# Odd names
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [April 29, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021 "2003-04-29T22:30:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/1 "2003-04-29T22:30:43Z")
Is the name **Zsa Zsa** a typical Hungarian name? It always seemed so very bizarre to me.
And what about **Predrag** , (as in Peja Stojakovich, go Kings!)
Is that the equivalent to “Pete” over in Serbia?
What are some other different/regional names worthy of mention?
I’m not talking about nicknames like Quirky McQuirkendale. I mean truly unusual names that represent countries/cultures in their own right.
😕 Please, no pet names, or names of pets.
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### Author:  [@Grace\_In\_Oz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grace_In_Oz)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/2 "2003-04-29T22:53:33Z")
Well, there’s Miroslav Satan, the hockey player.
It’s pronounced Sha-tan, though.
Grace
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### Author:  [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/3 "2003-04-30T00:34:46Z")
You know, I just made a [LiveJournal](http://www.livejournal.com/users/nashiitashii) post about “odd names.” Well, at least odd in the sense that they’re fairly common Icelandic names and “completely weird” compared to what Americans are used to hearing…
The scary part is that a good portion are names I’d consider naming future children. I guess my intent is to frustrate the uninitiated masses for fun and profit. 😉
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### Author:  [@Melan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melan)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/4 "2003-05-02T17:44:49Z")
The only occurence of the name “Zsa Zsa” I have heard was the name of the ?actress?. And I am Hungarian.
Also: her family name is Gabor, which is usually a given name in Hungary… Including mine. Confusing, eh? 😉
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/5 "2003-05-02T18:09:36Z")
Well, I think her real name is “Sari,” so it doesn’t have to be a “real” Hungarian name, and more than “Poo Poo” is a “real” American name.
Yes, I knew a girl whom everyone called “Poo Poo.” Her real name was “Georgia,” and she seemed to prefer “Poo Poo.” At least she never complained about it.
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### Author:  [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/6 "2003-05-02T18:20:09Z")
I used to collect bizarre historical names while I was studying for my PhD exams. Some of my favorites:
**Henry the Impotent** (king of Spain)
**Roland Le Fartere** (medieval court entertainer, sort of a forerunner to [Le Petomane](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_394.html))
**Praise-God Barebones** (member of Parliament)
**Butshead Gorges** (Sir Walter Raleigh’s cousin, who accompanied him on a voyage to Guiana … no doubt because he wanted to get as far away from the English-speaking world as possible)
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### Author:  [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/7 "2003-05-02T18:20:16Z")
I have a friend whose last name is Poe. He _wanted_ to name his kids:
Al
Zip
Appro
Gestap
Fishing
Telephone
Ishoiz
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/8 "2003-05-02T18:32:34Z")
What about Har?
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/9 "2003-05-02T18:33:49Z")
Or fire?
Or flag?
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### Author:  [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/10 "2003-05-02T19:22:52Z")
Or Zep?
Or Hip?
Or Tad?
Or May?
Or Ty?
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/11 "2003-05-02T20:51:10Z")
Or Natty Bum?
Okay, that one’s a reach. I’ll be happy if anybody gets it. 😛
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### Author:  [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/12 "2003-05-02T21:18:04Z")
Mr. Poe is not much of a Hawkeye fan, but if I could talk him into changing his last name to Boh, I think you’re onto something.
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### Author:  [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/13 "2003-05-02T21:40:52Z")
True story:
I was revising an annual publication in my office, and came across a footnote crediting a gentleman by the name of “Mr. Odd Little”.
I looked up at my friend and said, “Hey, check this out! This guy’s name is ‘Odd Little’!” Friend sez, “Wow. That’s odd. . .” Without missing a beat I reply, “Yeah, a little!”
::rimshot::
Tripler
Really. True story.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-names/172021/14 "2003-05-03T01:05:09Z")
“Zsazsa” is another form of “Zsuzsa” which is short for “Zsuzsanna” which, as you may guess, is the Hungarian form of “Susanna.” ( **Melan** , of course knows this.)
“Gabor” is, in fact, a common given male name in Hungary. But there are quite a few given names (all males, so far as I know) which also double as family names.
Other fairly common Hungarian names which may be odd to American ears:
Zoltan
Csaba (pron “Chaba.” The editor of Car and Driver has this name.)
Atilla
Napsugar
Piroska
Nimrod (Okay, it is a Biblical name; still kind of odd. Not really that common in Hungary, but does exist.)
And plenty more to boot, but these are the ones that stick out at the moment.