When family or friends have a negative reaction to a parent's choice of name for their child, it would never do to say so, at least directly. Instead, we say things like:
... which means, "You have got to be kidding!"
... which translates, "The kid's life is ruined."
In other words, "There is no way you can be serious with that name, so what did you really have in mind."(When my brother-in-law and his wife named their son Rembrandt they got this a lot. They finally came around to retorting with absurd answers like "Moondoggie" in a deadpan manner.)
... is the ultimate code phrase for disapproval. The gist is, "Such a horrid choice could only be rationalized by family pressure or tradition, else how could you?"
All Rights Reserved, Laura VanDruff, © 1999
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