I know the example of the names of some slaves provided by Latin epigraphy. In ancient Rome, it was not unusual that slaves exhibited names contrary to their condition, given to them by their masters, e. g. 'Fortunatus' ('Eutychius' in the Greek version; they usually were given Greek unusual names), which means 'Lucky'. Others were given names of animals, e. g. 'Apis" ('Bee'), 'Ursus' ('Bear').
You can find more information in references of social history of slavery in Roman Empire, and also in http://www.theologicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ffb/slave-names_bruce.pdf.
I hope this can help you.
Regards
From a Thai perspective real names, given and family names, must bear a 'good meaning', which results in asking educated people (monks, seniors, grandparents) to find one. Family names are somewhat new here and were introduced around a century ago by King Rama VI (as known by foreigners, Thai people refer to him as King Vajiravudh, r. 1910-1925). He chose family names for the noble families and many others. Those were concise mottoes alluding to luck, wealth and happiness. Family names are inherited, so how about good given names? There's a whole astrological 'theory' around this, the consequence of which you may find in the paper referred to below.
On the contrary, when it comes to names used in informal conversation, Thais can be quite funny. They call each other by nicknames like Ant, Ball, and Beer. Others are called Airbus or Mobile (one of my private students studying ESL). That's something they can change by themselves. They just tell their friends from now on their name is Bell, let's them ring a bit, but they'll get the message soon.
Article Novel Phonetic Name Matching Algorithm with a Statistical O...
A quite funny personal name is the name of Bubrrec Kelmendi (1945) from Peja (Kosovo) who was named after Albanian: bubrrec = milingonë “ant’.
At his birth, he was named Ali after his dead father, but his uncle couldn’t bear calling him so since it made him nostalgic for his brother. Hence, he decided to call him ‘Bubrrec’ (Ant), which later became his official name. (http://reporteri.net/?page=1%2C13%2C2451)
What is offensive today may be perfectly fine tomorrow and vice versa.
That issue aside, what are going to do about names like mine? All through my elementary school days, I was called Smelly Kelley, Jelly Kelley, Belly Kelley, Helly Kelley, etc. Is it proposed that any potential offensive juxtapositioned word next to a perfectly fine name also be banned?
Forbidden baby names in Albania:
Ankim ‘Complaint’, Arançata ‘Orangeade’, Avash ‘Slowly’, Bretk ‘Male Frog’, Berr ‘Lamb’, Burgim ‘Imprisonment’, Ballokume ‘Crumpet’, Car ‘Tzar’, Cub ‘Robber’, Curranë ‘Stubbed (lopped)’, Currelë, Careva, Carina ‘Customs-duty’, Çbane ‘What you have done’, Dert ‘Pains’, Derman ‘Remedy’, Dovlet ‘state’, Durak, Ekran ‘Screen’, Eros ‘Eros’, Ferman ‘Sultan’s decree’, Federatë ‘Federation’, Fodulle “Arrogant’, Gazep ‘Calamity’, Gallata ‘Great fun’, Gabime ‘Error’, Groshe “Bean’, Gjezap ‘Nitric acid’, Hyzmet ‘Servise’, Hiçe ‘Nothing’, Hafije ‘Spy’, Helme ‘Poison’, Ironi ‘Irony’, Jermsinë, Keqan ‘Evil’, Keqe ‘Evil’, Krajlicë ‘Queen’, Lëvere ‘Rag’, Meze ‘Snack’, Mëshirë ‘Mercy’, Mjafte ‘Enough’, Mjaftime ‘Enough’, Mjaftoni ‘You are Enough’, Mbarime ‘Finality (End)’, Mbete ‘You left’, Mbylle “Close it’, Marrëzi “Foolishness’, Ndalime ‘Stop’, Pikëllime ‘Distress’, Pafate ‘Unlucky’, Pseerdhe ‘Why did you come’, Rikë ‘Duckling’, Rakita, Spece ‘Pepper’, Sose “End’, Stenatë, Sherre ‘Quarrel’, Shkurte ‘Short’, Shkurtime ‘Shortening’, Vajtime ‘Lamentation’, Xhenaze ‘Cadaver (Dead)’, Zehere ‘Poison’
In my opinion the authority should prohibit funny names and any other unacceptable name in the society
I second your opinion Hatem, Authority should prohibit funny names and any other unacceptable names in the society. It doesn't matter much in childhood but after a stage, the name becomes a shame in the society.
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