I’m completely obsessed with the name. I love it’s meaning, “[name_m]Wolf[/name_m] Fame”, I love that it’s [name_m]German[/name_m] (a beautiful language and culture) and the nickname ‘[name_f]Addie[/name_f]’ is to die for. But I fear that people are stupid and superstitious, and would use the name as an excuse to unfairly target the boy in question and give both him and me a hard time. But, on the other hand, is it wrong to think that 21st century folk would be more mature and intelligent than that?
p.s - before anyone writes about Hitler, let me state right now that I’m not denying the existance of the Holocaust and nor am I justifying the man’s actions. But what’s done is done (around about 70 years ago) and, as it stands, it was the man who comitted such terrible crimes; not his name.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] want to know what people think, in general. I already know how I feel about this name, but I’ve never asked for outside opinions so, fire away. And thanks in advance.
I’m sorry but you really can’t use this name. It’s heavily tied to Hitler whether you like it or not. You don’t want to attach to a child a name that will cause him and you stigma all through your lives. 70 years historically speaking was yesterday and people who suffered holocaust are still alive today and so are their children and grandchildren. You can’t name a kid [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] and expect it to be a problem just with the Jewish population. People will think you have a problem and you most definitely will cause your child a problem, since he’ll only be able to legally change it once he’s 18.
There are many other [name_m]German[/name_m] names you can use: [name_m]Aldous[/name_m], [name_m]Alfred[/name_m], [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_m]Wilhelm[/name_m], [name_m]Gustav[/name_m], [name_m]Rainer[/name_m]… many beautiful names even more so than [name_m]Adolph[/name_m].
I highly suggest you forget about this name and go do some historical and sociological research.
I have to agree with lailanotlilah. [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] instantly makes me think Hitler and all the horrid things associated with that name. Not a good choice. The name itself is not ugly or anything, but the association is just too strong and will cause all sorts of harm.
No, you can’t use [name_m]Adolph[/name_m]. Sorry. I can think of no faster way to get a [name_u]Neo[/name_u]-Nazi label slapped on your forehead. I think you’re a troll, so I’ll leave it at that.
Maybe the naysayers don’t have any association other than Hitler? I’ve met two older guys named Adolph and one 20-something named Adolphus, Hitler never crossed my mind.
Also, Hitler’s name was Adolf, if that makes any difference
I had a friend in high school named [name_m]Adolfo[/name_m]. This was in the 1990s. He was Hispanic, but still, no one ever mentioned anything to him about Hitler.
Some people live on in infamy due to their heinous crimes. Their names are forever linked with those atrocities. [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] would be a heavy burden for any boy to bear so I would advise you to just say no. The name is really unusable.
I don’t let myself get emotional on here, but THIS. It might be just me( I’m hoping it’s not), but the nonchalance in that one sentence pisses me off. The way it’s worded has me smelling troll.
I’m tempted to close this thread because I feel it’s going to get a bit hot, but I’ll leave it open for the other mods to weigh in.
The name-calling of those who are in horror of the acts and the lack of empathy towards survivors makes me think troll 100%.
70 years is not a long time at all. 11 million people were killed: 6 million Jews and some of the others were Jehovah’s Witnesses, the disabled, the [name_u]Roma[/name_u], and homosexuals. The problems faced STILL exist. Anti-semitism, racism, ableism, and homophobia are around and are still killed. There are still Holocaust survivors alive. These are people’s parents and grandparents.
Honestly, why do you ask us our opinion if you are going to dismiss everybody who mentions the heavy bad associations between [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] and Hitler? And yes, Hitler name’s was [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] and not [name_m]Adolph[/name_m], but the sound it’s exactly the same. Names have been fobidden for much less. In my country, [name_f]Africa[/name_f] was a popular name under a dictatorship because it was a saint beloved for said dictator. Guess what name hasn’t been used for ages since his dead. Exactly.
If you want opinions, you have to hear them all, not only the positive ones. You already knew people would think of Hitler when the name was mentioned and you can’t change that. You can’t expect people just saying they love the name and it’s ok to use it only because you like it. The way you worded your text it was obvious you really want to use it and only want positive opinions about it. Then, do it, use it if you want, but don’t complain for the hell of life and the negative associations you are going to give your child for 18 years (when he will be able to change it) just because you loved that name and didn’t want to hear any advices.
P.S: Adolfo and Adolphus are more usable is because they have a little more different sound. Adolph and Adolf sound exactly the same.
Outside of any context, “[name_m]Adolph[/name_m]” has a nice ring to it. The problem is, you can’t take it out of context. It’s inextricably tied to [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] Hitler, and so I would really recommend not using it. It’s kind of like naming your child “Stalin”: you simply cannot separate the name from the person.
And I know that others have pointed this out already, but your phrase “what’s done is done” is very painful. The mass genocide of millions of people is not something that is suddenly “done” just because it happened in the past. It had, and still has, huge implications for survivors, family members of survivors, communities, and countries as a whole, and is not something that can simply be shrugged off or dismissed.
I completely understand your reasons for liking the naming - without the association to Hitler, the Holocaust and World War II, I would probably like the name too.
But.
The association exists. You can’t change that. As long as history is remembered, I doubt it will ever go away, at least in our lifetime. If you name your kid [name_m]Adolph[/name_m]/[name_m]Adolf[/name_m]/anything remotely like that people will think of Hitler and you’ll likely be labelled a Nazi-sympathiser or [name_u]Neo[/name_u]-Nazi. Your kid will also probably never have any friends and never be able to get a job.
And it isn’t like anti-semintism isn’t ripe in Europe today. [name_u]Ever[/name_u] heard of the Jobbick party? They’re a [name_u]Neo[/name_u]-Nazi party in Hungary and they’re the third largest party in the country. In [name_f]France[/name_f] only a few weeks ago, there were anti-semitic attacks. I know of Jewish people who have been told that when they travel to Europe, they shouldn’t wear the kippah. And it isn’t just Europe. Last year, there was an anti-semetic attack on a Jewish school bus a few months ago within an hour of where I live - in Australia - where KIDS were attacked by a bunch of idiots screaming “heil Hitler” and “kill the jews”.
So when you say “what’s done is done”, you’re wrong. Because it very obviously isn’t.
EDIT: And like lailanotlilah said - there are plenty of other beautiful German names that you can use.
You can use [name_m]Adolph[/name_m] but don’t expect people not to take conclusions. I suppose using that name now is less weird than it was 50 yrs ago. Mind you… I live in the Netherlands and so every now and then I encounter people born just after the war and have that name. It makes you wonder where their parents loyalty was.
I doubt people will use this name against your son but you will see some raised eyebrows.
I fiercely hope that you are indeed a troll. But on the off chance that you’re honestly considering this, and the message hasn’t gotten through loud and clear already - No. No, no, NO. I’m amazed that anyone presumably of an age to have grandparents from the World War II generation would even create such a thread, let alone word it in such an utterly insensitive manner. Your hypothetical son has done nothing to deserve the kind of backlash this would cause his entire life.
