S2E8: First names
How do people choose a first name for their child in Germany and Austria? What rules are there which determine the names that are allowed? And why has ‘Kevin’ become such an unpopular first name?
In this episode I talk to returning guest Frauke Rüdebusch from the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache. We look at some of the most popular first names in Germany right now, which names are likely to be advised against or rejected by the GfdS and the registry offices, and some of the more unique and unconventional names that have been registered in Germany over the years.
Outro music: The Music Let You Know by Euphoniques
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About this episode's guest
Frauke Rüdebusch is a research associate at the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (GfdS). She conducts research into many facets of the German language, including in the context of corona. One of her main areas of work also concerns first names (see links below).
Email: frauke.ruedebusch@gfds.de
Photo © GfdS
Links and information
- Website of the GfdS: https://gfds.de/
- "Vornamen" (on the GfdS website, with lots of facts and other information about first names, an area where Frauke is particularly involved): https://gfds.de/vornamen/
- "Wortcast" - Podcast of the GfdS: https://gfds.de/podcast/
- "Wortcast" on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GwU1V8Iyv45mTeB40eeAu?si=d6c1d1f4b6af4fc9
More episodes with Frauke Rüdebusch
This episode was first released on 26.04.2022.
YOTE theme music by Vincent Tone (PremiumBeat.com)