# funny names **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 1999, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783 "1999-10-25T23:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 1999, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/1 "1999-10-25T23:41:00Z")
there was a similar thread a while back, but this one is kind of opposite. are there any american (english/whatever) names that sound funny or mean something else in other languages? * * * We’re all here, because we’re not all there! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/2 "1999-10-26T01:24:00Z")
I had a friend in New Orleans who was a street musician named Banjo Mike (now,sadly, deceased). He used to come in after a long day in the Quarter and vent,“All those goddamed Japanese tourists keep laughin’ at me! Cause “Banjo” means “toilet” in Jap !!!” “Did they tip good?”, we asked. “Yeah, and extra, cause they liked to say my name out loud.” “So, what’s yer problem???” “I think its the cameras.” ---
**Author:** ![Momotaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Momotaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momotaro)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/3 "1999-10-26T07:33:00Z")
Well, in Japanese ‘ringo’ means apple. Which is funny because Ringo Starr was with Apple, if I recall correctly. Also, I always feel strange when I read ‘Jean’. In French it’s a man’s name equivalent to ‘John’, and it’s pronounced about the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/4 "1999-10-26T13:53:00Z")
IIRC, during the Vietnam War USAF planes regularly bombed an industrial suburb of Hanoi, but this was _never_ mentioned on the news. No, it wasn’t a conspiracy to cover up the bombing; it was just that the anchormen were reluctant to report the bombing of Phuc Yeu. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/5 "1999-10-26T16:21:00Z")
Once some people in my office were planning a farewell luncheon. They were choosing between HoJo’s (Howard Johnson’s) and Chi Chi’s (Mexican). They mention the names to one of my office neighbors, and he cracks up. He then explained that when he grew up in Spain, “hojo” was slang for “ass” and “chichis” meant “tits”. So they were asking him if he wanted Ass or Tits for lunch. :)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/6 "1999-10-26T16:55:00Z")
I’ve heard the same thing about Chichis. Don’t know why they called it that. Maybe it’s the Spanish equivalent of Hooters. Hadn’t heard of HoJos. There was a Japanese clan called the Hojos; Spanophones must get a kick out of learning about them. ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 1999, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/7 "1999-10-27T05:02:00Z")
I remember reading somewhere that the Iranian press was really thrown for a loop during the '96 elections, because “dole” is Persian for “penis”, and what with Iran’s puritanical restrictions on the press and all… Now, maybe Clinton’s exploits aren’t exactly something they’d approve of, but at least they can just ignore those. But if Dole had won… What were they going to do, refer to him as “President Bob”? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 1999, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/8 "1999-10-26T22:28:00Z")
In the native language of the Pygmy, “metroshane” means “Go stick your head in a pig”. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 1999, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/9 "1999-10-27T15:37:00Z")
Like we couldn’t see that one coming! You’re that guy! haha * * * We’re all here, because we’re not all there! ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/10 "1999-11-11T05:27:00Z")
Tracer, you a douglas adams fan? ---
**Author:** ![Ophanim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8491ac/32.png) [@Ophanim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ophanim)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/11 "1999-11-11T05:46:00Z")
Don’t forget, Grand Titauns (sp?) means huge tits in french. ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funny-names/2783/12 "1999-11-11T06:05:00Z")
Tetons. * * * God is dead. -Nietzsche Nietzsche is dead. -God Neitzsche is God. -Dead