# British Dopers, would this name be concidered obcene? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296 "2005-01-23T21:32:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/1 "2005-01-23T21:32:23Z")
Here in America, although the word dick is slang for penis, lots of people named Richard use it for short without any second thought, and nobody really minds. So, if [Fannie Flagg](http://fannieflagg.tripod.com/) came to England (she probably has plenty of times for all I know), would the people she introduced herself to be shocked by her name, or would they not give it any second thought? Oh, and I know the answer probably varies from individual to individual, so I’m curious as to what the general reaction would be. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/2 "2005-01-23T21:37:55Z")
‘Fanny’ is an acceptable name, albeit a very old-fashioned one (as well as being a word on the very-mild end of the obscenity scale). As long as it was an elderly woman, nobody would think anything of it. If it was a teenager, they’d be likely to take it as a rather unfunny joke. FWIW, there’s at least one reasonably well-known person with that name - Fanny Waterman, founder of the Leeds Piano Competition and author of books that have been presented to generations of bored generations in their music lessons … ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/3 "2005-01-23T21:39:07Z")
…errr, make that ‘generations of bored _children_’… ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/4 "2005-01-23T21:47:37Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > If it was a teenager, they’d be likely to take it as a rather unfunny joke. I don’t know, given what fanny is supposed to mean in British English I think that the thought of a fanny flag is kind of funny. 😃 (Sorry, I’m usually not this crude , but I couldn’t resist) Anyway though, you answered my question. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/5 "2005-01-24T00:06:04Z")
Well we manage alright with no end of folk called **Randy** coming over here. On the whole names seem to get a certain immunity – though Richard Head is pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/6 "2005-01-24T01:27:45Z")
> [@violacrane](#): > > Well we manage alright with no end of folk called **Randy** coming over here. But how would you do with the name I came across recently…Randy Palomino. Apparently his real name although pretty good if he wanted to go into the British porn industry. I always wondered how Lou Rawles would do touring in the UK…given the common parlence for toilet paper… ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/7 "2005-01-24T02:42:06Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > But how would you do with the name I came across recently…Randy Palomino. Apparently his real name although pretty good if he wanted to go into the British porn industry. Try very, very hard not to laugh, but I think that guy would have a hard time over here, nudge nudge wink wink… > [@betenoir](#): > > I always wondered how Lou Rawles would do touring in the UK…given the common parlence for toilet paper… It’s pronounced _rolls_? I think interviewers, announcers etc would do their best to pronounce it "_Roarles"_ but he might just get pelted with the stuff wherever he went. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/8 "2005-01-24T06:25:31Z")
Where I work, there used to be this British guy named Harry Peters. I’m sure in Britain no thought was given to it, but here in the US… ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/9 "2005-01-24T06:56:11Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > FWIW, there’s at least one reasonably well-known person with that name - Fanny Waterman, founder of the Leeds Piano Competition… And let us not forget the the one, the only, [Fanny Cradock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Cradock). ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/10 "2005-01-24T07:25:22Z")
> [@violacrane](#): > > It’s pronounced _rolls_? I think interviewers, announcers etc would do their best to pronounce it "_Roarles"_ but he might just get pelted with the stuff wherever he went. Well not _quite_ rolls…but close enough that I thought of him every time I did the marketing :D. ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/11 "2005-01-24T10:48:51Z")
I’ve been told that H. E. Butts, founder of the H. E. B. chain of grocery stores, has a son named Randy. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/12 "2005-01-24T11:28:08Z")
The first name _Fanny_ (or _Fannie_), although unusual and somewhat archaic, isn’t likely to generate more than the occasional titter from school-age kids. Unless it is conjoined with an unfortunate surname like _Dipper_ or _Delve_, then I think you’d have to expect mild amusement all round. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/13 "2005-01-24T11:31:46Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Unless it is conjoined with an unfortunate surname like _Dipper_ or _Delve_ …or _Munch_…_childish titter_ ---
**Author:** ![Spooky\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Spooky\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spooky_Action)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/14 "2005-01-24T11:38:14Z")
I came across a _Fanny Tickler_ many years ago. Born in the 19th century IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/15 "2005-01-24T12:01:28Z")
> [@Spooky Action](#): > > I came across a _Fanny Tickler_ many years ago. Born in the 19th century IIRC. Necrophilliac? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/16 "2005-01-24T13:38:37Z")
Heck, in England they have a dessert called ‘Spotted Dick.’ Try ordering \*that \* without laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/17 "2005-01-25T01:38:43Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > But how would you do with the name I came across recently…Randy Palomino. Apparently his real name although pretty good if he wanted to go into the British porn industry. Let’s see, Randy is British for horny, and a Palomino is cream-colored horse. So would Randy Palomino translate to horny horse is British slang? ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/18 "2005-01-25T02:19:38Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > Let’s see, Randy is British for horny, and a Palomino is cream-colored horse. So would Randy Palomino translate to horny horse is British slang? Randy is english for horny so far as I know. At least it had that meaning growing up in my section of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/19 "2005-01-25T05:13:48Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > Here in America, although the word dick is slang for penis, lots of people named Richard use it for short without any second thought, and nobody really minds “lots of people named Richard” who are in their sixties or older, maybe. I can’t think of any Richard my age (late 30s), including me, who would go by “Dick”. Rich or Rick, but not Dick. Of course, I was named after my dad’s best friend in high school, who started going by “Dick” as an adult. Of course, I’m biased against the name “Dick”. Comes from being unpopular in junior high school, for me. Oh, the cruel taunting from the “In crowd” **I.C.** : Hey, DICK! **Me** : Shut up! **I.C.** : It’s just short for “Richard”… **Me** : Shut up! Is it safe to assume that the British got “Dick” from “Richard” the same way they got “Peggy” from “Margaret”? Margaret \> Maggie \> Meg \> Peg Richard \> Rich \> Rick \> Dick ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296/20 "2005-01-25T09:00:46Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > Randy is english for horny so far as I know. At least it had that meaning growing up in my section of the United States. Yep, randy is slang for horny, although we tend to use horny a lot more nowadays… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-would-this-name-be-concidered-obcene/286296.md?page=2)