# Why would "Violet" be rejected as an inappropriate name on Nintendo 3DS? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 2, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091 "2013-02-02T02:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/1 "2013-02-02T02:36:49Z")
My daughter has a Nintendo 3DS and recently purchased a Harvest Moon game for it. She made a purple-haired character and, when prompted for a name, tried to name her Violet. The name was rejected by the game as “inappropriate”. Why in the world would the name “Violet” be inappropriate? It doesn’t contain any inappropriate words that I can see (as in the “Scunthorpe” problem), it’s the name of a color and a flower (seems innocent enough to me) and it is a legitimate girl’s first name to boot! It just doesn’t make any sense. Does the word “violet” contain a rude word in some other language? Is it slang for something I’m not familiar with? I did some googling, and all I found was a post on another message board asking the same question and coming up with no results. I apologize to anyone I offended with this post 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/2 "2013-02-02T02:40:45Z")
My only guess is some conflation with “violent.” ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/3 "2013-02-02T02:46:44Z")
I just did a quick search and discovered that ‘viol’ is french for ‘rape’. Other than that, no ideas. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/4 "2013-02-02T02:57:31Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I just did a quick search and discovered that ‘viol’ is french for ‘rape’. Other than that, no ideas. Well, OK, but it is also French for violet. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > My only guess is some conflation with “violent.” I go with this. We are talking about a [Japanese](http://www.engrish.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/12/crap-your-hands.jpg) company here, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/5 "2013-02-02T03:00:58Z")
We’re just trying to limit violets in gaming. Violins, too. But mostly violets. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/6 "2013-02-02T03:02:04Z")
Could it be a character’s name in-game? Like could there end up being on-screen dialog with Violet and Violet, where Violet just doesn’t understand what Violet is saying, no matter how much Violet tries to explain to Violet? Or is it an admin level name? ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/7 "2013-02-02T04:17:39Z")
It’s not an online game. The game is Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/8 "2013-02-02T05:17:04Z")
Other Nintendo games have the same restriction. It’s not just that one. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/9 "2013-02-02T05:35:26Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I just did a quick search and discovered that ‘viol’ is french for ‘rape’. Other than that, no ideas. It’s this. They block for embedded words. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/10 "2013-02-02T05:46:15Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > We’re just trying to limit violets in gaming. Violins, too. But mostly violets. You have of course hit on the reason behind the demise of big band music: too much sax and violins. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/11 "2013-02-02T06:54:01Z")
Do some science! Try Vi Vio Viol Viole Violin Violent ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/12 "2013-02-02T14:51:24Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > We’re just trying to limit violets in gaming. Violins, too. But mostly violets. [Especially violins on tv.](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/emilys-editorial-reply/n8635/) ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/13 "2013-02-03T03:37:58Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > Do some science! > > Try > > Vi > Vio > Viol > Viole > Violin > Violent Well, it’s my daughter’s game, and, unfortunately she doesn’t want me to start over in the name of science. I do know “violent” would not work because it is too long (that’s the reason she didn’t use her real first name.) Is “viol” a particularly sensitive word to French speakers, that even seeing it embedded in another unrelated word would be offensive? I mean, it would be like me getting upset over the word “grape”. My daughter told me she would try to name her next chicken “Grape” and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/14 "2013-02-03T04:16:47Z")
It doesn’t make sense. “Violet” is even in a nursery rhyme. Roses are red. Violets are purple. Sugar is sweet. And so’s maple slurple. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/15 "2013-02-03T06:49:35Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > [Especially violins on tv.](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/emilys-editorial-reply/n8635/) Gratuitous violins are the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/16 "2013-02-03T07:49:36Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > We’re just trying to limit violets in gaming. Violins, too. But mostly violets. Well, violins can be used (non-violently), like against this guy who [talks on his cell phone during an outdoor public concert](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BujoOxjB3b4). (About 20 seconds into this 42 second video.) And good for those performers! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/17 "2013-02-03T13:24:04Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I just did a quick search and discovered that ‘viol’ is french for ‘rape’. > [@njtt](#): > > Well, OK, but it is also French for violet. > [@Tamex](#): > > My daughter told me she would try to name her next chicken “Grape” and see what happens. First off: Your daughter is brilliant. Second: . . . Holy crap! In both French and English there is a word for “a shade of purple” that contains the word for “rape”? That is just too bizarre. Having seen two examples, I can only conclude that this must be true in every language. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/18 "2013-02-03T13:53:45Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > That is just too bizarre. Having seen two examples, I can only conclude that this must be true in every language. I’m in the middle of reading “The Signal and The Noise” and this line just cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/19 "2013-02-03T14:45:36Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > First off: Your daughter is brilliant. > > Second: . . . Holy crap! In both French and English there is a word for “a shade of purple” that contains the word for “rape”? That is just too bizarre. Having seen two examples, I can only conclude that this must be true in every language. This post has violated by the Violet. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091/20 "2013-02-03T15:16:50Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > I do know “violent” would not work because it is too long (that’s the reason she didn’t use her real first name.) Why the hell did you name her “Violent?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-violet-be-rejected-as-an-inappropriate-name-on-nintendo-3ds/649091.md?page=2)