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Help[Opinions] Feargod
Name of my husband's coworker. He's from Nigeria.
He takes pity on Americans who are uncomfortable with it by offering to answer to F.G. haha
(and I think almost all of them do call him F.G.)
I like it though. On him anyway. WDYT?
- mirfak
He takes pity on Americans who are uncomfortable with it by offering to answer to F.G. haha
(and I think almost all of them do call him F.G.)
I like it though. On him anyway. WDYT?
- mirfak
This message was edited 7/1/2023, 1:27 AM
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Replies
I've met many people from Africa, though not Nigeria, that have similar-like names (though not quite as intense). I definitely found many of them weird at first and would not use them myself but have started getting used to the idea of some and understand it means a lot to them and their culture. I know a Blessing, brothers named Lord and Archange, Eternity, Loyalty, Judah King-James, Miracle, Sincere and several kids named Believe.
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It's weird to me, and not just because of the Puritan style. Why would you "fear" God? Does it imply God is evil? I imagine I'd feel the same about Fürchtegott unless fear in German has a much different meaning than in English. I get that in the past it meant something closer to awe or reverence, but in modern English fear is less like awe and more like hate.
"FG" is awkward to say, I would have picked a nickname like Firi/Feri or maybe first + last name initials.
"FG" is awkward to say, I would have picked a nickname like Firi/Feri or maybe first + last name initials.
This message was edited 7/1/2023, 4:34 PM
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I guess atheists might find it uncomfortable, but that’s just an assumption. My knee-jerk reaction was one of dislike because it had the word fear in it, but the name/concept as a whole is very humbling.
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Interesting. It has a Puritan vibe, I picture a guy in a Pilgrim costume rather than a 21st-c Nigerian American.
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In the post-Civil War republican Parliament in the UK, there was an MP whose name was Praise-God Barebone; he apparently had a brother named Fear-God, but the records aren't complete. Not sure if your DH's colleague was named after him, or if his family just had the same idea. He sounds like a pleasant and helpful person.
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I think it's perfectly fine as I think it suits his cultural background. It reminds me of Philippine people were you can often see names like Girly, Sugar, Blessica, Diasdado ('God-given') and Prince. But maybe those can be considered sweet whereas Feargod has a more negative connection.
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It's better than If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned. Still very intense though... imagine becoming an atheist as an adult and having this name, lol.
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Wow! This is my favorite name sighting in recent memory.
...it seems a bit absurdly Puritan, but then, I always surprise myself by loving names like Honor, Temperance, Charity, Patience, Sterling IRL, and I think I'd love calling someone it.
It reminds me of someone named Jihad going by J. I think it'd at least be an easier name to have than that. I also think it's more likable seeming than Obedience, which I've seen mentioned here before.
...it seems a bit absurdly Puritan, but then, I always surprise myself by loving names like Honor, Temperance, Charity, Patience, Sterling IRL, and I think I'd love calling someone it.
It reminds me of someone named Jihad going by J. I think it'd at least be an easier name to have than that. I also think it's more likable seeming than Obedience, which I've seen mentioned here before.
This message was edited 7/1/2023, 5:34 AM
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It's interesting I personally wouldn't use it for a child but I'm surprised that people are uncomfortable with it.
The literal german translation Fürchtegott is occasionally used within the older generation where I am so I'm probably used to it.
The literal german translation Fürchtegott is occasionally used within the older generation where I am so I'm probably used to it.
This message was edited 7/1/2023, 9:23 AM
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