiglia
piu` agiata di un qualsiasi Pasquale o Anna. Ma non e` detto.

Alcuni nomi vanno piu` di moda tra le giovani coppie, da qualche anno
a questa parte, ma de gustibus...: Mattia, Matteo, Martina...

Si potrebbe continuare!

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?
I know it's different in different English-speaking countries,
actually, since I have encounteded UK/USA disagreements on naffness
of the same names.
Kevin and Tracy are about the naffest names possible, though
Wayne and Dwayne are also very naff male names, and Stacey is another
very naff female name.
What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?
My mother used to predict academic success based on forename, and she
was eerily accurate. Of course, she knew perfectly well it was mostly
a reflection of the class/taste of the parents.

Allora... Intanto, ho solo un'idea generica di naff come qualcosa di
squallido e negativo, quindi vado a guardare il Picchi che precisa

naff
(slang) inelegante, grossolano, senza stile, privo di valore
a naff dress un vestito pacchiano.

Riferito ai nomi, credo che si possa dire un nome "ridicolo",
"brutto", "infelice", "imbecille", e cosi` via con gli aggettivi per
dire che papa` e mamma avrebbero fatto meglio a scegliere
qualcos'altro.

Godono pessima fama i nomi femminili con acca finale, che lasciano il
sospetto di una mamma che ha guardato troppe telenovelas: Deborah,
Soniah, Tamarah...

Ci sono poi i nomi-antichaglia, roba d'altri tempi, che solo a
sentirli si sbotta a ridere: Ermenegildo, Asdrubale, Evaristo, ma
anche (meno gravi) Goffredo, Leonida, Saturnino, Eloisa, Teodora... Ma
per fortuna di chi li porta, sono abbastanza rari.
Uno dei peggiori e` Oronzo, che non solo e` antiquato ma ha anche una
rima infame...

Alcuni nomi diffusi al Sud d'Italia fanno sorridere i
centro-settentrionali: Carmine, Carmela, Assunta e simili, forse anche
Salvatore. Sono in genere nomi con riferinenti religiosi. Il Salvatore
per antonomasia e` Gesu Cristo.

Sfidano il ridicolo anche alcuni nomi maschili composti, che
trasmettono un senso di presunzione. Pier Silvio (Piero piu` Silvio),
tra l'altro, e` il nome del primogenito del nostro amato premier
Silvio Berlusconi.
Per le donne, invece, non vale lo stesso effetto: Anna Maria,
Maria Teresa o Annalisa non sono nomi presuntuosi.

Poi, naturalmente, ci sono tanti altri nomi non proprio popolari.
In genere, quelli piu` insoliti, quantomeno in una certa zona, suonano
anche male. Gennaro o Gaetano, per esempio, possono essere comuni al
Sud, ma si notano (non proprio favorevolmente, credo), al Nord.

Alcuni nomi fanno pensare a una "buona famiglia" o addirittura a
nobili origini, altri invece sono piu` comuni e ordinari, pero` questa
non e` questione di nomi belli o brutti. Una Eleonora o una Camilla, o
un Niccolo` o un Federico, per esempio, potrebbero essere di famiglia
piu` agiata di un qualsiasi Pasquale o Anna. Ma non e` detto.

Alcuni nomi vanno piu` di moda tra le giovani coppie, da qualche anno
a questa parte, ma de gustibus...: Mattia, Matteo, Martina...

Si potrebbe continuare!

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Enrico C
Riferito ai nomi, credo che si possa dire un nome "ridicolo",
"brutto", "infelice", "imbecille", e cosi` via con gli aggettivi per
dire che papa` e mamma avrebbero fatto meglio a scegliere
qualcos'altro.

Visto che mia madre usava i nomi per prevedere il rendimento
scolastico, bisogna distinguere i nomi buffi dai nomi agghiaccianti,
forse.

Post by Enrico C
Godono pessima fama i nomi femminili con acca finale, che lasciano il
sospetto di una mamma che ha guardato troppe telenovelas: Deborah,
Soniah, Tamarah...

Quindi mia madre, in Italia, metterebbe questi nel mucchio "futuri
bocciati alla maturita'"?

Post by Enrico C
Ci sono poi i nomi-antichaglia, roba d'altri tempi, che solo a
sentirli si sbotta a ridere: Ermenegildo, Asdrubale, Evaristo, ma
anche (meno gravi) Goffredo, Leonida, Saturnino, Eloisa, Teodora... Ma
per fortuna di chi li porta, sono abbastanza rari.

Qui sono meno sicuro. Cambridge e' piena, oltre a Julian, Andrew ecc.,
di poverini/e con nomi di questo tipo. Per esempio, Perdita. Sebbene
abbastanza ridicoli, questi nomi potrebbero non prevedere una
bocciatura alla maturita'.

Con "naff" sono stato troppo generico.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson

Post by Enrico C
Godono pessima fama i nomi femminili con acca finale, che lasciano il
sospetto di una mamma che ha guardato troppe telenovelas: Deborah,
Soniah, Tamarah...

Quindi mia madre, in Italia, metterebbe questi nel mucchio "futuri
bocciati alla maturita'"?

Temo di si`, li potrebbe considerare nomi da parrucchiera ;)
Anche Katia e Sarah con l'acca rischierebbero una brutta fine.

Post by Adam Atkinson

Post by Enrico C
Ci sono poi i nomi-antichaglia, roba d'altri tempi, che solo a
sentirli si sbotta a ridere: Ermenegildo, Asdrubale, Evaristo, ma
anche (meno gravi) Goffredo, Leonida, Saturnino, Eloisa, Teodora... Ma
per fortuna di chi li porta, sono abbastanza rari.

Qui sono meno sicuro. Cambridge e' piena, oltre a Julian, Andrew ecc.,
di poverini/e con nomi di questo tipo. Per esempio, Perdita. Sebbene

Come sai, detto in Italia e` ancora peggio.
Reazione scontata: "Need a plumber, Mr Perdita?" ;)

Post by Adam Atkinson
abbastanza ridicoli, questi nomi potrebbero non prevedere una
bocciatura alla maturita'.

No, alcuni di questi nomi, al contrario, potrebbero lasciar supporre
un animo da library rats ;)

[Mary Cassidy]

Post by Enrico C
No, alcuni di questi nomi, al contrario, potrebbero lasciar supporre
un animo da library rats ;)

Bookworms :-)

[Enrico C]

Post by Enrico C
library rats ;)
Bookworms :-)

Thanks. And, what's worst, I knew that... :(

[Sebapop]

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?

Try as I might, I can't come up with an answer that suits your needs.
I could write some very rare and funny names, but then I think about
Kevin and Tracy and they do not seem naff to me. It could be for two
reasons. Because I'm not a native English speaker and therefore I do
not have the ability to recognize a naff name or because the meaning
of naff is not exactly what I think. I looked it up just to be sure
and the meaning it's quite "generale". Any name could be naff, it
depends on what's common in that particular period. More or less, all
the names Enrico posted can easily be considered naff.

Now, just a question I've always wanted to ask to an English native
speaker.

How come that you have the name "Dick"? If a children or a little boy
has this name, is he likely to be mocked all day or is it just my evil
Italian mind that gives me that idea?

Sebastiano

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Sebapop
Any name could be naff, it
depends on what's common in that particular period. More or less, all
the names Enrico posted can easily be considered naff.

Oh, I'm sure naffness changes over the decades. There are occasional
articles in newspapers about common/rare names given to children in
the last year/decade, and it's surprising to see which names go in and
out of favour. No doubt my mother's assessments have to take this into
account. One of the most significant rules is that any name recently
used in the Royal Family becomes suspect for a few years afterwards.
However, William and Harry are very solid names, so even Charles and
Diana using them won't have made them as awful as "Kevin" and "Tracy".

Post by Sebapop
How come that you have the name "Dick"? If a children or a little boy
has this name, is he likely to be mocked all day or is it just my evil
Italian mind that gives me that idea?

Now, this _is_ a rule I remember my mother mentioning. If the child's
_actual_ name (i.e. on the birth certificate) is a diminutive, then
that child is in trouble. Richard is a name, Dick is a diminutive.

Children will be mocked all day for _something_. Being called Richard
is probably only mildly unfortunate in the grand scheme of things.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Diana using them won't have made them as awful as "Kevin" and "Tracy".

Have you ever seen "Meet my parents", Robert De Niro playing Pamela's
father and a paranoic CIA spy spying its own family, and Ben Stiller
as Pamela's kind-hearted but clumsy boy-friend very naffly named
GAYLORD Focker (that's why he tells everybody that his name is Gregg)?

And the former Pamela's boy-friend, sort of irritatingly toooo
smiling, friendly, sporty, handsome, Mr "I-Know-How", is called
precisely KEVIN!
As a wedding present for Pamela's sister marriage - think! - he
artistically carves a too embarassingly magnificient huge wooden
canopy (that he made with his own hands from a single cube of wood in
a few days! But Gregg-Gaylord will unintentionally make that
masterwork burn in blazes).
That's a KEVIN! :)

[Enrico C]

Post by Sebapop
Now, just a question I've always wanted to ask to an English native
speaker. ~~

The second "to" doesn't sound quite correct to me. Am I wrong?

[Wolfgang Mueller]

I don't know if it's wrong, but it sounds awfully.

I don't either, but "awfully" sounds actually awful to me. :))

Wolfgang

[GFCARRERA]

Post by Wolfgang Mueller

I don't know if it's wrong, but it sounds awfully.

I don't either, but "awfully" sounds actually awful to me. :))
Wolfgang

Yes, It should be "but it sounds awful", but don't ask me why. You
need to use the adjective just like you would say "it sounds good"

bye
ari

[FB]

Post by GFCARRERA
Yes, It should be "but it sounds awful", but don't ask me why. You
need to use the adjective just like you would say "it sounds good"

Come in italiano: "Suona terribilmente" è bruttino, forse sbagliato. Mi
verrebbe da pensare a uno che suona male.


Ciao, FB

[GFCARRERA]

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?

What's a naff name? Please clue me in!

thanks
ari

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by GFCARRERA

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?

What's a naff name? Please clue me in!

Well, as I said, my mother can predict the academic success or failure
of students on the basis of their first name. This is mostly because
the children's names tell you a lot about their parents. No-one with
any taste is likely to call their children Kevin or Tracy. Of course,
these things change slowly, so perhaps nowadays the names in the top
and bottom categories have changed a little. However, names like
Andrew, Julian, and Caroline are fairly solidly "respectable" and
namesw like Wayne and Stacey are fairly solidly "awful". Names like
Agatha and Gertrude may be very _rare_ now, compared to 60 years
ago, but I don't think rarity would make my mother class them as
likely failures.

[Sebapop]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Well, as I said, my mother can predict the academic success or failure
of students on the basis of their first name.

Ok, now that I've slept on that I can think about some naff names.
Well, I'd consider naff all the mispelled names, like Eduard, Piter or
Timoty. I'd put on the "Black List of Naffness" all the foreign names
that come from TV shows or soap operas. I remember some names from
"The Bold and the Beautiful", something like Ridge, Brooke, Thorne,
Clarke, Macy, Sally. And I do not want to know how they've been
written on the "anagrafe" (register of births, deaths and marriages).
I would not be surprised to see a Bruk or a Torn or a Clark.
I'm not pleased even when I hear names that shows an irrational
religiosity (or religiousness, which one is the better?).I remember a
girl named "Crocetta" (almost a mispelling of Concetta), but there are
other "holy" names I can't stand. "Maria Addolorata", "Addolorata",
"Maria Bambina" "Maria Crocifissa", "Crocifissa", and I know there are
others but I can't come up with the names right now. There are names
that come from religion that are absolutely ok, like "Salvatore, Maria
Assunta, Maria, Giuseppe, and so on.) Oh, another name I do not like
is "Consuelo".
I do not like even names like "Erika", instad of "Erica", or "Mirko",
instead of "Mirco" or "Alex" instead of "Alessio".
And so on.

But I can't track lines of success and failure among the names, well,
not among all of them.

Oh, if anyone is offended by what I said because he or she does have a
name I put in the BLoN or is related, close-friend, fiancée,
boyfriend, karma connected soul, afterlife linked something, or any
combination of the precedings or of anything that pop in your head, to
someone with a name I do not like, well, I'm sorry. I did not mean to
be mean. :)
I do not like my name too. Oh, Adam, is my name a naff one? I mean
Sebastian, of course.

Btw, maybe you'd like to take a look on www.nomix.it .

That's the 100 most common names in the year 2002 in UK

http://www.nomix.it/top100uk2002.php

in the USA

http://www.nomix.it/top100usa2002.php

The 20 most common names in Italy

http://www.nomix.it/diffusi.php

and let's laugh!

http://www.nomix.it/nomibizzarri.php

That's all, folks!

Sebastiano

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Sebapop
I do not like my name too. Oh, Adam, is my name a naff one? I mean
Sebastian, of course.

I'd have to ask my mother, but I think Sebastian is probably fairly
solid. Possibly in the same class as Julian and Caroline, but even if
it's not, but still good. Adam is unremarkable, I seem to recall. It's
neither very common nor very rare, and I don't think it's particularly
solid or particularly naff. One has to wonder why my mother chose it.
Perhaps her "names and destiny" thing came later.

"Adamo" appears to be very very rare in Italy. I've looked in books of
names for children and not found it.

Obviously, my mother makes no attempt to predict the success of
foreign children on the basis of their names as she has no sense for
their solidity or naffness. Are Fabio, Mimmo and Ciro solid, normal,
or naff? I have no idea. I'm not even sure if Mimmo is a real name or
a diminutive. Ciro is real, isn't it?

[Gnomo]

Adam Atkinson wrote ...

Post by Adam Atkinson
I'm not even sure if Mimmo is a real name or
a diminutive

Mimmo = diminutive for Domenico
(Southern Italy: my cousin from Caserta,
near Naples).

--
Gnomo
...any way the wind blows...

[Sebapop]

Post by Adam Atkinson
I'd have to ask my mother, but I think Sebastian is probably fairly
solid. Possibly in the same class as Julian and Caroline, but even if
it's not, but still good.

My future is not doomed, then. ;)

Post by Adam Atkinson
"Adamo" appears to be very very rare in Italy. I've looked in books of
names for children and not found it.

A friend of mine has a brother whose name is Adamo. Well, my friend's
name is Pascal. Yes, Adamo is not that common, but I think you should
find it in a names book. You can find it on Nomix.

Post by Adam Atkinson
Obviously, my mother makes no attempt to predict the success of
foreign children on the basis of their names as she has no sense for
their solidity or naffness. Are Fabio, Mimmo and Ciro solid, normal,
or naff? I have no idea.

Fabio is solid, Mimmo and Ciro are naff.

Post by Adam Atkinson
I'm not even sure if Mimmo is a real name or
a diminutive. Ciro is real, isn't it?

I have a friend called Ciro and I heard Mimmo on TV but I don't think
it's a real name. I am sure someone is registered on "anagrafe" with
that name, though.

Oh, I forgot, for the surnames try www.paginebianche.it

There are two interesting pages:

http://paginebianche.virgilio.it/contacognomi.html

and

http://paginebianche.virgilio.it/nomiecognomi.html

The first link is a search engine, a surname counter.

You know, "in Italia ci sono 7 Atkinson" and "in Italia ci
sono 2 Cassidy"
But here is the fun:

L'Italia è un paese nobile:

19.185 Conti
4.384 Re
902 Principi
119 Regine
e solo 26 Poverini

L'Italia è un paese variopinto:

67.994 Rossi
28.235 Bianchi
9.220 Neri
6.595 Rosa
813 Verdi
111 Gialli

L'Italia è il paese delle mille città:

12.206 Messina
5.397 Palermo
2.147 Roma
1.446 Ancona
1.438 Modena
1.042 Genova

L'Italia è il paradiso degli animali:

11.508 Gatti
6.809 Leoni
625 Leopardi
e solo 221 Topi

L'Italia è il paese dei grandi numeri:

1.384 Sette
1.294 Cinque
137 Zero

L'Italia è il paese dei contrasti:

8.405 Guerra 7.502 Pace
3.629 Gioia 268 Rabbia
4.987 Belli 657 Brutti
1.136 Lenti 205 Lesti
151 Stanchi 133 Pronti

In Italia si trova proprio di tutto:

3.485 Grilli (e 457 Parlanti)
202 Balena (e 529 Bianca)
Per soli 23 Pinocchio
ci sono 11.508 Gatti e 5055 Volpi
A Roma, la città dei sette colli, i Colli sono ben 45
In Italia ci sono 62 Pulcinella e nessuno è a Napoli

Sebastiano

[Enrico C]

Post by Sebapop
Mimmo and Ciro are naff.

Yes, but - I think Adam knows already , but let's say it for clarity
sake - in a quite different way from Deborahs or Goffredos.
The former are popular names, the latter wanna-bes.

[Enrico C]

Post by Enrico C

Post by Sebapop
Mimmo and Ciro are naff.

Yes, but - I think Adam knows already , but let's say it for clarity
sake - in a quite different way from Deborahs or Goffredos.
The former are popular names, the latter wanna-bes.

And, as Mary said for English naff names, there's a class distinction
too.

Post by Enrico C
Sebastian and Perdita will have wealthy upper-class families, whereas
Wayne and Chardonnay belong to shell-suited single mothers on benefits.

A Goffredo will most likely have an upper-class family, a Soniah a
lower-class.

[Enrico C]

It's interesting that Deborah is naff in Italy. In the UK I'd say it
was pretty sound.

Same thing for Sarah, I think. It's the "h" ending that is
pretentiuosly unnatural in Italian. Sara without h is just fine
(beautiful name in my opinion).
Debora and Sonia are naff even without "h" , though.

[Anna Martini]

Post by Enrico C
Debora and Sonia are naff even without "h" , though.

"Debora" sounds pretty naff to me, but as for Sonia, I don't agree. I
guess there is so objective criterion to judge "naffness"; anyway I find
"Sonia" a plain name. Could be becaouse *I am* naff.

[Anna Martini]

I guess there is so objective criterion

^^^

*no* objective criterion

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Anna Martini

I guess there is so objective criterion

*no* objective criterion

A mostly unrelated exercise is trying to predict someone's age based
on their name. Of course, with names like David this is impossible,
but I can't imagine there are very many young Gertrudes, Agathas,
Prudences or Harriets.

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Adam Atkinson
A mostly unrelated exercise is trying to predict someone's age based
on their name. Of course, with names like David this is impossible,
but I can't imagine there are very many young Gertrudes, Agathas,
Prudences or Harriets.

You're wrong about Harriet; I know several 20-ish examples.

Oho. I had a grandmother Harriet, who died at the age of 97 quite
recently. I don't recall ever meeting any others, and thought it was
quite an "old" name.

As for the
rest, d'accordissimo. What about Agnes? Clearly not naff, but very rare
these days.

Yep. Haven't met any of those... well, ever.

I once taught a class (East London) where four out of twelve girls were
called Tracey. 1974. (OK, sono un vecchione.....)

Brr.

[Enrico C]

I once taught a class (East London) where four out of twelve girls were
called Tracey.

I'm still trying to understand what's wrong with this name and similar
ones :)

Is it the -acey rhyme, maybe?

Tracey
Tracy
Stacey
Macy
....
???


O e' semplicemente il fatto che Tracy e' piu' diffuso tra la lower-class?

[Enrico C]

Post by Enrico C

Post by Sebapop
Mimmo and Ciro are naff.

Yes, but - I think Adam knows already , but let's say it for clarity
sake - in a quite different way from Deborahs or Goffredos.
The former are popular names, the latter wanna-bes.

Like Tracy (popular) and Chardonnay (wannabe) here, then?

Ciro and Mimmo are popular but not wannabes, they are quite common,
ordinary names in the South.

Deborah and Soniah have lower class (sort of) wannabe mothers. These
names sound special but cheap, actually. Maybe their mothers were
seeing "Beautiful" or reading magazines about the glittering world of
Monaco's Princess Grace or lady D. and the stuff.

Goffredo has a scent of Nobilty and History (poet and patriot Goffredo
Mameli wrote our national hymn in 1846/1847, IIRC ), so I'd say it's
an upper-class wannabe family.

[Alan Lothian]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Mimmo and Ciro solid, normal,
or naff? I have no idea. I'm not even sure if Mimmo is a real name or
a diminutive.

Both are markedly Southern names.
Ciro sounds very "I am from Naples and I'd like a pizza" ;)
Mimmo is a diminuitive for Domenico.

And Memmo, in Tuscany at least, a diminuitive for Mauro? O mi sbaglio?

But supernaff is naming your child after a city district:
Brooklyn Beckham; Chelsea Clinton. Oh, oh, woe, woe, woe.

E come si dice "naff" in italiano? La cosa c'e', senz' altro. La parola?

[FB]

Post by Alan Lothian
Brooklyn Beckham; Chelsea Clinton. Oh, oh, woe, woe, woe.

Chelsea non mi dispiace... ehm, il nome! La figlia del Bill, non è che sia
poi così brutta... di piùùùù!

Post by Alan Lothian
E come si dice "naff" in italiano? La cosa c'e', senz' altro. La parola?

In questo contesto direi "squallido" o "kitsch".


Ciao, FB

[Anna Martini]

Post by Alan Lothian
E come si dice "naff" in italiano? La cosa c'e', senz' altro. La parola?

Suggerisco "pacchiano" o "dozzinale".

[Enrico C]

Post by Anna Martini

Post by Alan Lothian
E come si dice "naff" in italiano? La cosa c'e', senz' altro. La parola?

Suggerisco "pacchiano" o "dozzinale".

Con questo significato, rimangono solo i nomi legati alla lower-class o i misspelling, immagino.

O anche quelli molto improbabili, quelli che proprio suonano male, i
nomi rubati a personaggi famosi, i nomi da cartone animato, quelli
usati per gli animali...

[(¯`·.MoRgAnž.·Ž¯)]

Ciro sounds very "I am from Naples and I'd like a pizza" ;)

Well, the actress Sandra Milo's son is named Ciro, and she's definitely not
from Napoli. Also, Ciro was the name of the former Shah of Persia's son.

MM

[Enrico C]

A certain (¯`·.MoRgAn¸.·´¯), of it.cultura.linguistica.inglese,

Post by (¯`·.MoRgAnž.·Ž¯)

Ciro sounds very "I am from Naples and I'd like a pizza" ;)

Well, the actress Sandra Milo's son is named Ciro, and she's definitely not
from Napoli. Also, Ciro was the name of the former Shah of Persia's son.

Ciro seems to have even been somehow popular in France in the early
Sixties!

http://www.prenoms.com/recherche/prenom.php/fiche/ciro

[Enrico C]

A certain (¯`·.MoRgAn¸.·´¯), of it.cultura.linguistica.inglese,

Post by (¯`·.MoRgAnž.·Ž¯)

Ciro sounds very "I am from Naples and I'd like a pizza" ;)

Well, the actress Sandra Milo's son is named Ciro, and she's definitely not
from Napoli. Also, Ciro was the name of the former Shah of Persia's son.

Ciro seems to have been somehow popular even in France in the early
Sixties!

http://www.prenoms.com/recherche/prenom.php/fiche/ciro

[Gino Prosapio]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Mimmo and Ciro solid, normal,
or naff? I have no idea. I'm not even sure if Mimmo is a real name or
a diminutive.

Both are markedly Southern names.
Ciro sounds very "I am from Naples and I'd like a pizza" ;)

Bah... forse per quelli del nord e per i cretini che guardano troppa TV è un
brutto nome. Per me Ciro è un nome altisonante ed austero. Ma probabilmente
lo è solo per chi ha letto dieci (e dico dieci, non di più) pagine di storia
alle medie.

[Sebapop]

Post by Gino Prosapio
Bah... forse per quelli del nord e per i cretini che guardano troppa TV è un
brutto nome. Per me Ciro è un nome altisonante ed austero. Ma probabilmente
lo è solo per chi ha letto dieci (e dico dieci, non di più) pagine di storia
alle medie.

Io sono del nord e ho letto ben più di 10 pagine di storia e la tv non
la guardo, tranne film su DVD. E Ciro è un nome che non mi piace.
Sicuramente va a gusti. Se mi basassi sulla storia e sulla letteratura
dovrei forse considerare il nome Omero come bello? Oggi, nel 2003, per
me è brutto. Come non chiamerei mai mio figlio Aristotele, Tarquinio o
Ramses. :)
Mentre nomi come Alessando e Cesare sono ancora diffusi (Cesare in
modo minore). Il primo mi piace, il secondo no. Indipendentemente da
faziosità storiche.

Sebastiano

[KaiserSoSe®]

Post by Sebapop
Well, I'd consider naff all the mispelled names, like Eduard, Piter or
Timoty. I'd put on the "Black List of Naffness" all the foreign names
that come from TV shows or soap operas.

Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Saluti,
KS
--
· KaiserSoSe® ·
· A child of five could understand this! Fetch me a child of five. ·

[Enrico C]

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Questa e` materia per il Tribunale dei diritti dell'uomo ;)))

[Alan Lothian]

Post by Enrico C

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Questa e` materia per il Tribunale dei diritti dell'uomo ;)))

Non basta il Tribunale. Ci vogliono le armi nucleari.

Una volta, c'era il prete......

[FB]

Post by Alan Lothian
Una volta, c'era il prete......

Che impediva i vari Benito, Natascia (prego, da leggersi /na'taSSia/),
William, John. Una volta ho chiesto a una nonna come si chiamava suo nipote
(peraltro la nonna aveva un accento stradialettale), risposta:"Nicholas"!


Ciao, FB

[msgt800]

Post by KaiserSoSe®

Post by Sebapop
Well, I'd consider naff all the mispelled names, like Eduard, Piter or
Timoty. I'd put on the "Black List of Naffness" all the foreign names
that come from TV shows or soap operas.

Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.
Saluti,
KS
--
· KaiserSoSe® ·
· A child of five could understand this! Fetch me a child of five. ·

if I knew that there are children named like that, no doubt through my
mind I'd call light-blue phone at once

(per curiosità , quanti errori ho fatto?)

msgt800

[msgt800]

Post by msgt800
if I knew that there are children named like that, no doubt through my
mind I'd call light-blue phone at once

Intendi il Telefono Azzurro contro i maltrattamenti dei bambini?

esattamente

msgt800

[Alan Lothian]

Post by msgt800
if I knew that there are children named like that, no doubt through my
mind I'd call light-blue phone at once
(per curiosità , quanti errori ho fatto?)

Tanti, ma assolutamente niente di "mission-critical". Tutti piccoli,
insomma. Come i miei in italiano :)

If I knew that there *were* children named like that
(semplice errore dei tempi, non ti preoccupare)

"no doubt through my mind"..... hmm

Molto poetica, ma, ahime, non e' inglese

meglio dire "I'm sure" o "I'm certain"

"light-blue phone"

Ovviamente, intendi il telefono azzurro....

Diamoci un po' di licenza:

"I'd call the Blue Phone right now."
L'importante e' l'articolo. *the* blue phone.

Blue Phone non significa nulla in inglese, ma se esistesse, non si
chiamerebbe "light-blue phone". Per ragioni ovvie.

"I'd call the help line right now."

"help line" e' generalizzato "Is there a help line?" Questo,
ovviamente, e' molto recente; non lo troverai in un vocabulario.

Ma come dicevo, niente problema "mission-critical".

[Mavi]

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Io ho avuto in classe rispettivamente una Zoraima (!!!) una Erles (che
tutti ovviamente chiamavano erpes) e due James, ma pronunciati
Iames...

Mavi\no comment

[Mary Cassidy]

Post by Mavi

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Io ho avuto in classe rispettivamente una Zoraima (!!!) una Erles (che
tutti ovviamente chiamavano erpes) e due James, ma pronunciati
Iames...

Mio figlio ha un compagno di classe italianissimo che si chiama Balarama
(il fratello è Govinda). Altri compagni/amici, sempre italiani, si
chiamano David, Kevin, Alex, Daniel, Loris, Oscar e Omar. Stranamente,
tutte le femmine che conosce hanno nomi italiani (tranne una Sarima).

Finora il più bello è Nasty, però :-)
Scommetto che i genitori erano patiti di tennis...

[FB]

Post by Mary Cassidy
(il fratello è Govinda).

E Siddharta, no? Che squallore!

Post by Mary Cassidy
Altri compagni/amici, sempre italiani, si
chiamano David, Kevin, Alex, Daniel, Loris, Oscar e Omar.

Beh, gli ultimi tre li considero italiani, sbaglio?


Ciao, FB

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by FB

Post by Mary Cassidy
Altri compagni/amici, sempre italiani, si
chiamano David, Kevin, Alex, Daniel, Loris, Oscar e Omar.

Beh, gli ultimi tre li considero italiani, sbaglio?

Il personaggio di Benigni in "Il Mostro" si chiama Loris.
Nel film, e' un nome o un cognome? E' un nome "naff" in
italiano?

[FB]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Il personaggio di Benigni in "Il Mostro" si chiama Loris.
Nel film, e' un nome o un cognome?

Non lo so. Sicuramente può essere un nome, e non saprei se possa essere
anche un cognome. E' possibilissimo.

Post by Adam Atkinson
E' un nome "naff" in
italiano?

E' un nome brutto, ed è già qualcosa. E anche raro, direi.


Ciao, FB

[Mary Cassidy]

Post by Mary Cassidy
Scommetto che i genitori erano patiti di tennis...

?

C'era un famoso giocatore di tennis rumeno qualche anno fa, Ilie
Nastase.

Per vie delle sue sfuriate sul campo, gli anglosassoni lo
soprannominarono "Nasty" (sgradevole, cattivo) Nastase.

Un italiano che non sapeva il significato di "Nasty" avrebbe potuto
chiamare la figlia così solo perché gli piaceve Nastase.

Si spera che non l'abbia nominata per una famosa canzone di Frank
Zappa...

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Santi numi! Perche' "Nasty"? E' un nome orribile. Chi chiamerebbe una
figlia "Sgradevole"?

[(¯`·.MoRgAnž.·Ž¯)]

Post by KaiserSoSe®
Conosco ragazzi che si chiamano Gheri, Maicol e Stiv.
Un ex-compagno di classe di un mio amico si chiama Hulk.
Ho conosciuto una ragazza, italianissima, che si chiama Nasty.

Una mia ex compagna di classe, strabica e spilungona, si chiamava Divina, ma
voleva che la chiamassimo...Assunta! O___o

Un ragazzo di Caserta conosciuto 20 anni fa si chiamava Tammaro.

Per quanto riguarda il filone inglese, ai tempi di "Dallas" non si contavano
le Suellen (SIC) e le Pamela; ai tempi di Sandokan, il mio vicino avrebbe
voluto chiamare così il nascituro. Fortunatamente gli nacque una femmina: la
chiamò Marianna.

Un'ultima osservazione: non ho mai sentito di nessuna Soniah (con l'acca),
ma solo Deborah, Samantah, Sarah.

MM

[GFCARRERA]

Post by Adam Atkinson

Post by GFCARRERA

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no real sense for naff names in Italian.
How hard is it to develop a sense for naff names in English?

What's a naff name? Please clue me in!

Well, as I said, my mother can predict the academic success or failure
of students on the basis of their first name. This is mostly because
the children's names tell you a lot about their parents. No-one with
any taste is likely to call their children Kevin or Tracy. Of course,
these things change slowly, so perhaps nowadays the names in the top
and bottom categories have changed a little. However, names like
Andrew, Julian, and Caroline are fairly solidly "respectable" and
namesw like Wayne and Stacey are fairly solidly "awful". Names like
Agatha and Gertrude may be very _rare_ now, compared to 60 years
ago, but I don't think rarity would make my mother class them as
likely failures.

You are still not telling me what a "naff" name is. What's the
definition? an old fashioned name? A name with a bad connotation?
Where I live there are tons of men and boys named Kevin. In fact,
it's one of the most popular names. Tracy is fairly common too. I
always thought Stacey was a hip name although I never liked it.
I've always been surprized by the fact that some names are not more
popular. Elvis is one of them. The only creature I ever met with
that name was a dog. Is that a naff name? What about Gwendalina? Is
that a naff name?

bye
Arianna (is that a naff name? I hope not because I really love that
name)

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by GFCARRERA
You are still not telling me what a "naff" name is. What's the
definition? an old fashioned name? A name with a bad connotation?

In this particular context, it means a name which correlates strongly
with poor academic performance, most likely because it's popular in
families of "lower social class" (whatever that means), and not
elsewhere. Some names, like David, are popular everywhere. Old
fashioned names probably won't correlate with poor academic
performance. Anzi.

Other people have said that Deborah, and other names from soap operas,
are Italian examples of naff names. Especially _misspelled_ names from
soap operas.

Post by GFCARRERA
Where I live there are tons of men and boys named Kevin.

Where do you live? I don't know what the naff/normal/respectable names
are outside the UK.

Post by GFCARRERA
In fact, it's one of the most popular names. Tracy is fairly common too.

If you live in the UK, I have to say "Ahem. Cough."

Post by GFCARRERA
I always thought Stacey was a hip name although I never liked it.

Stacey's about as bad as Tracy. Of course, I don't follow these things
closely. It could be that the current naff names list has changed a
bit, but Kevin and Tracy have been naff for decades - it's hard to
imagine they've suddenly become respectable.

Post by GFCARRERA
I've always been surprized by the fact that some names are not more
popular. Elvis is one of them. The only creature I ever met with
that name was a dog. Is that a naff name?

I think naming children after famous people is pretty naff, which is
why William and Harry lost respectability for a few years after
Princes William and Harry were born. Unless there's a family tradition
of Elvis, using it would be pretty naff. The only Elvis I've ever
heard of is Presley. Is/was it a common name in his part of the US?

Post by GFCARRERA
What about Gwendalina? Is that a naff name?

I think Gwendolene is ok. As far as I know it's pretty rare, so unless
there are a lot of them, all named after soap opera star or
supermodel, it's probably ok or better. Recognising naffness is
relatively easy. I'm not that hot on distinguishing good names from
merely ok ones. After all, I wasn't an infant school head teacher for
several decades.

Post by GFCARRERA
Arianna (is that a naff name? I hope not because I really love that
name)

I don't know. I'd have to check with my mother :-). Assuming it's
"foreign", she'd probably have to shrug. Though no doubt there are
occasional waves of Moniques or similar which would briefly mark
particular exotic names as naff for a while. I don't actually follow
these things.

I'm sure a few decades ago there were lots of other naff names used by
hippy parents: Pippin Galadriel Moonchild, sort of thing.

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Other people have said that Deborah, and other names from soap operas,
are Italian examples of naff names. Especially _misspelled_ names from
soap operas.

Cavolo, 2 esse. Credo di aver scritto quasi sempre "mispelled".

Maybe I'm wrong. I imagined mis-spelled. I'll check.

Hmm. Dictionary... says double s.

[Adam Atkinson]

Are Kevin and Stacey that sort of lower-class "doomed-to-fail" naff
names in the UK, like Tracy and Waine are (I got this piece of
information from your posts and Mary's) ? Or are they upper-class
naffness?

Lower class. I don't know if there _are_ any upper-class naff names.
Hmm. Names associated with upper-class twits. Tricky. Of course, my
mother is unlikely ever to have had anyone upper class in her schools.

And how is it they are ill-famed?

Not sure I understand the question.

I mean, Italian lower-class "doomed-to-fail" naff names are bound to
geographical origin (the Ciro type: poorest areas, Southern Italy in
particular) or cheap popular culture (the Deborah type: soap operas,
glossy magazines, famous people on TV and the stuff).
On the other hand, high-society naff names seem to be the quite old
fashioned ones, the Goffredo type.

Oh, I don't really know. I'll try to find out about US naff names.
Let me ask some Americans... Hmm. They're disagreeing. I'll get back
to you.

They aren't coming to any kind of conclusion, really.

[Alan Lothian]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Oh, I don't really know. I'll try to find out about US naff names.
Let me ask some Americans... Hmm. They're disagreeing. I'll get back
to you.
They aren't coming to any kind of conclusion, really.

They won't, ti scommetto. *All* non-standard American names are naff,
by British standards.

This is difficult stuff, Adam; I know *exactly* what you mean, but it
is really quite hard to explain. Especially to Americans, who are
baffled by the whole thing.

BTW: I think you are too hard on Kevin. Darren/Darron, now, there's a
predictor.

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Adam Atkinson
They aren't coming to any kind of conclusion, really.

They won't, ti scommetto. *All* non-standard American names are naff,
by British standards.

I was asking them about American standards.

Post by Alan Lothian
BTW: I think you are too hard on Kevin. Darren/Darron, now, there's a
predictor.

Hmm. Gavin? Wayne?

[FB]

Post by Alan Lothian
Especially to Americans, who are
baffled by the whole thing.

Perhaps they're not totally wrong...
Just one thing: is "Elizabeth" an ordinary name, in England? Doesn't it
sound like: "You know, I have the same name as the Queen..."?


Bye, FB

[Enrico C]

Post by Alan Lothian
Darren/Darron,

Mmmmh... the Darron variant sounds funnier to me :)
Maybe it's Ok in science-fiction novels.
"By the age of 8, little Darron dreamt of being an Andromeda starship
pilot."
:)

[Enrico C]

Post by GFCARRERA
You are still not telling me what a "naff" name is. What's the

"Naffy name" scores 1 (one) on the Google scale :)

"Dilbert is an anti-hero, a techno-nerd with a naffy name. ... "

[Enrico C]

Post by Enrico C

Post by GFCARRERA
You are still not telling me what a "naff" name is. What's the

"Naffy name" scores 1 (one) on the Google scale :)
"Dilbert is an anti-hero, a techno-nerd with a naffy name. ... "

Randomly picked a few more on Google Groups...

QUOTE

misc.kids.pregnancy

Post by Enrico C
Also, here is a list
of boy names that I recently put together for a friend. She is of English,
Irish, Scottish heritage, so I though it might help you too. There are a
few Hebrew names in there, mostly because I love their meanings.
Alexander (Alec, Alex, Zander) -- Scottish, Defender of Mankind
Allyn -- Celtic/Gaelic, Fair, Handsome
Braden -- English, From the Wide Valley, Broad
Bryan -- Strong One
Dalton -- English, Valley Farm, Town Near the Valley
Dillon -- Irish, from a surname, O Duilleain, blind one, Faithful
Ian -- Scottish, God is Gracious, Merciful, From the Name John
Jacob -- Hebrew, Held by the Heel
Jeffrey -- British, Gift of Peace
Jeremy -- Hebrew, God will Uplift
Jesse -- Hebrew, God Exists
Joel -- Hebrew, God is Willing
Keith -- The Wind, Forest
Kevin -- Handsome, Beautiful
Liam -- Irish/Celtic/Gaelic, Unwavering Protector, Determined Guardian
Matthew -- Hebrew, Gift of God
Maxwell -- English, From the Great Well, Great Spring
Nathan -- He Gave
Phillip -- Greek, Lover of Horses
Reed -- English, With Red Hair
Ryan -- Celtic/Gaelic, Young Royalty
Scott -- English, A Scotsman
Shane -- Irish, God is Gracious
Spencer -- English, Dispenser, Keeper, Administrator
Stuart, Stewart -- English, Steward, Keeper of the Estate
Tate -- English, To be Cheerful, A Measure of Land
Timothy -- To Honor God
Theodore (Theo) -- Divine Gift
Wade -- English, From the River Crossing

These are mostly currently considered naff names in England at the
moment tho!
Jan

I wouldn't say so. I can think of a lot of those names used for
pre-schoolers round here in Surrey, (England). Just because they're
not in the top 10 doesn't mean that they're not liked. Kevin is
considered naff where I was bought up, and my next door neighbour's
son eventually changed his name. However he changed it to Lawn, so I'm
not sure that's much better!
Debbie

Post by Enrico C
And what does "naff" mean?
--
Jamie

Dorky.
Sophie


--

=================================

Shannon, Kelly, Shawn, etc.
... They're the kind of names characters on American daytime soaps
have. I think they're part of a general American tendency to give
children naff names. ...
soc.culture.irish

=================================

Re: Merry Christmas to scb regulars
... You know how I value your views, Doug--do you have one on this
question? So what naff name do you use for your rural hovel, Shangri
La? ...
soc.culture.british

=================================

Re: McCoy Review was Re: NEW! Extended 'Battlefield'
... If Mel had gotten any scenes which compared to the "naff name like
Dorothy" scene, I doubt whether she would have seemed so
background-less. ...
rec.arts.drwho

=================================

Re: Name for european currency - a suggestion
... acceptable to everyone. Which is the sort of lowest common
denominator situation that lands you with a naff name like "Euro".
uk.finance

=================================


UNQUOTE

[Alan Lothian]

In article <***@news.lillathedog.net>, Enrico C
<***@spamcop.net> wrote:

Excellent list. Spero che me sia permesso rispondere in inglese....

Right. Let's see if we can agree on naffness. UK, that is. I strongly
suspect that Adam and I (from different backgrounds) would agree at
least 80%. I am not interested in what the names mean, tutti tagliati.

Post by Enrico C
Alexander (Alec, Alex, Zander)

OK except Zander, which is naffissimo but weird, so maybe escapes.

Post by Enrico C
Allyn

Naff.

Post by Enrico C
Braden

Naff, but unusual.

Post by Enrico C
Bryan

Eccentric spelling of Brian (not naff) so slightly naff.

Post by Enrico C
Dalton

Ridiculous; not even naff.

Post by Enrico C
Dillon

Naff.

Post by Enrico C
Ian

OK. The spelling Iain, outside Scotland, is a little dodgy.

Post by Enrico C
Jacob

OK

Post by Enrico C
Jeffrey

OK

Post by Enrico C
Jeremy

OK

Post by Enrico C
Jesse

Unheard of in UK, hence likely to be naff (Jesse James). I'd value
Adam's opinion on this one.

Post by Enrico C
Joel

Not naff, but strange, probably OK

Post by Enrico C
Keith

Borderline

Post by Enrico C
Kevin

naffish. I know Adam and I don't quite agree here.

Post by Enrico C
Liam

In Ireland, perfectly OK. Else naff for sure.

Post by Enrico C
Matthew

OK

Post by Enrico C
Maxwell

Too unusual in UK to mean much. Using surnames as forenames is a USian
custom. Not naff, just wrong.

Post by Enrico C
Nathan

Not naff, not OK

Post by Enrico C
Phillip

Spellings, within reason, may vary. OK

Post by Enrico C
Reed

Naff

Post by Enrico C
Ryan

Naff, except perhaps in ireland.

Post by Enrico C
Scott

Naff

Post by Enrico C
Shane

Supernaff, poor little sod.

Post by Enrico C
Spencer

Again, too unusual. Probably naff.

Post by Enrico C
Stuart, Stewart

OK

Post by Enrico C
Tate

Bizarre, only in the USA. Almost certainly naff in UK, but never seen
it, me.

Post by Enrico C
Timothy

OK

Post by Enrico C
Theodore

Unusual, and perhaps unwise, but not naff

Post by Enrico C
Wade

naffissimo

[FB]

Post by Alan Lothian
Spero che me sia permesso rispondere in inglese....

I'm afraid not. If you wish to, you should go on
it.cultura.linguistica.inglese.


Ciao, FB

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Alexander (Alec, Alex, Zander)

OK except Zander, which is naffissimo but weird, so maybe escapes.

Well, any name from Buffy is suspect at present.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Allyn

Naff.

Never heard of it.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Braden

Naff, but unusual.

Never heard of this one either.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Bryan

Eccentric spelling of Brian (not naff) so slightly naff.

Hmm. Carolyn is ok, though, isn't it?

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Dalton

Ridiculous; not even naff.

Agreed

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Dillon

Naff.

Yes.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Ian

OK. The spelling Iain, outside Scotland, is a little dodgy.

Indeed.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Jacob

OK

Post by Enrico C
Jeffrey

OK

Post by Enrico C
Jeremy

OK

Agreed

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Jesse

Unheard of in UK, hence likely to be naff (Jesse James). I'd value
Adam's opinion on this one.

I don't know. It's not one I've come across at all.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Joel

Not naff, but strange, probably OK

I've met a few Joels. Seems ok.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Keith

Borderline

Yes. Not in "Tracy" territory, but best avoided?

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Kevin

naffish. I know Adam and I don't quite agree here.

Maybe I'm out of touch. I think this one is supremely naff.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Liam

In Ireland, perfectly OK. Else naff for sure.

Agreed.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Matthew

OK

Agreed

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Maxwell

Too unusual in UK to mean much. Using surnames as forenames is a USian
custom. Not naff, just wrong.

Isn't Max short for Maxwell? Ah, no, Maximillian, I guess.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Nathan

Not naff, not OK

Yes, I think I'd agree with that.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Phillip

Spellings, within reason, may vary. OK

Yes.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Reed

Naff

Post by Enrico C
Ryan

Naff, except perhaps in ireland.

Post by Enrico C
Scott

Naff

Post by Enrico C
Shane

Supernaff, poor little sod.

Agreed. By Jiminy.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Spencer

Again, too unusual. Probably naff.

I suspect so.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Stuart, Stewart

OK

Yes

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Tate

Bizarre, only in the USA. Almost certainly naff in UK, but never seen
it, me.

Neither have I.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Timothy

OK

Yes

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Theodore

Unusual, and perhaps unwise, but not naff

Yes. Cecil, Nathaniel and similar would be in the same situation.

Post by Alan Lothian

Post by Enrico C
Wade

naffissimo

I suspect you're right. I don't recall encountering this one.

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Alan Lothian

Bryan

Eccentric spelling of Brian (not naff) so slightly naff.

Is Brian ok? It's often used in Monty Python sketches. I'm fairly sure
it's _not_ sound/solid. Not in the same league as Wayne, Shane,
Darren, ok. Somewhere in the middle?

[John G Davies]

Post by GFCARRERA
What's a naff name? Please clue me in!

Being "naff" ia almost the exactly the opposite to being "snobbish".
Crudely phonetic spellings like the recently famous abducted 12 year old
girl "Shevaun" = Siobhan, Shawn = Shawn and Konnor = Connor (Konnor
looks more film star-ish - fantasy stuff) are one of the best indicators
of naffness.
Cheers

[Adam Atkinson]

Crudely phonetic spellings [...] are one of the best indicators
of naffness.

But this doesn't explain Kevin, Wayne, Tracy, Stacey. Why are they
perennially naff?

Whatever Stephen Donaldson might think, I can't see a Prince Kevin in
the UK in my lifetime.

Does anyone have any information on naffness in the US? In particular,
names which are solid there but naff in the UK, or vice versa?

[Sebapop]

Sebastian and Perdita will have wealthy upper-class families,

I knew it! Now I want to know who's hiding my money! Wait a minute...
I wonder if for just a teeny tiny 'o' my "piece of the pie" is lost.
No way! I've been up in the big leagues for just a second!

Sebastiano

[Enrico C]

Post by Sebapop

Sebastian and Perdita will have wealthy upper-class families,

I knew it! Now I want to know who's hiding my money! Wait a minute...

Lucky you that you parents chose the first of those two names ;)

Coming to my name and its English version Henry, I noticed that it was
often (mis)used for naming the dull, goofy husband character in
English movies :(((

[Alan Lothian]

Post by Enrico C
Coming to my name and its English version Henry, I noticed that it was
often (mis)used for naming the dull, goofy husband character in
English movies :(((

Quello che tolse la testa alle moglie? "Dull, goofy", certo.

[Enrico C]

Post by Alan Lothian
Quello che tolse la testa alle moglie? "Dull, goofy", certo.

Quell'Henry li`, si` che faceva perdere la testa alle donne ;)

[John G Davies]

Post by John G Davies
Shawn = Shawn

??? Was that Shawn=Sean ?

Oops! Sorry

[Peltio]

"Adam Atkinson" ha scritto

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names?

Addolorata, Crocifissata, Immacolata, Assunta.
Enuff naff?

and Peltio

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Peltio

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names?

Addolorata, Crocifissata, Immacolata, Assunta.
Enuff naff?

I don't think I've met anyone called any of these.

How about... Claudia, Alessandra, Maria, Lucia, Susanna, Carla,
Nicoletta, Roberta, Paola? I have no feeling at all for the relative
naffness of these. I strongly suspect none of them are in the "Tracy"
category, but which, if any, are in the "Julian, Andrew, Caroline"
bracket rather than being merely ok?


See the TV series "Ballykissangel" set in a small Irish town. The
publican is called Assumpta Fitzgerald. It's also a great series for
names which many native English speakers can't spell: I'm told the
subtitles for this series are full of spelling mistakes. Siobhan,
Niamh and Padraig are three of the characters. Anyone in i.c.l.i want
to have a try at pronouncing these? Of course, this isn't fair as
these aren't English names. But they're superb examples of the problem
with reading proper names out aloud. They'd be great in a dictation,
too.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson

Post by Peltio

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names?

Addolorata, Crocifissata, Immacolata, Assunta.
Enuff naff?

I don't think I've met anyone called any of these.

They are more common in Southern Italy.

Post by Adam Atkinson
How about... Claudia, Alessandra, Maria, Lucia, Susanna, Carla,
Nicoletta, Roberta, Paola?

Widespread, nice names. No naff to me.
Well... *maybe* Susanna is a bit funny, pupils at primary school might
make jokes with, "Susanna tutta panna" (??). I like it, anyway. And
Nicoletta is a bit posh, perhaps.
That may be just an impression of mine, though.

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no feeling at all for the relative
naffness of these. I strongly suspect none of them are in the "Tracy"

What freewheeling thoughts does "Tracy" give rise to?

Post by Adam Atkinson
category, but which, if any, are in the "Julian, Andrew, Caroline"
bracket rather than being merely ok?

Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?
Andrea (Italian for Andrew) is quite straight, isn't it. Giuliano is
not *very* common, but not uncommon either. Both sound a bit
top-notch, high-positioned rather than not. Just a bit, I mean. No
naff, though. Methink! ;)

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Enrico C

Post by Adam Atkinson
I have no feeling at all for the relative
naffness of these. I strongly suspect none of them are in the "Tracy"

What freewheeling thoughts does "Tracy" give rise to?

Kevin and Tracy at least used to be regarded as the naffest possible
names for boys and girls respectively. If you want to refer to people
with no taste at all, you call them Kevin and Tracy.

Post by Enrico C

Post by Adam Atkinson
category, but which, if any, are in the "Julian, Andrew, Caroline"
bracket rather than being merely ok?

Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?
Andrea (Italian for Andrew) is quite straight, isn't it. Giuliano is
not *very* common, but not uncommon either. Both sound a bit
top-notch, high-positioned rather than not. Just a bit, I mean. No
naff, though. Methink! ;)

Well, yes, "a bit top-notch" is exactly it. Julian, Andrew and
Caroline are supposed to be sound, or solid, or whatever. The opposite
of naff. And better than the merely ok names in the middle. I think my
mother divided names into more than three levels, but I don't remember
the details. "Brian", for instance. How naff is that? Possibly just
slightly on the naff side of average. Neil and Graham? Cedric?

[alessandro c.]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Kevin and Tracy at least used to be regarded as the naffest possible
names for boys and girls respectively. If you want to refer to people
with no taste at all, you call them Kevin and Tracy.

Post by Enrico C

Post by Adam Atkinson
category, but which, if any, are in the "Julian, Andrew, Caroline"
bracket rather than being merely ok?

Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?
Andrea (Italian for Andrew) is quite straight, isn't it. Giuliano is
not *very* common, but not uncommon either. Both sound a bit
top-notch, high-positioned rather than not. Just a bit, I mean. No
naff, though. Methink! ;)

and what about my name? alessando (and alexander)?
is it naff?
ciao

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by alessandro c.
and what about my name? alessando (and alexander)?
is it naff?

"Alexander"'s good, I think. Likewise "Alexandra". "Alex" not so good.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
"Alex" not so good.

Why is it bad?

In Italy it's just a diminuitive which stands for Alessandro.
I don't think anybody is actually named "Alex" in the register of
births, here.

[Enrico C]

What I mean is that if the diminutive is used on the birth
certificate, that's not so good. Actually, Alex doesn't seem as bad as
Bob or some of the other diminutives.

Got it, now! :)

[Sebapop]

Post by Enrico C

Post by Adam Atkinson
How about... Claudia, Alessandra, Maria, Lucia, Susanna, Carla,
Nicoletta, Roberta, Paola?

Widespread, nice names. No naff to me.
Well... *maybe* Susanna is a bit funny, pupils at primary school might
make jokes with, "Susanna tutta panna" (??). I like it, anyway. And
Nicoletta is a bit posh, perhaps.

Oh well, I think that kids could joke with *any* name. :)
I was unlucky enough to have an "ano" at the *end* of my name. :)

Post by Enrico C
That may be just an impression of mine, though.

I have the same one. Susanna is a bit strange and Nicoletta a bit
posh.

Post by Enrico C
Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?

LOL. :)

Post by Enrico C
Andrea (Italian for Andrew) is quite straight, isn't it.

I don't have problems with "Andrea" for malese, but it's a bit strange
when it comes to females.

Post by Enrico C
Giuliano is not *very* common, but not uncommon either.

I have a friend called Giuliano and we call him Giulio. :)

Post by Enrico C
Methink!

Where's yer horse, mighty knight? Yer Lady's awaitin' over there. It
seems t'me that she's angry, y'know. Ye've t'be careful, sir.

Ah, "methinks", non "methink".

Btw, my nice's name is Rebecca. My sister - her mother - was thinking
about "Lucrezia" but then she changed her mind. "Lucrezia" is a
marvellous name, but it sounds really posh to me.

Sebastiano

[Enrico C]

Post by Sebapop
Where's yer horse, mighty knight? Yer Lady's awaitin' over there. It
seems t'me that she's angry, y'know. Ye've t'be careful, sir.

Gallopin' Gorgons!

Post by Sebapop
Ah, "methinks", non "methink".

Ta! :)

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Enrico C
Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?

"dream she was" or "dream of being", surely? Also, note that these
don't mean the same thing.

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson

Post by Enrico C
Carolina is a bit funny: did her mother dream to be a princess's
mother?

"dream she was" or "dream of being", surely?

Yes. I meant the latter.

Thank you very much indeed! :)

[FB]

E' proprio sbagliata la costruzione con l'infinito "I dreamt to be",
ovviamente nel senso di "I dreamt I was"?

Cavolo, l'oggetto! Però è anche colpa vostra, eh?


Ciao, FB

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Adam Atkinson
"dream she was" or "dream of being", surely? Also, note that these
don't mean the same thing.

E' proprio sbagliata la costruzione con l'infinito "I dreamt to be",
ovviamente nel senso di "I dreamt I was"?

Temo di si'. "I dreamt to be ...." non mi convince affatto. Beh, ok,
forse nel senso "I drink to be happy". "I dreamt to be less
depressed". Sognavo perche' fossi meno depresso. "I dreamt to be a
princess"... beh, o...k...

[Adam Atkinson]

"I told you. I dream (of that) to be happy!".
Ma e` tirata per i capelli! :)

Certamente.

[Alan Lothian]

E' proprio sbagliata la costruzione con l'infinito "I dreamt to be",
ovviamente nel senso di "I dreamt I was"?

Si', purtroppo. Mi piace moltissimo " I dreamt to be...." Che
tristezza, i sogni sono sempre nel passato.

[Alan Lothian]

In article <***@mistral.co.uk>, Adam Atkinson
<***@mistral.co.uk> wrote:

<dato che questo thread e' diventato anglofono....>

Post by Adam Atkinson
See the TV series "Ballykissangel" set in a small Irish town. The
publican is called Assumpta Fitzgerald. It's also a great series for
names which many native English speakers can't spell: I'm told the
subtitles for this series are full of spelling mistakes. Siobhan,
Niamh and Padraig are three of the characters.

I have a sort-of cousin, now seven months old, called Niamh. In South
London. You can imagine: I have seen the future, and it is misspelled.
(I did once try to learn Gaelic, and can still, sort of, work my way
through the bizarre ortografia.)

I'd call this foolish or unwise, though, rather than naff. But with a
naffish edge. I won't spoil your game, though, Adam (I do know how to
pronounce them) but: clue agli italiani. Non, ma per niente, sono
inglesi. Gaelico.

Post by Adam Atkinson
Anyone in i.c.l.i want
to have a try at pronouncing these? Of course, this isn't fair as
these aren't English names. But they're superb examples of the problem
with reading proper names out aloud. They'd be great in a dictation,
too.

Like the old White Australia policy, where you had to take dictation in
a "European Language". If you were Chinese, a university graduate, and
an English teacher, they gave you Irish Gaelic. Back on the boat,
slant-eyes. If you were Italian, it depended on how many braccianti
they needed for the harvest.

[Adam Atkinson]

American naffness:

Brendan
Tyler
Tiffany
Bambi
names with too many "y"s in them
Austin

there were some other examples, but these seemed good

[Adam Atkinson]

Also: Kip, Buffy.

The original joke in the Buffy film/series is that Buffy is a very
very naff name.

[Anna Martini]

Bambi

NOOOO! Lese-majesty!
Bambi is beyond good and evil, being the name of one of The Four
Illuminated Realm's Beloved Queens!

http://web.tiscali.it/no-redirect-
tiscali/peltio/TheRealm/Icling/Intro/therealm.html

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
Austin

Clumsy movie-spy Powers was named Austin, actually.
And Mr Bond was a James.

Think...

"My name is Bond, Austin Bond." ^_____^

[Adam Atkinson]

Post by Adam Atkinson
with reading proper names out aloud.

Oops "out loud" or "aloud", not both. Sorry

[Enrico C]

Post by Peltio
Crocifissata,

He meant to write Crocifissa, I think.

[(¯`·.MoRgAnž.·Ž¯)]

Post by Peltio
"Adam Atkinson" ha scritto

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names?

Addolorata, Crocifissata, Immacolata, Assunta.
Enuff naff?

This reminds me of a French apparel brand, Naf Naf...

MM

[Enrico C]

Post by Adam Atkinson
What are some naff Italian names? And some very respectable ones?
My mother used to predict academic success based on forename, and she

A friend of mine told me a boy named Pino and Pasquale might be doomed
to do badly at school.
Her sister is a teacher, so I thought she could assess that kind of
things!

They are quite naff names, too, methinks :)