[ad_1]
When a far-right political journalist and potential presidential candidate started talking about people with “non-French” names, there was only one response: satire.
The humorous site Vite Mon Surname (My name, Quick) was created to offer a one-click test to find out if your name is sufficiently French, on the basis of a repealed law from 1803, and to offer alternatives if it is. unacceptably considered a foreigner.
The Name Checker, a tribute to the popular French online site Vite Ma Dose (My Jab, Quick) where people can find Covid-19 vaccine dates, has some surprises in store.
He no longer suggests Peter, who becomes Nestor; James, who becomes Jules; Rosemary, who becomes Roseline; and that Karen should now be called Carmen. Zinedine, as in Zidane, would be Antoine, and Kylian, as in Mbappé, should become Sylvain.
Behind the fun, however, lies a controversial proposition by Eric Zemmour, who says that insisting on “French†names would help greater integration of foreigners and their descendants.
Zemmour chose the names Muhammad, Kevin and Jordan as examples of those who need to be changed. Kevin, after the 7th-century Irish Saint Kevin of Glendalough, is acceptable, according to Quick My Name, although Jordan – the name of one of Zemmour’s far-right rivals, Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally ( RN), would be Jean. There have been allegations that Zemmour cited him to hide his real target, Islamic first names.
The 63-year-old man, who was a political journalist at Le Figaro, is convicted of incitement to hatred and is best known for his televised diatribes against immigration and Islam.
Zemmour has yet to announce his candidacy for the presidential election next April, but his supporters are reportedly seeking the necessary 500 signatures from mayors willing to bear their names on his candidacy. Polls suggest that if he does, he could garner up to 10% of the vote and pose a credible threat to RN candidate Marine Le Pen by dividing far-right support.
In 2016, Zemmour was castigated after criticizing then-justice minister Rachida Dati – who was born in France but whose parents are from North Africa – for calling her baby daughter Zohra, saying that the choice was “scandalous”.
“I consider that by giving Muslim first names, you refuse to accept the history of France”, he declared on French television.
He said if elected he would reinstate a law of 1803, repealed in 1993, only allowing first names included in the Christian calendar of saints and “ancient history.”
“A Frenchman will no longer be able to call his son Muhammad,” Zemmour said, conceding that he would allow him as a middle name. He also said that the names imported from “Anglo-Saxon†cultures were a mistake.
Since 1993, French parents have not had any latitude to name their offspring and can be canceled if the authorities consider that the first name is “not in the best interests of the child”.
The Renaud family were not allowed to name their daughter Mégane, and other parents were denied Nutella, Fraise (Strawberry), Manhattan and Mohammed Merah after the Toulouse terrorist.
Deamon, as well as Bâbord et Tribord (Bâbord et Tribord) for the twins were also refused.
[ad_2]
