A baby name expert has revealed the most controversial titles parents apparently should avoid.
Emma Waterhouse of Nameberry, a US website dedicated to baby names, shared a Tik Tok revealing the options that they would strongly advise against.
The experts searched their website for the most “polarizing” names and revealed six of them in the video.
Causing religious offense, undertones of racism, and violent associations are all reasons that discouraged others from opting for these baby names.
Emma said: “We surveyed our site visitors about the most polarizing choices and these were some of the best choices.”
Nameberry, a US-based website, has revealed the most controversial baby names that might offend others.
1.azriel
The expert explained that despite being a ‘fashionable choice right now’ with its ‘fashionable ending’, Azriel is the name of the Angel of Death in both Islam and Judaism.
So the parents might want to leave Azriel out.
2. Bodysuit
Next up is Bodhi, which was one of the fastest growing names in the 2010s.
But TikTok explained that: “It is a Buddhist word that refers to a state of enlightenment, however, it is not traditionally used in Buddhist culture in the US.”
She added: “Most of the people who have used this name for their son are not Buddhists.”
2.cohen
While the expert acknowledged that the name Cohen could be considered “fancy,” it is particularly controversial.
The name is a sacred Jewish surname belonging to members of the kohanim, descendants of the sons of Aaron who served as priests in the Temple in Jerusalem.
She said: ‘Most people find it highly offensive to use it as a given name, regardless of their religion, and again, most people who have used this name are not Jewish.
It may come as a surprise that Pippa’s name is on the list, which is the name of the Princess of Wales’s sister, Pippa Middleton.
3.Dixie
The name Dixie was one of the top 200 names in the 1930s, but today the name is associated with racism.
She said: ‘Most parents are avoiding this name because of its strong connotations of racism.
“Dixie was a nickname for the Confederate States of America, so don’t use this name for your baby or pet.”
4. gunner
Emma informed viewers that the name Gunner, when spelled with ‘ar’, is a traditional Norse name.
But when spelled with ‘er’, the meaning of the name becomes more violent.
“Especially given the epidemic of gun violence in the United States,” he said. ‘Parents are favoring the more traditional spelling.’
5. Karen
While the name Karen is often associated with older generations rather than newborn babies, Emma explained why parents might want to avoid this name..
She said: ‘The memes that started in 2020 haven’t done this name any favours. People are going to avoid Karen for a long time.
6. Pipe
The name Pippa can be seen as a sophisticated choice, particularly given that the Princess of Wales’s sister is named Pippa Middleton.
However, Nameberry has revealed that the choice has sexual overtones that one might want to avoid for their child.
Emma said: “Pippa is a fancy nickname associated with Pippa Middleton, but not a good fit if you plan to travel.”
‘Pippa has some joke-worthy slang meanings in languages like Italian, Swedish and Polish. For example, in Italian, Pippa can be used as a term for masturbation.
Social media users were quick to share their thoughts on the unexpected listing, with many surprised.
Social media users were quick to share their thoughts on the revealing video, with many in disbelief. One said: ‘Pippa! Noooo!!! I have a Pippa and I dream of Italy’
A second person added: ‘Completely shocked that anyone would name a boy Cohen. tremendously offensive’. A third wrote: ‘I know people by all these names.’
Another person added: ‘Wow, I didn’t know that about Cohen. I’ve never met anyone with that name, but like parents these days they don’t really do their due diligence before naming it.
A fifth person said: “I would never name a child without googling it, so I would have known this from the search, but I never knew Cohen was offensive until now.”
