So my friends named their kid Obi-Wan.

[foxley]

I don't think so, and passing blame off to the parents for doing a very innocent act IS endorsing bullying. Blame for the bullying resides solely on idiots who apply labels to any name, which those two were also doing. No names are "ridiculous."

So naming your kid 'Adolf Hitler' wouldn't be ridiculous?

[Malvolio]

Several years ago, I attended a comic book convention that had a VR booth. While waiting in line for the booth, I noticed that Jon Bogdanove was also waiting in line with his son. The name tag his son wore read, "Kal-El." To this day I still don't know if that was a joke or if Bogdanove really gave his son the name of the last son of Krypton.

[The Darknight Detective]

Several years ago, I attended a comic book convention that had a VR booth. While waiting in line for the booth, I noticed that Jon Bogdanove was also waiting in line with his son. The name tag his son wore read, "Kal-El." To this day I still don't know if that was a joke or if Bogdanove really gave his son the name of the last son of Krypton.

No joke. That is his (not to mention Nicholas Cage's) son's name.

[Alan2099]

I work in a financial institution. Today I gave a loan to Bruce Wayne.

[Malvolio]

I work in a financial institution. Today I gave a loan to Bruce Wayne.

Well, at least you know he has the collateral to cover the loan.

[Starter Set]

My friend's last name is Stine and he joked that he would name his son Franklin. When it came time he didn't.

I knew a guy whose family name was Kula. (his family was from Turkey)

The obvious joke here being of course to call him Dra.

Or Jean, but you have to speak french to understand that one.

[MyriVerse]

So naming your kid 'Adolf Hitler' wouldn't be ridiculous?

Nope. But I would have to question the socio-political opinions involved in the choice.

And I've actually known an Adolf-- fairly swell guy.

Quite a few pretty common names today came from literature: Cedric, Vanessa, Jessica, Pamela, Amanda, etc. No one was ever named just Wendy before Peter Pan. Obi-Wan is no different. Frankly, I think it's even more awesome than those names, no offense to anyone with them, but Obi-Wan is that awesome.

[Carabas]

Nope. But I would have to question the socio-political opinions involved in the choice.

And I've actually known an Adolf-- fairly swell guy.

Not naming your kid just Adolf, but naming your kid Adolf Hitler.

[Mister Mets]

An ex-girlfriend of mine named her daughter after Maria Carey. Honestly naming your kid after a celebrity annoys me more than naming your kid after a fictional character. I feel that if you're going to name your kid after a real person it should be a family member.

With the celebrity thing, there is also the worry that there might be some news item that'll change someone's reputation. There have to be people who named kids after Lance Armstrong, and Bill Cosby.

At least with naming a kid after a fictional character, you don't have to worry about major changes to how someone is seen. Superman won't have a #metoo scandal, and Wonder Woman isn't going to make antisemitic comments after cops pull her over for drunk driving.

[The Darknight Detective]

With the celebrity thing, there is also the worry that there might be some news item that'll change someone's reputation. There have to be people who named kids after Lance Armstrong, and Bill Cosby.

When I was in high school, one of the convicted Abscam seven had the same name as me. Fortunately, none of my classmates apparently kept up with the news so I never was razzed about it it.

At least with naming a kid after a fictional character, you don't have to worry about major changes to how someone is seen. Superman won't have a #metoo scandal, and Wonder Woman isn't going to make antisemitic comments after cops pull her over for drunk driving.

The way some fans carry on regarding fictional characters, don't be surprised if charges are made against one of them anyway.

[Mormel]

Nope. But I would have to question the socio-political opinions involved in the choice.

And I've actually known an Adolf-- fairly swell guy.

Quite a few pretty common names today came from literature: Cedric, Vanessa, Jessica, Pamela, Amanda, etc. No one was ever named just Wendy before Peter Pan. Obi-Wan is no different. Frankly, I think it's even more awesome than those names, no offense to anyone with them, but Obi-Wan is that awesome.

Yeah, my great uncle was called Adolf. But he was born when this was just another German name. For obvious reasons, he went by 'Dolf' after WW2.

It's comparable to all the girls named Isis who are catching flak for their name. And that's kinda sad.

[MyriVerse]

I might question the parents' desire to praise a Sith lord, but as a name, I don't really find it ridiculous.

http://time.com/4767712/man-named-darth-vader/

My niece has a completely fabricated name made of pieces-parts of other names (and I'm fairly certain no one else in the world has it).

[Starter Set]

I don't really find it ridiculous

I'm sure you don't.

[GOLGO 13]

So naming your kid 'Adolf Hitler' wouldn't be ridiculous?

Adolf is ruined forever really. It would take a special kind of tool to push that name on any boy now.

[Alan2099]

Not naming your kid just Adolf, but naming your kid Adolf Hitler.

I remember years ago hearing about some parents that named their kid Adolf Hitler. The court considered it child abuse and forced them to change it.