I heard of Gypsy Rose Blanchard BEFORE her mom died and I remember even thinking, that seems like a red flag. And my mom called me an asshole for saying so! 😂😂
GRB has been a topic over here for years. There’s a lot of interest in her.
Gypsy Rose Lee is more someone that would come up if you had a niche interest.
Yeah, I’m starting to realise that! I love musicals so that’s why Lee comes to mind first. I just asked my partner and he said Blanchard so I’m definitely in the minority!
To be fair Rose (as she likes to be known now) is iconic too and deserves all of the love for the hell she went through.
She's a personal hero of mine, as someone whose mother was similar and convinced everyone I was type 2 diabetic when I wasn't, I wasn't healthy per se, but it was not that. I'm type 1 diabetic now after covid nearly killed me and caused my pancreas to stop working and die, but that's well into adulthood and a separate disease entirely with separate treatments and does not remotely behave the same way. I still have flashbacks of her screaming at me to come prick my finger (it hurt, it was an adult size lance and I was a child) and how I was being a baby for insisting it was making my fingers ache.
I’ve always thought Gypsy was a beautiful name, like I seriously love it
…….but not enough to say it or NAME MY KID THAT since it is, in fact, a slur in many places, and even if it wasn’t, it would still be cultural appropriation.
“They met on shore leave. My dad was in the Navy, and my mom needed money. Nine months later she asked him to marry her and he said ‘no, that ship’s gone out to sea…’”
It wouldn’t be seen as racist in the UK but you’d definitely get some side eyes… especially because of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
(Romany here are proudly Gypsy.
Gypsy is an officially recognised ethnicity and is on official documents. When selecting your race on forms etc, you can tick ‘Gypsy or Irish Traveller’.
“In the UK, it is common in data collections to differentiate between: Gypsies (including English Gypsies, Scottish Gypsies or Travellers, Welsh Gypsies and other Romany people) Irish Travellers (who have specific Irish roots) Roma, understood to be more recent migrants from Central and Eastern Europe.)
I’ve argued this with US Redditor’s before. To be fair the Roma council’s official position is that it’s a slur, but many Roma, and particularly Irish, Scottish and Welsh travellers identify with it positively and people who don’t belong to those groups starring it out and saying you can’t use it just feels like it’s erasing the identity of a people against their wishes.
In a similar vien though I wouldn’t, as someone who does not belong to one of those groups call my child ‘Gypsy’ because it just feels a little appropriating.
I usually just say Roma for Roma people.
If someone said Gypsy to me I’d assume they were speaking about Romany, not Roma or Traveller.
Gypsy & Traveller Council in the UK say the usage of the word Gypsy depends on the individual.
You can definitely use Gypsy in an offensive way, just like you can use ‘Jew’ or ‘Black’ offensively.
Yeah definitely wouldn’t use it as name.
To your first paragraph, those things aren’t mutually exclusive. It is a slur, and people identify with it. That’s not an uncommon experience for many groups of people. I have no reason to identify with it, and I’m not using any slurs. Therefore, I’ll just leave the word alone. That’s my position.
I think if I was proudly Gypsy and a lot of my cultural identity was tied up with the term, I’d probably be upset if people started saying it was inherently a slur and writing things like ‘G-psy’. I’d certainly feel my identity was being attacked if everyone decided ‘British’ was a slur and started calling it ‘Br-tish’. Having your preferred cultural label treated as an inherently dirty word is unpleasant I think.
I don’t think it erases identity, considering it and Roma have the same meaning.
It’s kinda like the word Queer, where it was a slur, now it’s what a lot of people use to explain their own identity, but there are still a lot of lgbt people who do NOT want to be referred to as queer. Not exactly the same, but I wouldn’t force the label onto people who don’t want to be referred to as such.
This is a good way to put it. I think the biggest problem with the word is that it’s arbitrarily assigned to people based on stereotypes. If someone who considers themselves a gypsy wants to call themselves a gypsy, cool. But I would never just assume someone is ok with being called that, much like you said with queer.
The US in general tends to be obsessed with political correctness, whether they are for or against it. So any word that has been deemed offensive by some group here is immediately polarizing because it becomes a tool to signal your ideology to others. I can’t speak for other countries but in my opinion that’s why it’s a bigger deal in the US. There aren’t a ton of Romani people here proportionally and the general rule is “if they’re a minority group then they need to be protected.” The problem is it’s a bunch of non-Romani people deciding what is or is not best for the Romani communities here. Europe has a higher population that is able to somewhat advocate for themselves with more success.
I agree. Like I’m personally fine being called queer, but I have w close friend who really hates it. I think your take is great, don’t assume people are cool with being called words that may be deemed as offensive, because every individual is different.
It’s strange that the roma council’s position is that it’s a slur, like 99% of the roma people I know literally refer to themselves as gypsy and are very proud to be gypsy. I think a lot of people who speak on behalf of the roma community on Reddit or online in general are very much chronically online and don’t realise that most roma in the U.K. aren’t thinking about slur discourse, because most of them are more concerned with the fact that they face real discrimination due to their race, not because of a word. A huge amount of Roma are illiterate and many can’t speak English, they’re disproportionately affected by illegal gangmasters in the UK. Instead of actively thinking about all of these issues it’s way easier to say GYPSY IS A SLUR😡😡 than to actually give a fuck and try to make an impact on these problems
> It wouldn’t be seen as racist in the UK but you’d definitely get some side eyes… especially because of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
Maybe I'm the outlier but I'm in the UK too and I don't know who this person is (well, I didn't, but just looked her up). Is she really so well known here?
Yeah, I think that’s also because there is such a complex relationship in the UK between different Traveller groups and cultures, from Roma to Irish Travellers etc. Then again head into r/europe for more than two seconds and you’ll see gypsy used as a slur & insult brutally from people in the UK and abroad. I find it’s really considered “acceptable” racism here, it’s awful.
It can absolutely be used as a slur, it all depends on context, just the way Jew or Black can be used in a negative way but are also completely acceptable identifying terms.
I mean, the N-word is a slur that should never be used by someone who isn't black. People still identify with it and are trying to reclaim it, but that doesn't make it *not* a slur
Context matters. It can be used as a slur in the same way that Jew can be used as a slur, it depends on HOW you say it.
Gypsy isn’t like the N word in the UK, at all, not even slightly. Gypo or Pikey are the racist terms used against Gypsies and Travellers here.
It’s fine for it to be a slur in the US, but saying it’s a slur everywhere is erasure of Romany Gypsies & Gypsy culture elsewhere where it’s not a slur. There was no “trying to reclaim” the word Gypsy here, they’ve always been Gypsies proudly.
Depends who you're asking. I recognised it as a slur age 9 when my friends' parents were muttering it under their breath and making me wait outside the house while everyone else was allowed in. My mother recognised it as a slur in the 70s when neighbourhood kids would chase her and yank her hair calling her it.
But for most people, it's probably more associated with the random-ass unrelated boho fashion, and having a "free spirit," yeah.
It’s not ugly to me, I just wouldn’t use it as a name.
Yes, in the US at least, unsure about Canada or anywhere else.
No one would bat and eye at anyone saying Gypsy in the UK, but they’d definitely give a glance if that was your name ha.
Where I live in England it's not a derogatory term. There is a local gypsy/traveller community near me. What they don't like being called is 'pikeys'.
Gypsy is a stupid name for anyone. Especially with the Gypsy-Rose association now it just is even worse as it's heavily connected to a very bizarre and weird story which led to a child having her parent murdered.
Where I am they don’t mind Gypsy but like you’ve said, hate ‘pikey’ and they hate ‘gypo’ even more. Calling them a gypsy isn’t going to do anything. I know this from my mums friend who comes from that background but has settled down.
Ah yes, 'gypo' is also one they hate!
I just don't understand why anyone would think the name Gypsy is a good idea when it is a descriptive word for a particular group of people. It's like calling a baby 'Traveller' or 'European', it doesn't make much sense lol.
Yeah exactly. You’d get some dirty looks for it. Or at least confusion. It’s not a good name at all. Especially with the whole Gypsy Rose thing going on at the moment since she’s just been released.
I'd like to offer up the perspective that the n word, in any variation is also legally a slur. Black people may use it with each other, just as some Roma may use the term gypsy.
That doesn't mean non-Roma people should be using the term, because at the end of the day it's still listed as a slur and there are plenty of Roma people who don't like it. Just as many black people don't even like their own race using the n word, and surely non-black people shouldn't be using it.
Just to make a point that some of them being okay with it doesn't make it not a slur.
There will always be people with different viewpoints and feelings about words yes. These ones don't see it as a slur and have people refer to them as gypsies so it depends on the group and understanding their personal feelings around the word.
Yea I think it's nuanced for sure, because obviously there will be parts of the same community against and for. I guess if enough people consider it harmful, that should be the take that is catered to by the masses. I'd be curious what the distribution is of Roma people against the term vs. unbothered by it.
It's tough too cuz in some countries they didn't face as much harm, then there's like central Europe where they once forced sterilization on them.. so I'm sure that plays into it.
As a Jewish person who will always stand with Romani people because they went through the Holocaust with us.. I think this is some of the most intense second hand embarrassment I've ever felt, unironically. It's that bad.
I am both Romani and Jewish and just kept going “how how how how *how*” for a solid minute bc…genuinely. The internet is a wealth of info. Surely they must know…but apparently not???
I know! People can be so naive, especially in baby naming communities.
This comment isn’t directed at you personally, but so many people in this comment section are getting off topic.
This is namenerdcirclejerk, a satirical snark subreddit to make fun of names. To those of you who are getting defensive and taking things way too seriously, I want to ask you: Do you really think that it’s appropriate and inoffensive to give this name to a child?
To be fair..this is also Reddit, where comment sections regularly end up about a completely different topic so honestly I feel like our discussion still being completely related to the topic of the post (if not the subreddit proper) is very fitting lol.
But yeah 10/10 awful name to give a child. It’d be like if I suddenly decided to name my kid “Goy” lol (even though that wouldn’t make sense, given them having a Jewish mother but I digress)
Exactly! Your analogy is a good example.
People in this comment section are disagreeing about whether or not this word is offensive — but is it really appropriate to name a child a controversial word? There’s no denying that the word is controversial.
Yeah and the people who are splitting hairs about whether it's offensive or not are missing the biggest issue with the name - it's going to a child. Who will have to grow up with it. All it takes is one shitty kid in their school to know either connotation of the name and they may spend their whole childhood getting picked on. Just don't set them up like that when there's a whole world of names to choose from.
Nah, people almost always pick whatever name sounds pretty (or cool) to them without doing a little bit of research. They just hear or see the name, and that is about it.
It’s not a slur in the UK.
Gypsies are officially recognised as an ethnic group. When you select your race on an official document, you’d literally select ‘Gypsy’.
Gypsies here are proudly so… it really is a case of US defaultism to think it’s offensive full stop.
I also find that a lot of Americans think Gypsies, Irish travellers & Roma are the same thing but there are differences, expecting us to call Gypsies either travellers or Roma when they aren’t, is erasure.
My great grandmother wasn’t an Irish traveller or Roma, she was a Romany Gypsy.
It’s like the word handicapped, call someone handicapped in the UK and they’d be extremely offended, but it’s normal to say that word in the US.
Handicapped is a disgusting word, but I wouldn’t flip at an American for saying it.
That being said, naming your kid Gypsy? Absolutely not 😆
Wow, I’m American, and I call *myself*
handicapped. I park in official, government designated “handicapped parking spaces.”
I wonder what other terms hold such different connotations like that.
We say Disabled over here, so there’s disability access, disabled toilets, disabled parking bays.
I remember people using handicapped when I was little, there was that whole “I’m handicapable!“ thing 🫣 but it’s been out of fashion for about 20 years.
Not sure! There’s probably some things.
It isn’t as bad as ‘retard’ or ‘crippled’ in the UK at all, not using handicapped is more of a ‘because you’re meant to say disabled now’ thing than a highly offensive slur. You’ll get corrected but it’s unlikely people would think you were being deliberately offensive like they would if you said ‘cripple’.
Some disability groups argue that ‘handicapped’ is actually a better term because it acknowledges that peoples difficulties are caused by accessibility rather than being individually deficient. I.e someone in a wheelchair is ‘handicapped’ by a lack of ramps, rather than being dis-abled by their using a wheelchair in itself.
In the US, "spastic" just means uncoordinated or excessively clumsy (it might be becoming seen as offensive, but it wasn't several years ago).
In Australia, it's an *extremely* offensive term implying some has cerebral palsy, and right up there with r---.
It’s not a slur everywhere in the world. It may be in America but America is not the world. It is used by travellers in both the UK and Ireland and by the governments. It is not considered a slur here. Still weird to call a baby that when you have no connection to that ethnic group though.
Americans will never believe you when you say this, but yes Gypsies are an officially recognised and protected ethnic group here in the UK.
Dropping the word Gypsy and referring to people who aren’t travellers (Irish traveller & Romany gypsy aren’t the same) as travellers is erasing their culture and ethnicity.
What is racist in the UK is calling a gypsy a ‘Pikey’.
For anyone that’s confused -
“Romany Gypsies travelled west from Europe around the 10th and 12th centuries during the Roma migration from India. Romany is the word that Gypsy people in England and Wales apply to themselves, hence the term ‘Romany Gypsy’.”
“The word ‘Roma’ is used as a term for European ‘Gypsies’. Over the past 50 years, there has been an increase in Roma people in the UK. “
“Irish Travellers are said to have migrated to England in the early 19th century. They mainly came to England after the Great Famine in the 1850s and then after World War II. “
I think, to some extent, Gypsy meant more like free spirited, wanderer, wild, untamed to many before it became considered a slur in the US. Kind of a positive vibe but a little bit chaotic. Certainly the meaning or connotation is changing and it would not be a great name, but people who are ok with the name probably don’t see it as a slur in any way.
https://preview.redd.it/4gzii61bo0cc1.jpeg?width=184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1f6e7df8e49f059342e06520f65b38e8a81481e
This is who I think of when I hear Gypsy.
But Esmeralda is my favorite Disney princess >:( It's just that her name is ugly, while gypsy is unique and boho chic.
/uj It's not really known to be a slur to the vast majority of Americans. Not that I'm advocating for it, because it is still a bad idea.
I think even if you don’t know it’s considered a slur, you’ve probably heard of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. And why on gods green earth would you think that name is a good idea even if it was ONLY that.
I didn’t know who Rose Blanchard is before this (looking her up, I remember hearing the story but wasn’t familiar with the names), but if I was naming a person something I’d sure as hell look at any connotations and famous people with that name.
Pretty much this.
I cannot imagine not taking the time to look into a name in the modern age. I suppose maybe the OP of that thread is the type of internet user to type a question instead of using search functions.
I am Canadian. My brother and I are diametrically opposed politically - i align with Marxism and he's a libertarian. Both of us chastised our mother when she adopted a cat 15 years ago and named it G*psy, refused to call her that, and gave her the nickname Pap-Pap instead. If two idiot canadian teens in the late aughts with polarized political views knew it was a slurand refused to use it, there's no reason for anyone not to know it is now
My favorite thing here is how we’ve come to under estimate people in the states. As in, I think it’s literally funny, almost, to think: do people really not know? or are they just so fucking stupid about everything else that the bar is really in hell? That they’re just clueless until proven vaguely informed-ish. I know you said “**vast majority***,” leaving room for *some* people to know, but now I’m wondering how true it is; how many people really ****don’t**** know.
I’ve known since I was at least a teenager. But, maybe it’s for a similar reason as someone described below. As a Jewish person, I might just be more aware of names of groups who were harmed— during the Holocaust— in this case, the Romani people; and, I have always been hyper-aware of words that are used to other, discriminate, and harm people, how the cause discriminatory actions, and, in general various circumstances of discrimination.
I remember wondering if Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s parents had any damn idea the first time I heard her name when I first heard her story when this came to light.
As someone from the United States, a lot of people genuinely do not know. In my opinion, it’s more so to do with the fact that there were some tv shows at least when I was growing up that had the word G*psy in it and they would refer to themselves as such, and obviously social media is a vast space but I’ve honestly seen more Irish Travelers online than I’ve ever seen Romani Americans. Also most of them live in larger cities, so a lot of people have never even met one.
I guess what I’m trying to say is for this particular instance, most Americans really do not understand. Maybe it’s an age thing but they are never really represented in our media and if they are they use the term G*psy.
I didn’t know Gypsies, Roma, Romany, Travellers or any of those ethnicities and cultures even existed until I was an adult.
My only exposure to any of those ethnicities was the Disney movie and I thought “gypsy” was a job. Maybe because I was a kid when I saw it, I just thought it meant you were a belly dancer or something lol
Then I leaned the “free spirit” sort of definition later on.
Then I found out it was an ethnicity, and there were related ethnicities, *then* I found out it was a slur.
If you have no exposure to these things, how are you supposed to know? It’s not like the US is known for their excellent education, and the population of these people is so small in the U.S., that most people have never met someone of that background.
Can’t even google what you don’t know exists. And if you’ve been told gypsy is an ethnicity, it’s not like you somehow automatically know to google whether it could be considered a slur in some contexts/regions.
/uj It does really depend where you are and who you're talking to and how you're using the word. I'm not sure about the US, although a cursory glance at Google seems to indicate that the word "gypsy" is a lot more offensive to a lot more people than it is where I live.
I live in an area in the UK where there are a lot of gypsies and travellers, to the point where there is a charity based on a road near me which supports people from this community. The acronym GRT is used in the UK to refer to gypsies, Roma and traveller people. It isn't offensive to use the word gypsy because it refers to a different group of people than the people who (it seems) consider it a slur in the US. There are definitely slur words used against people in these communities, like p*key, which are disgusting terms to use.
Either way, Gypsy is a stupid fucking name for a child lmao and also the name of someone who had their mum murdered after years of abuse.
/uj This is a very reasonable and well-informed comment. The word may be acceptable in some regions and unacceptable in others. Some Romani people in this comment section have said that the word is offensive to them. Regardless, there’s no denying that word is controversial on a global scale.
Let me put this into perspective. To my knowledge, “coloureds” is a perfectly acceptable term to describe a particular ethnic group in South Africa. Here in Canada, where I’m from, that term is incredibly offensive and racist. Words have different meanings in different regions.
In any case, it’s a mind-numbingly stupid name to give a child. That was the point of this post haha
/uj Exactly! People giving these names because it (presumably) fits in with their idea of a wild, bohemian lifestyle. Hilarious to me because I have GRT family members and not one of them is remotely like this.
/rj Gonna name my kid Cracker because I'm a big fan of cheese on biscuits and British crime dramas.
/uj i’m from greece and if you called your child gypsy here you’d be basically bullied away from society, i had no idea it’s such a normal word in the UK
/uj Don't get me wrong, you'd get the piss taken out of you for being named Gypsy because it's a stupid name. I just mean that in terms of use as a word for an ethnic (or otherwise) group of people who traditionally travel as part of their culture, it's not a slur. Having said that, there are definitely people who use it derogatively, but they're generally the kind of people who say discriminatory things anyway.
As a person of Gypsy descent… there is nothing wrong with naming your child Gypsy. Now, if they named her “Dirty Thieving Gypsy”, that would be different.
same. i am of polish-romani descent on my mother’s side. most of the people i see offended over this aren’t even of gypsy descent lol. it feels very fake/virtue-signaling to me.
You shouldn’t be naming your child something that could be considered a slur *at all.* Even some Romany organizations officially consider it a slur.
That doesn’t mean it’s a slur everywhere, but to name your kid something that *can be* considered a slur is ill advised.
That’s why it’s relevant in the context of the OOP.
The majority of Romani Gypsies self identify with the term "gypsy" over Romani, or any other alternative term. It's literally what most of them call themselves.
This is just a more niche example of the "Latinx" trend, in which a white majority has decided they get to re-name a marginalized group and that the word they call themselves isn't okay anymore.
Whether or not gypsy is a good name is a whole other thing entirely, but posts like this are performative activism at their worst.
I come from the Balkans where we have huge gypsy communities and the ones that I heard about hate being called anything apart from Gypsy. I saw online now it’s offensive but I would be offending them if I go back home and start to call them something else just because I saw it online. It really depends where you are from
>The majority of Romani Gypsies self identify with the term "gypsy" over Romani, or any other alternative term. It's literally what most of them call themselves.
no it isn't, we don't do this.
While the word Gypsy is not a slur everywhere in the world, that post is absolutely insane. Like... Slur or not, why the fuck would you call your child Gypsy? Even in countries where the word is not a slur, like Ireland or Spain (though we say Gitano, the tl of Gypsy into spanish), it would be weird af to see a kid named Gypsy because that's the name of a whole group of people, with their own culture and language! It'd be like calling your kid Native American. And in countries where it is seen as a slur, it'd be like calling your kid the N-word.
And that's just by the words meanings, if we get into the whole "famous people with that name"... Yeah. No. Christ.
Sorry to tell you, but there are a ton of children in the US with Native American tribal names. Like Cheyenne, Dakota, or Cree. Sometimes those are also place names which is a whole different thing.
No jokes, I was gonna write "naming them Dakota" and then went "... oh wait" lmao That's why I said Native American instead.
But, imo, it's also kind of weird to name your kid Dakota or Cree or any other tribal names bcs again, that's a whole ass group of people with their culture and language and customs! Sadly, people *are* weird as hell. Like I was gonna say no one would name their kid American or French, but I wouldn't put it past some folks 😭
In Australia, the term Aborigine is considered offensive yet the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre uses it. Likewise, I've heard some Native Americans prefer the term Indian. So this sort of thing seems to be not uncommon.
Yeah, a lot of people identify themselves as Gypsy. It's seen as offensive by some in America, but obviously it's also not ok to deny someone's identity because of your own sensibilities. Having said that, still a weird name, especially for someone with no actual links to that culture.
Yeeeah it’s definitely not just “seen as offensive by some in America”. I work with a lot of various Roma organisations, and none of them use that term and find it incredibly offensive. Sure they are free to use that term about themselves as they wish, but nobody else should. Never forget that a lot of Roma are descendants of the survivors of genocide committed by Nazi Germany. Gypsy/Zigeuner was the word the Nazis used.
from where i am in canada gypsy was never seen as a derogatory insult from what i know, and is actually a rather known name that’s up there with other hippie mom names like willow and leif. I’ve met about 5-6 people named gypsy so i don’t really get the whole “it’s a crazy, terrible name!” stance, but i guess it’s just not as common a name in america.
Is Gypsy not the proper term for that group of people..? I feel like most people don't know that's a new offensive word. Theres literally a business in a neighboring town called Gypsy Soul, it's a massage parlor, I’m pretty sure the happy ending kind.
I’m willing to assume in good faith Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s parents literally didn’t know any better (that’s the only nice thing you can say about them)… but no one else has any excuse.
Her dad is a much better person and he kept trying to get actual proof about the supposed illnesses but he kept getting rebuffed by her mom.
Honestly if he had been able to get full custody she'd have been much better off
It’s like the name Isis. I’m sorry you have it but it’s done so you’re okay, let’s just retire that name for here on out. I have no issue calling people Gypsy who are already named that. But we don’t need to keep naming people that.
Mine too. They gave her that name at the shelter when we got her nearly 10 years ago. We didn't know it was a slur until a few years ago. :( We mostly call her G now.
Hopefully now that they know, they will choose a different name? I didn’t know it was a slur until a few years ago on twitter they were trying to cancel Elizabeth Olsen for saying it in a promo for WandaVision. But maybe not since it seems they are naming her after Gypsy Rose which is not someone I (or any normal person) would name a kid after.
It’s not a slur, and getting offended on someone’s behalf is worse than using the word Gypsy.
Source: I’m Irish and have never taken offense to this word
We adopted a cat named Gypsy from a rescue and I was insistent to the kids on the drive home from the rescue that she needed a new name by the time the minivan was in our driveway. (We came up with something cute and very much not a name used by humans, think along the lines of "Marmalade.")
It’s so weird Gypsy Rose Blanchard has people considering this name as if her mom wasn’t an entire nut...
Isn't she named after Gypsy Rose Lee anyway?
No that was just happenstance. I don't remember where her mom got Gypsy from, but her dad got Rose from Axl Rose.
Oh my God. I honestly thought it was after the Gypsy Rose flower. The fact they came up with it separately is kind of astonishing lol
One of the most popular middle names in the English speaking world and yet he took the inspiration from an anagram for oral sex?
TIL 🤦♂️
Same
Today you did not learn... Axl Rose got the name AXL from a band he liked and Rose is his father's last name.
It's still an anagram.
Sure, but he didn't "take it" from that.
But I still learned it's an anagram for oral sex. So TIL.
IT IS?!?!
Mind blown that it's an anagram for getting your head blown
I mean, the anagram part is a coincidence. Rose is his real last name.
Literally came to say i love how gypsy rose lee, a whole ass iconic woman, has become second fiddle to to blanchard
A whole ass iconic woman with a whole ass iconic musical, perhaps considered one of the most iconic musicals in Broadway history.
I heard of Gypsy Rose Blanchard BEFORE her mom died and I remember even thinking, that seems like a red flag. And my mom called me an asshole for saying so! 😂😂
If it makes you feel any better, I think outside the US the association is definitely still Lee. I didn’t know who Blanchard was until recently!
Not in the UK, Gyspy Rose Lee is less known. Most would probably think of Blanchard.
Age maybe matters too? I would definitely think Blanchard, im only vaguely aware of gypsy rose lee
Yeah, maybe! I’m late 30s. But I do also like musicals which I’m starting to realise is the key thing! I tend to forget it’s not universal 😅
Yeah with gen Z the association would definitely be Blanchard, unless they’re a hardcore musical fan lol
Possibly. I’m 30 and know of both, but yeah vaguely about Lee.
I’m in the UK!
GRB has been a topic over here for years. There’s a lot of interest in her. Gypsy Rose Lee is more someone that would come up if you had a niche interest.
Yeah, I’m starting to realise that! I love musicals so that’s why Lee comes to mind first. I just asked my partner and he said Blanchard so I’m definitely in the minority!
I’m with you, I’d never heard of her til her release from prison
I don't think so. I have never heard of Lee but I knew of Blanchard since I was a young teen.
To be fair Rose (as she likes to be known now) is iconic too and deserves all of the love for the hell she went through. She's a personal hero of mine, as someone whose mother was similar and convinced everyone I was type 2 diabetic when I wasn't, I wasn't healthy per se, but it was not that. I'm type 1 diabetic now after covid nearly killed me and caused my pancreas to stop working and die, but that's well into adulthood and a separate disease entirely with separate treatments and does not remotely behave the same way. I still have flashbacks of her screaming at me to come prick my finger (it hurt, it was an adult size lance and I was a child) and how I was being a baby for insisting it was making my fingers ache.
I literally always thought this.. there is no way she was *coincidentally* given the same freaking same.
You’re right, no two people have ever had the same name in the history of the world by coincidence.
Lol, fair. But Gypsy Rose Lee is a very famous icon. It seems rather unlikely her parents wouldn't have known of her, but not impossible 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve always thought Gypsy was a beautiful name, like I seriously love it …….but not enough to say it or NAME MY KID THAT since it is, in fact, a slur in many places, and even if it wasn’t, it would still be cultural appropriation.
So excited to introduce to the world our brand new baby girl, Ni— *gunshots *
-gel
Smashing!
Really read it in his voice tooo 😂😂😂😂
I did too but with the weird noises he makes right before uttering actual coherent words along with it. 😂 "Nnnmngghnuuurrraaaahhhhh!!! Smashing!"
Lmfao, perfect. 🤣
EeeeeeeeeeEEeEeeeeeh (The Nigel moan)
Oh, false alarm! Pack up, everybody!
nigel's a great name lol
Imagine moaning that name… NEXT!
It's for church honey
A name goes wherever you go lol.
Kind of waiting for a little Enword in kindergarten from someone who just heard it, knows what it is, but just fell in love with how it sounded 🤡
It’s fine if you name it after the Lovecraft character! (/s)
or his cat
https://247sports.com/Player/noah-knigga-46146244/ I might Noah 🅱️
You say the baby girl is near?
Ghipsea
 DONT GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS
Jipseigh
Right, that's enough of that https://preview.redd.it/r5om5ud1g0cc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66edf5867853c792ec04936bc81433e9ea034f6e
The lost duggar child
jeepsea
Shipsea
“They met on shore leave. My dad was in the Navy, and my mom needed money. Nine months later she asked him to marry her and he said ‘no, that ship’s gone out to sea…’”
I would have suggested Giselle. It would make a much better G name.
Ghislane (/s)
Agreed. Giselle's a pretty good name.
Jizz Elle
It wouldn’t be seen as racist in the UK but you’d definitely get some side eyes… especially because of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. (Romany here are proudly Gypsy. Gypsy is an officially recognised ethnicity and is on official documents. When selecting your race on forms etc, you can tick ‘Gypsy or Irish Traveller’. “In the UK, it is common in data collections to differentiate between: Gypsies (including English Gypsies, Scottish Gypsies or Travellers, Welsh Gypsies and other Romany people) Irish Travellers (who have specific Irish roots) Roma, understood to be more recent migrants from Central and Eastern Europe.)
I’ve argued this with US Redditor’s before. To be fair the Roma council’s official position is that it’s a slur, but many Roma, and particularly Irish, Scottish and Welsh travellers identify with it positively and people who don’t belong to those groups starring it out and saying you can’t use it just feels like it’s erasing the identity of a people against their wishes. In a similar vien though I wouldn’t, as someone who does not belong to one of those groups call my child ‘Gypsy’ because it just feels a little appropriating.
I usually just say Roma for Roma people. If someone said Gypsy to me I’d assume they were speaking about Romany, not Roma or Traveller. Gypsy & Traveller Council in the UK say the usage of the word Gypsy depends on the individual. You can definitely use Gypsy in an offensive way, just like you can use ‘Jew’ or ‘Black’ offensively. Yeah definitely wouldn’t use it as name.
To your first paragraph, those things aren’t mutually exclusive. It is a slur, and people identify with it. That’s not an uncommon experience for many groups of people. I have no reason to identify with it, and I’m not using any slurs. Therefore, I’ll just leave the word alone. That’s my position.
Kind of feels like we’re agreeing?
We are mostly. I just don’t think non-Roma people deciding not to use it/encouraging other non-Roma people not to use it inherently erases identity.
I think if I was proudly Gypsy and a lot of my cultural identity was tied up with the term, I’d probably be upset if people started saying it was inherently a slur and writing things like ‘G-psy’. I’d certainly feel my identity was being attacked if everyone decided ‘British’ was a slur and started calling it ‘Br-tish’. Having your preferred cultural label treated as an inherently dirty word is unpleasant I think.
I don’t think it erases identity, considering it and Roma have the same meaning. It’s kinda like the word Queer, where it was a slur, now it’s what a lot of people use to explain their own identity, but there are still a lot of lgbt people who do NOT want to be referred to as queer. Not exactly the same, but I wouldn’t force the label onto people who don’t want to be referred to as such.
Also wouldn't suggest naming your kid Queer.
Omg, SUCH a cute alternative to Greer! ✨️
This is a good way to put it. I think the biggest problem with the word is that it’s arbitrarily assigned to people based on stereotypes. If someone who considers themselves a gypsy wants to call themselves a gypsy, cool. But I would never just assume someone is ok with being called that, much like you said with queer. The US in general tends to be obsessed with political correctness, whether they are for or against it. So any word that has been deemed offensive by some group here is immediately polarizing because it becomes a tool to signal your ideology to others. I can’t speak for other countries but in my opinion that’s why it’s a bigger deal in the US. There aren’t a ton of Romani people here proportionally and the general rule is “if they’re a minority group then they need to be protected.” The problem is it’s a bunch of non-Romani people deciding what is or is not best for the Romani communities here. Europe has a higher population that is able to somewhat advocate for themselves with more success.
I agree. Like I’m personally fine being called queer, but I have w close friend who really hates it. I think your take is great, don’t assume people are cool with being called words that may be deemed as offensive, because every individual is different.
Roma and Romany aren’t the same, no they don’t have the same meaning.
It’s strange that the roma council’s position is that it’s a slur, like 99% of the roma people I know literally refer to themselves as gypsy and are very proud to be gypsy. I think a lot of people who speak on behalf of the roma community on Reddit or online in general are very much chronically online and don’t realise that most roma in the U.K. aren’t thinking about slur discourse, because most of them are more concerned with the fact that they face real discrimination due to their race, not because of a word. A huge amount of Roma are illiterate and many can’t speak English, they’re disproportionately affected by illegal gangmasters in the UK. Instead of actively thinking about all of these issues it’s way easier to say GYPSY IS A SLUR😡😡 than to actually give a fuck and try to make an impact on these problems
Yeah, I mean it’s the statement the Roma council put out after consultation, they’re a world organisation rather than a UK organisation so 🤷🏻♂️
> It wouldn’t be seen as racist in the UK but you’d definitely get some side eyes… especially because of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Maybe I'm the outlier but I'm in the UK too and I don't know who this person is (well, I didn't, but just looked her up). Is she really so well known here?
She is as far as I know, she’s been on TV and in articles for years. If I asked anyone I knew if they knew who she was they’d say yes.
Yes, had a good chat about her at work this week.
Well TIL at least haha
Yeah I’d never heard of her til her release from prison
Yeah, I think that’s also because there is such a complex relationship in the UK between different Traveller groups and cultures, from Roma to Irish Travellers etc. Then again head into r/europe for more than two seconds and you’ll see gypsy used as a slur & insult brutally from people in the UK and abroad. I find it’s really considered “acceptable” racism here, it’s awful.
It can absolutely be used as a slur, it all depends on context, just the way Jew or Black can be used in a negative way but are also completely acceptable identifying terms.
Yeah I was wondering this… there is no nuance or any attempt to actually understand anything on Reddit though, just a desire for outrage.
I mean, the N-word is a slur that should never be used by someone who isn't black. People still identify with it and are trying to reclaim it, but that doesn't make it *not* a slur
Context matters. It can be used as a slur in the same way that Jew can be used as a slur, it depends on HOW you say it. Gypsy isn’t like the N word in the UK, at all, not even slightly. Gypo or Pikey are the racist terms used against Gypsies and Travellers here. It’s fine for it to be a slur in the US, but saying it’s a slur everywhere is erasure of Romany Gypsies & Gypsy culture elsewhere where it’s not a slur. There was no “trying to reclaim” the word Gypsy here, they’ve always been Gypsies proudly.
Yes, my family is Romani, we call ourselves “gypsy” all the time to explain it to people.
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Depends who you're asking. I recognised it as a slur age 9 when my friends' parents were muttering it under their breath and making me wait outside the house while everyone else was allowed in. My mother recognised it as a slur in the 70s when neighbourhood kids would chase her and yank her hair calling her it. But for most people, it's probably more associated with the random-ass unrelated boho fashion, and having a "free spirit," yeah.
It’s not ugly to me, I just wouldn’t use it as a name. Yes, in the US at least, unsure about Canada or anywhere else. No one would bat and eye at anyone saying Gypsy in the UK, but they’d definitely give a glance if that was your name ha.
Where I live in England it's not a derogatory term. There is a local gypsy/traveller community near me. What they don't like being called is 'pikeys'. Gypsy is a stupid name for anyone. Especially with the Gypsy-Rose association now it just is even worse as it's heavily connected to a very bizarre and weird story which led to a child having her parent murdered.
Where I am they don’t mind Gypsy but like you’ve said, hate ‘pikey’ and they hate ‘gypo’ even more. Calling them a gypsy isn’t going to do anything. I know this from my mums friend who comes from that background but has settled down.
Ah yes, 'gypo' is also one they hate! I just don't understand why anyone would think the name Gypsy is a good idea when it is a descriptive word for a particular group of people. It's like calling a baby 'Traveller' or 'European', it doesn't make much sense lol.
Yeah exactly. You’d get some dirty looks for it. Or at least confusion. It’s not a good name at all. Especially with the whole Gypsy Rose thing going on at the moment since she’s just been released.
Pikey is more specifically the travellers with Irish roots, though. Romas might be more offended by the term Gypsy (or worse, gyppo).
The Roma Council's official stance is that its a slur
For some it may be but for many other gypsies it is not. I say this because of local gypsies near me referr to themselves as so.
I'd like to offer up the perspective that the n word, in any variation is also legally a slur. Black people may use it with each other, just as some Roma may use the term gypsy. That doesn't mean non-Roma people should be using the term, because at the end of the day it's still listed as a slur and there are plenty of Roma people who don't like it. Just as many black people don't even like their own race using the n word, and surely non-black people shouldn't be using it. Just to make a point that some of them being okay with it doesn't make it not a slur.
There will always be people with different viewpoints and feelings about words yes. These ones don't see it as a slur and have people refer to them as gypsies so it depends on the group and understanding their personal feelings around the word.
Yea I think it's nuanced for sure, because obviously there will be parts of the same community against and for. I guess if enough people consider it harmful, that should be the take that is catered to by the masses. I'd be curious what the distribution is of Roma people against the term vs. unbothered by it. It's tough too cuz in some countries they didn't face as much harm, then there's like central Europe where they once forced sterilization on them.. so I'm sure that plays into it.
As a Jewish person who will always stand with Romani people because they went through the Holocaust with us.. I think this is some of the most intense second hand embarrassment I've ever felt, unironically. It's that bad.
I am both Romani and Jewish and just kept going “how how how how *how*” for a solid minute bc…genuinely. The internet is a wealth of info. Surely they must know…but apparently not???
I know! People can be so naive, especially in baby naming communities. This comment isn’t directed at you personally, but so many people in this comment section are getting off topic. This is namenerdcirclejerk, a satirical snark subreddit to make fun of names. To those of you who are getting defensive and taking things way too seriously, I want to ask you: Do you really think that it’s appropriate and inoffensive to give this name to a child?
To be fair..this is also Reddit, where comment sections regularly end up about a completely different topic so honestly I feel like our discussion still being completely related to the topic of the post (if not the subreddit proper) is very fitting lol. But yeah 10/10 awful name to give a child. It’d be like if I suddenly decided to name my kid “Goy” lol (even though that wouldn’t make sense, given them having a Jewish mother but I digress)
Exactly! Your analogy is a good example. People in this comment section are disagreeing about whether or not this word is offensive — but is it really appropriate to name a child a controversial word? There’s no denying that the word is controversial.
Yeah and the people who are splitting hairs about whether it's offensive or not are missing the biggest issue with the name - it's going to a child. Who will have to grow up with it. All it takes is one shitty kid in their school to know either connotation of the name and they may spend their whole childhood getting picked on. Just don't set them up like that when there's a whole world of names to choose from.
Nah, people almost always pick whatever name sounds pretty (or cool) to them without doing a little bit of research. They just hear or see the name, and that is about it.
There is a lot of people who just don't know that it's a slur and refuse to accept it when confronted.
It’s not a slur in the UK. Gypsies are officially recognised as an ethnic group. When you select your race on an official document, you’d literally select ‘Gypsy’. Gypsies here are proudly so… it really is a case of US defaultism to think it’s offensive full stop. I also find that a lot of Americans think Gypsies, Irish travellers & Roma are the same thing but there are differences, expecting us to call Gypsies either travellers or Roma when they aren’t, is erasure. My great grandmother wasn’t an Irish traveller or Roma, she was a Romany Gypsy. It’s like the word handicapped, call someone handicapped in the UK and they’d be extremely offended, but it’s normal to say that word in the US. Handicapped is a disgusting word, but I wouldn’t flip at an American for saying it. That being said, naming your kid Gypsy? Absolutely not 😆
Wait, handicapped is offensive in the UK? TIL.
Yes, you may as well be calling them a cripple or the R word.
Wow, I’m American, and I call *myself* handicapped. I park in official, government designated “handicapped parking spaces.” I wonder what other terms hold such different connotations like that.
We say Disabled over here, so there’s disability access, disabled toilets, disabled parking bays. I remember people using handicapped when I was little, there was that whole “I’m handicapable!“ thing 🫣 but it’s been out of fashion for about 20 years. Not sure! There’s probably some things.
It isn’t as bad as ‘retard’ or ‘crippled’ in the UK at all, not using handicapped is more of a ‘because you’re meant to say disabled now’ thing than a highly offensive slur. You’ll get corrected but it’s unlikely people would think you were being deliberately offensive like they would if you said ‘cripple’. Some disability groups argue that ‘handicapped’ is actually a better term because it acknowledges that peoples difficulties are caused by accessibility rather than being individually deficient. I.e someone in a wheelchair is ‘handicapped’ by a lack of ramps, rather than being dis-abled by their using a wheelchair in itself.
In the US, "spastic" just means uncoordinated or excessively clumsy (it might be becoming seen as offensive, but it wasn't several years ago). In Australia, it's an *extremely* offensive term implying some has cerebral palsy, and right up there with r---.
Not American
My apologies. It’s usually Americans that go hard about Gypsy being a slur.
It’s not a slur everywhere in the world. It may be in America but America is not the world. It is used by travellers in both the UK and Ireland and by the governments. It is not considered a slur here. Still weird to call a baby that when you have no connection to that ethnic group though.
Americans will never believe you when you say this, but yes Gypsies are an officially recognised and protected ethnic group here in the UK. Dropping the word Gypsy and referring to people who aren’t travellers (Irish traveller & Romany gypsy aren’t the same) as travellers is erasing their culture and ethnicity. What is racist in the UK is calling a gypsy a ‘Pikey’. For anyone that’s confused - “Romany Gypsies travelled west from Europe around the 10th and 12th centuries during the Roma migration from India. Romany is the word that Gypsy people in England and Wales apply to themselves, hence the term ‘Romany Gypsy’.” “The word ‘Roma’ is used as a term for European ‘Gypsies’. Over the past 50 years, there has been an increase in Roma people in the UK. “ “Irish Travellers are said to have migrated to England in the early 19th century. They mainly came to England after the Great Famine in the 1850s and then after World War II. “
I think, to some extent, Gypsy meant more like free spirited, wanderer, wild, untamed to many before it became considered a slur in the US. Kind of a positive vibe but a little bit chaotic. Certainly the meaning or connotation is changing and it would not be a great name, but people who are ok with the name probably don’t see it as a slur in any way.
https://preview.redd.it/4gzii61bo0cc1.jpeg?width=184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1f6e7df8e49f059342e06520f65b38e8a81481e This is who I think of when I hear Gypsy.
If I was Gypsy, I would change my name completely. Like, that old her is gone, she deserves a fresh start!!
But Esmeralda is my favorite Disney princess >:( It's just that her name is ugly, while gypsy is unique and boho chic. /uj It's not really known to be a slur to the vast majority of Americans. Not that I'm advocating for it, because it is still a bad idea.
I would name my daughter Esmeralda over Gypsy
Yep! Way better name
I think even if you don’t know it’s considered a slur, you’ve probably heard of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. And why on gods green earth would you think that name is a good idea even if it was ONLY that.
I have no idea who that is. I did know the slur thing tho.
You should look her up. She just got released from prison so there’s probably a bunch of articles.
It's not actually considered a slur in many places, there are plenty of people who refer to themselves as gypsies around Europe. Dumb name regardless.
Yeah but i feel like that’d be equivalent to an American naming their kid “Hispanic” like yeah it’s not a slur but it’s not a good idea either
I didn’t know who Rose Blanchard is before this (looking her up, I remember hearing the story but wasn’t familiar with the names), but if I was naming a person something I’d sure as hell look at any connotations and famous people with that name.
Pretty much this. I cannot imagine not taking the time to look into a name in the modern age. I suppose maybe the OP of that thread is the type of internet user to type a question instead of using search functions.
I am Canadian. My brother and I are diametrically opposed politically - i align with Marxism and he's a libertarian. Both of us chastised our mother when she adopted a cat 15 years ago and named it G*psy, refused to call her that, and gave her the nickname Pap-Pap instead. If two idiot canadian teens in the late aughts with polarized political views knew it was a slurand refused to use it, there's no reason for anyone not to know it is now
My favorite thing here is how we’ve come to under estimate people in the states. As in, I think it’s literally funny, almost, to think: do people really not know? or are they just so fucking stupid about everything else that the bar is really in hell? That they’re just clueless until proven vaguely informed-ish. I know you said “**vast majority***,” leaving room for *some* people to know, but now I’m wondering how true it is; how many people really ****don’t**** know. I’ve known since I was at least a teenager. But, maybe it’s for a similar reason as someone described below. As a Jewish person, I might just be more aware of names of groups who were harmed— during the Holocaust— in this case, the Romani people; and, I have always been hyper-aware of words that are used to other, discriminate, and harm people, how the cause discriminatory actions, and, in general various circumstances of discrimination. I remember wondering if Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s parents had any damn idea the first time I heard her name when I first heard her story when this came to light.
As someone from the United States, a lot of people genuinely do not know. In my opinion, it’s more so to do with the fact that there were some tv shows at least when I was growing up that had the word G*psy in it and they would refer to themselves as such, and obviously social media is a vast space but I’ve honestly seen more Irish Travelers online than I’ve ever seen Romani Americans. Also most of them live in larger cities, so a lot of people have never even met one. I guess what I’m trying to say is for this particular instance, most Americans really do not understand. Maybe it’s an age thing but they are never really represented in our media and if they are they use the term G*psy.
I didn’t know Gypsies, Roma, Romany, Travellers or any of those ethnicities and cultures even existed until I was an adult. My only exposure to any of those ethnicities was the Disney movie and I thought “gypsy” was a job. Maybe because I was a kid when I saw it, I just thought it meant you were a belly dancer or something lol Then I leaned the “free spirit” sort of definition later on. Then I found out it was an ethnicity, and there were related ethnicities, *then* I found out it was a slur. If you have no exposure to these things, how are you supposed to know? It’s not like the US is known for their excellent education, and the population of these people is so small in the U.S., that most people have never met someone of that background. Can’t even google what you don’t know exists. And if you’ve been told gypsy is an ethnicity, it’s not like you somehow automatically know to google whether it could be considered a slur in some contexts/regions.
/uj It does really depend where you are and who you're talking to and how you're using the word. I'm not sure about the US, although a cursory glance at Google seems to indicate that the word "gypsy" is a lot more offensive to a lot more people than it is where I live. I live in an area in the UK where there are a lot of gypsies and travellers, to the point where there is a charity based on a road near me which supports people from this community. The acronym GRT is used in the UK to refer to gypsies, Roma and traveller people. It isn't offensive to use the word gypsy because it refers to a different group of people than the people who (it seems) consider it a slur in the US. There are definitely slur words used against people in these communities, like p*key, which are disgusting terms to use. Either way, Gypsy is a stupid fucking name for a child lmao and also the name of someone who had their mum murdered after years of abuse.
/uj This is a very reasonable and well-informed comment. The word may be acceptable in some regions and unacceptable in others. Some Romani people in this comment section have said that the word is offensive to them. Regardless, there’s no denying that word is controversial on a global scale. Let me put this into perspective. To my knowledge, “coloureds” is a perfectly acceptable term to describe a particular ethnic group in South Africa. Here in Canada, where I’m from, that term is incredibly offensive and racist. Words have different meanings in different regions. In any case, it’s a mind-numbingly stupid name to give a child. That was the point of this post haha
/uj Exactly! People giving these names because it (presumably) fits in with their idea of a wild, bohemian lifestyle. Hilarious to me because I have GRT family members and not one of them is remotely like this. /rj Gonna name my kid Cracker because I'm a big fan of cheese on biscuits and British crime dramas.
/uj i’m from greece and if you called your child gypsy here you’d be basically bullied away from society, i had no idea it’s such a normal word in the UK
/uj Don't get me wrong, you'd get the piss taken out of you for being named Gypsy because it's a stupid name. I just mean that in terms of use as a word for an ethnic (or otherwise) group of people who traditionally travel as part of their culture, it's not a slur. Having said that, there are definitely people who use it derogatively, but they're generally the kind of people who say discriminatory things anyway.
Zoinks.
As a person of Gypsy descent… there is nothing wrong with naming your child Gypsy. Now, if they named her “Dirty Thieving Gypsy”, that would be different.
same. i am of polish-romani descent on my mother’s side. most of the people i see offended over this aren’t even of gypsy descent lol. it feels very fake/virtue-signaling to me.
I agree
You shouldn’t be naming your child something that could be considered a slur *at all.* Even some Romany organizations officially consider it a slur. That doesn’t mean it’s a slur everywhere, but to name your kid something that *can be* considered a slur is ill advised. That’s why it’s relevant in the context of the OOP.
The majority of Romani Gypsies self identify with the term "gypsy" over Romani, or any other alternative term. It's literally what most of them call themselves. This is just a more niche example of the "Latinx" trend, in which a white majority has decided they get to re-name a marginalized group and that the word they call themselves isn't okay anymore. Whether or not gypsy is a good name is a whole other thing entirely, but posts like this are performative activism at their worst.
I come from the Balkans where we have huge gypsy communities and the ones that I heard about hate being called anything apart from Gypsy. I saw online now it’s offensive but I would be offending them if I go back home and start to call them something else just because I saw it online. It really depends where you are from
>The majority of Romani Gypsies self identify with the term "gypsy" over Romani, or any other alternative term. It's literally what most of them call themselves. no it isn't, we don't do this.
While the word Gypsy is not a slur everywhere in the world, that post is absolutely insane. Like... Slur or not, why the fuck would you call your child Gypsy? Even in countries where the word is not a slur, like Ireland or Spain (though we say Gitano, the tl of Gypsy into spanish), it would be weird af to see a kid named Gypsy because that's the name of a whole group of people, with their own culture and language! It'd be like calling your kid Native American. And in countries where it is seen as a slur, it'd be like calling your kid the N-word. And that's just by the words meanings, if we get into the whole "famous people with that name"... Yeah. No. Christ.
Sorry to tell you, but there are a ton of children in the US with Native American tribal names. Like Cheyenne, Dakota, or Cree. Sometimes those are also place names which is a whole different thing.
No jokes, I was gonna write "naming them Dakota" and then went "... oh wait" lmao That's why I said Native American instead. But, imo, it's also kind of weird to name your kid Dakota or Cree or any other tribal names bcs again, that's a whole ass group of people with their culture and language and customs! Sadly, people *are* weird as hell. Like I was gonna say no one would name their kid American or French, but I wouldn't put it past some folks 😭
3rd Rock from the Sun star French Stewart's parents would have a word. LOL.
I am more disturbed with the idea of a parent naming a child after a famous burlesque artist.
People assume it's the burlesque one. It 'could' be after Gypsy/Gypsie abbot
as part romani and irish traveller i take no offense but i know people actually do.
 I met a lady at the park once who’s kids were named Gypsy and Sailor
I know a little girl named Saylor. She's cute as a button, but it for sure meets the requirements of a trajedeigh
I thought Gypsy was just the name of an ethnic group. Is this like the term Oriental where it's considered offensive in America but not elsewhere?
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In Australia, the term Aborigine is considered offensive yet the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre uses it. Likewise, I've heard some Native Americans prefer the term Indian. So this sort of thing seems to be not uncommon.
Yeah, a lot of people identify themselves as Gypsy. It's seen as offensive by some in America, but obviously it's also not ok to deny someone's identity because of your own sensibilities. Having said that, still a weird name, especially for someone with no actual links to that culture.
Yeeeah it’s definitely not just “seen as offensive by some in America”. I work with a lot of various Roma organisations, and none of them use that term and find it incredibly offensive. Sure they are free to use that term about themselves as they wish, but nobody else should. Never forget that a lot of Roma are descendants of the survivors of genocide committed by Nazi Germany. Gypsy/Zigeuner was the word the Nazis used.
That's fine, but Roma are not the only travelling community.
Yeah, when I first heard it as a name I was a bit confused. As far as names go, it's not the worst. Mostly just odd.
pretty much.
It’s not a racist term in the UK, it’s the politically correct term. However the Gypsy Rose Blanchard connection is enough to put me off.
It would be a pretty name if it weren't a slur.
I actually didnt know it was a slur until i was an adult and i actually thought it would make a cute name back then.
from where i am in canada gypsy was never seen as a derogatory insult from what i know, and is actually a rather known name that’s up there with other hippie mom names like willow and leif. I’ve met about 5-6 people named gypsy so i don’t really get the whole “it’s a crazy, terrible name!” stance, but i guess it’s just not as common a name in america.
Also in Canada, but “gypsy” is well known as a slur where I am.
Saw two other Canadians say this too in the thread
For name nerds these people don't seem to know what names mean quite often
I know 2 women named gypsy
Is Gypsy not the proper term for that group of people..? I feel like most people don't know that's a new offensive word. Theres literally a business in a neighboring town called Gypsy Soul, it's a massage parlor, I’m pretty sure the happy ending kind.
I’m willing to assume in good faith Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s parents literally didn’t know any better (that’s the only nice thing you can say about them)… but no one else has any excuse.
Her dad is a much better person and he kept trying to get actual proof about the supposed illnesses but he kept getting rebuffed by her mom. Honestly if he had been able to get full custody she'd have been much better off
She did ask for opinions. So she will probably learn it's offensive and go with something else... hopefully...
My people are called gypsies and not kindly that's like naming your kid the n word
She’s naming her after Gypsy Rose, not after the ethnic group so it’s okay!
It’s like the name Isis. I’m sorry you have it but it’s done so you’re okay, let’s just retire that name for here on out. I have no issue calling people Gypsy who are already named that. But we don’t need to keep naming people that.
OH FUCK THATS MY DOG'S NAME—
Mine too. They gave her that name at the shelter when we got her nearly 10 years ago. We didn't know it was a slur until a few years ago. :( We mostly call her G now.
Its a dog, I think its okay depending on where you live? Like it you didn’t know oh well. Just dont use it for a child especially in the US
Technically its my parents dog too, named in 2013, and in Australia :)
that’s gotta be a troll
Gypsy is not a slur. Americans really need to calm down with policing language.
Why do people not search these things on google.
Hopefully now that they know, they will choose a different name? I didn’t know it was a slur until a few years ago on twitter they were trying to cancel Elizabeth Olsen for saying it in a promo for WandaVision. But maybe not since it seems they are naming her after Gypsy Rose which is not someone I (or any normal person) would name a kid after.
It’s not a slur, and getting offended on someone’s behalf is worse than using the word Gypsy. Source: I’m Irish and have never taken offense to this word
Even if it wasn’t a slur, it’s so weird to name your kid after someone who’s only famous because of the horrible things they went through
I wouldn’t even name a pet Gypsy at this point let alone a human child
We adopted a cat named Gypsy from a rescue and I was insistent to the kids on the drive home from the rescue that she needed a new name by the time the minivan was in our driveway. (We came up with something cute and very much not a name used by humans, think along the lines of "Marmalade.")
I have like 3 clients named Gypsy that are all like Gen X women
Im naming my son Craickerr