I’m aware that in [name_u]America[/name_u] ‘[name_m]Nimrod[/name_m]’ has become part of everyday language as a insult. But I’m not sure about here in the UK. I’m know british folk are aware of the insult, but I’ve never heard them use it as one. So I’m not sure, if I named a boy [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m], if people would think “Oh, that’s a bit of an odd old name” or if they’d think “Omg, you gave your child an insult for a name? [name_m]How[/name_m] could you?”
Statistics show that 26 babies have been named [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m] over the last 19 years (in the UK) - with the biggest cluster being from 2012 to now. So it’s not extinct as a name over here, but that doesn’t really prove much in terms of whether it’s usable or not.
I don’t know. It reminds me of [name_m]Elgar[/name_m]'s piece from his ‘Enigma Variations’ that I played as part of my recorder group years ago, and I like the music connection. But on the other hand it does sound like it would be an insult. I’ve never heard it used here, but it just sounds offensive, if that makes sense. [name_m]Nim[/name_m] is cute, but rod is very abrupt and not very attractive in my opinion, although I’m probably a hypocrite with other names with similarly not so great syllables on my list. And in general I find it difficult to imagine on am actual person, though maybe I just need to hear it in real life. I personally don’t find it very usable, not as a first, but maybe it could work as a middle. Otherwise it might be best left as a guilty pleasure.
I had to double check that I read the name of this thread correctly about 6 or 7 times before posting. Please don’t name your child [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m].
It’s honestly an insult for someone who’s a total idiot and generally speaking, a more adult synonym for it is D**khead.
Living in the UK all I’ve heard connected to it is Elgars [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m], and think it sounds lovely, but I would be cautious. American insults usually take a while to migrate, but almost always do in the end. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it doesn’t migrate, you wouldn’t want American people living in [name_f]England[/name_f] to feel it’s odd, and you don’t want your son to be restricted to always having to live in [name_f]England[/name_f] for fear of ridicule elsewhere.
I’m British, but I am aware it’s used as an insult. I don’t think it’s used much in the United Kingdom, though. However, I wouldn’t name my child this! Not a good idea.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] thought I would chime in as an American- this is really more than just a slang term here, I would consider it a noun and it is known and accepted by everyone to mean stupid or idiot. I had never even considered that it was at one time an actual name. I just wanted to reiterate that any person from the US your child ever meets will immediately laugh and be appalled at this name. Maybe something equivalent would be if I were to name my child “wanker”- no one says that word here, I have never heard it used by an American (obviously I think its got a little harsher of a meaning than [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m], but you get the picture).
In the States (where I’m from), I think it is completely unusable. I don’t know how things are elsewhere, but if it is considered more of an acceptable name with not quite such a negative connotation, then maybe it’d be okay? You mentioned that those in the UK know about the insult…just because you haven’t heard it used as one before over there, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been done. Idk. I think it is a really, really bad name but I guess gauge how things are over there…
I think of it as more of an American English insult, like the kind of Shakespearean word which died out in some places, lived on in others as a rarity.
I wouldn’t name my child [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m], no.
Maybe something like [name_u]Abbott[/name_u], [name_m]Amos[/name_m], [name_m]Newell[/name_m], [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], [name_m]Godfrey[/name_m], [name_u]Sinclair[/name_u]? They have a similar feel and depth of history.
Exactly this. It’s not slang at all; it’s a word in the dictionary meaning ‘an inept person’… AKA an idiot. The wanker analogy is spot on. Although it may seem harsh, the reality is this is your child’s name - I would want to know if my child would be mocked in another country or culture for their name. Especially for an association so obvious. Good luck finding a name!!
I’m in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] and I haven’t heard nimrod used as an insult, nor did I know it was one. I would ask people you know in real life to see if it’s a common/known association where you live. I don’t find the sound appealing though, it feels clunky, one of those Biblical names that isn’t really usable in real life like [name_f]Hephzibah[/name_f] or Jehoshaphat.
To answer your question, I had to consult urban dictionary. I was not aware of the insult meaning of the name, but I didn’t grow up in the US. So my first reaction was “wow, great name!”
I haven’t heard [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m] been used as an insult, nor did I know it was one. I actually like it. I think its an unusual, somewhat handsome name, reminds me of names been used for [name_m]Lord[/name_m] of the Rings. I agree with bonfireazalea about asking people for the association.
@vc2013- I wouldn’t actually consider it pop culture that ruined the name, which gives the impression that it was one of those Mean Girls “Fetch” situations. This insult has been around for a long, long time. Biblically, [name_m]Nimrod[/name_m] was known as a strong, mighty man. However, he is said to have lead people away from God, in an act of rebellion. He became a tyrant. If one believes in God/the bible, they know that turning your back from God is one of the most foolish thing you can do, as well as drawing people away from their faith to follow him, as well as their “flesh”. That is one possible reason that ‘nimrod’ became an insult…describing a foolish, unwise person. Additionally, going along your pop culture sentiment, some do attribute it becoming more popular because of a Bugs [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] show, where he supposedly called Fudd a nimrod.
My husband (a youth pastor) had to do research on some people in the bible, and shared it with me, so I’ll share that with you.