Our daughters have a beautiful first name that must not be associated with a car, so let us unite to bring pressure on a multinational which is going to destroy this pretty name for our children. It is a scandal that they are able to use common first names for products
Sébastien Mortreux of Auby complains about Renault’s use of the name “Zoé” for a new electric car, being shown in concept form. French parents are rising up in anger, reports the Times of London, signing online petitions protesting Renault’s choice of a name that recently became one of Frances most popular. Now, I don’t plan on ever having children, but if I did, “Twingo” would have to be at the top of my list of potential names. Besides, as a Renault spokesfolks point out, the practice has good precedent, dating all the way back to Emil Jellinek’s 1902 decision to name a car after his daughter, Mercedes. Plus Renault already has the Clio and Mégane. And really, would these people be any happier if the car was named something like Bipper Tepee?
Clearly the United States doesn’t have a monopoly on that sort of whiner.
Sebastien, it could be worse. You could have named your kid the Fuego…
I wonder if that quote sounded less hilariously distraught in its original French. If not, I pity that man’s daughter.
If I were Renault I would issue this press release to concerned parents:
Fuck off.
I understand completely. My daughter Hemi-Cuda had a terrible time at school.
My daughter’s middle name is Elise, she loved getting her picture taken next to her Lotus name sake.
Maybe an auto enthusiast forum is not the place to look for sympathy on this issue.
Chuckle.
Happy Thanksgiving folks!
Bunter
…and MY daughter’s First name is Avanti. Haven’t met anyone who didn’t like it as a girl’s name, plus the rarity means that there aren’t 6 others with the same name in every school.
And the ‘language police’ wonder why French is a dying/dead language.
Oh well, the proto looks interesting.
If people confuse your daughter with an automobile because they share a name, the girl has more serious problems than a name.
Imagine how, oh, every girl named “Mercedes” must feel.
And yes, I know that it’s actually named after an investor’s kid.
I know lots of girls named Mercedes but given that I teach 7th grade I wonder about their future career choices.
Finally a forum where I can ask a question I’ve long been afraid to ask: “What was Mattel thinking when associating a version of their most popular Barbie after a Chevy sedan?”
Maybe you should find a name that nobody would ever use for a car. I’m quite sure that we won’t be hearing of a Buick Chris or Honda Stephanie any time soon. Clearly not everyone has a problem with it, some have been intentionally named Mercedes and Lexus. Then again, those are usually strippers.
Don’t forget Portia/Porsha…
Zoe is also a rather popular stage name. I’ve heard almost every club has one…
Are these the same French who named a car the A.S.S. in 1919/1920?
Yeah, and it pisses me off that they stole my name for it! Oh wait, it preceded me, and pet names don’t count.
@ Lokki:
You’ve got a daughter named Hemi-Cuda too?
Now, I don’t plan on ever having children, but if I did, “Twingo” would have to be at the top of my list of potential names.
If you had twins, would they both be called “Fortwo”?
Wait until the trekkies hear about the DS-9.
France? I’m surprised it’s not the Fatima or Nazeera.
If you go by the most common names given to girls in France, it should have been Emma, Lea, Clara, Manon, Chloe, Camille, Ines, Sarah, Jade, or Lola… in that order. <a href=”http://www.linternaute.com/femmes/prenoms/classement/1/2006/1/france/”>That was the top 10 in 2006</a>. Zoe was the 19th most given name for girls . The first arab name comes in 63rd position (Yasmine), the second one is number 120 (Assia).
I’m sorry you don’t plan on having any kids, Ed. My first is coming any day now and you’ll be missing out on the greatest job in the world.