Why Does Germany Hate The Name Kevin?

[@NameExplain]

I hope the provocative title I gave this video didn't upset too many Germans or Kevin xxx

[@sparky6086]

"Handsome" is a bit like "elegant". In engineering. When a complex problem is solved simply and efficiently, the engineering solution is said to be elegant.

[@shanestanton8]

I’m wondering if you missed out on another idea for the disdain started. In the aftermath WW2, some German women might’ve had children fathered by American/ British troops. In those cases, the child might have been given a name that would be more recognizable to the fathers. For example, naming a son William instead of Wilhelm

[@sparky6086]

You're wearing a German worker's outfit.

[@sparky6086]

@@shanestanton8 Also from the occupation followed by decades of huge American military presence. Although the Germans generally liked Americans, since they were foreigners, they weren't necessarily comfortable with their daughters marrying them.

[@wheremysandwich1]

At 6:44 you say Gary when talking about eDarling profiles, did you mean Kevin instead or Gary?

[@m.h.6470]

There is a saying in Germany: "Kevin ist kein Name, es ist eine Diagnose" - "Kevin is not a name, it is a diagnosis" Because "being a Kevin" is a stereotype.

[@Jan_Koopman]

Wie eine männliche Version von "Karen"?

[@Dominus_Potatus]

Looks like this diagnosis is for life...

[@darthplagueis13]

@@Jan_Koopman So ähnlich. Wobei das Klischee beim Kevin meist auf unbehandeltes ADHS und unverantwortliche Eltern rausläuft, die ihre Kinder nicht richtig erziehen.

[@grandsome1]

There used to be Kevin jokes in the francophere, now I know you guys are responsible for this.

[@galier2]

@@grandsome1 In France Kevin also has a similar stereotypical connotation as in Germany, just not that strong. There was a comedian who had exploited that connotation by feminizing the name. Elie Seymoun had a spiel where he imitated some lower class teenagers name Kevina (example kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5PchICEeMSFbcU ).

[@generalkros]

Another thing is the movie "Home Alone". The german title is "Kevin allein Zuhaus" meaning "Kevin Home Alone". That movie definitely had an impact how germans view the name Kevin. It came out at the time when the Kevin-stereotype started to develop.

[@ioeida]

This! And after watching the video I was quite disappointed that Patrick missed out on this one :-(

[@elonmush4793]

I think the stereotypes with names like Kevin started because people of lower socioeconomic status named their kids after characters in American TV shows or movies. Also, Kevin might have been more common in former GDR and thus coming along with a lot of prejudices against East Germans.

[@uliuchu4318]

@@elonmush4793 while i think that to be true for names like Kevin, Justin, Ronny, Mandy and Cindy, not all of these names share the negative burden equally, for example I'd say Ronny does have a "new states"-ring but doesn't share the same amount of bad connotation as Kevin or Justin... But in the end this will be subjective anyway

[@SiqueScarface]

@@elonmush4793 Kevin actually wasn't popular in East Germany. I am East german myself, and I don't know anyone of that name, while I know lots of people with names like Mike (alternative East German spelling Maik), Rocco, Enrico, Kai/Kai-Uwe and Lars. No, the sole reason is that people from lower socioeconomic status are stereotyped to name their offspring after celebrities or chose names that remind them of celebrities. The female equivalents of Kevin would be Chantal or Jacqueline.

[@wannabehistorian371]

Why would being named after Home Alone be a bad thing?

[@DerPatagon]

German Kevin here, gotta say, growing up, it was really annoying because it's just so socially acceptable to shit on the name. There've also been studies that clearly show that teachers are incredibly biased against the name (as well as some other like Mandy and Chantale). Ngl, people can be extremly obnoxious about it and you will NEVER here the end of it and the same three jokes. Doubly annoying since my family isn't even from Germany originally and we all have Celtic names.

[@niveknanorc7316]

American Kevin here,, would like to hear the same 3 jokes about it,,lol,, ancestors from Ireland and of course being here since the potato famine many other countries as well.

[@edi9892]

I'm Austrian and in Germany, even the teachers kept making fun of Austrians and made jokes indicating that we would be dumb and lazy! I felt like a second-class citizen (with third-class being actual foreigners). So, it's not just about names...

[@DrZaius3141]

Those studies have been debunked though. There was no correlation through the name, just a correlation through class. Lower class people are more likely to name their kids "Kevin" (as alluded to) and lower class people are less likely to have the means to support their kids in school. Correlation doesn't mean causation, it mostly means that both things care caused by the same root.

[@DerPatagon]

@@DrZaius3141 Now that's just not true. Every single study has found that names like Kevin in Germany are associated with negative traits and that people react to them with negative bias even when the name is decoupled from any other circumstance. Yes, the name is more prevalent with working class people which might be why the bias started, but there exists a bias regarding the name now that is both provable and not necessarily connected to the class of its bearer

[@thchris]

du kevin

[@atdynax]

Why didn't you show the decline of the name in Germany? Because it started in 2004 when a comedian called Michael Mittermeier said: "Nur Drogenkinder und Ossis heißen Kevin!" Only drug-kids and east Germans are called Kevin.

[@paulojrneto]

One of the two German Kevins I know is East German, Kevin Kuske. (The other is Kevin Kuranyi.)

[@henningbartels6245]

@@paulojrneto and that prooves...?

[@SawChaser]

Yeah, it's basically classism. Increased neoliberal propaganda (Agenda2010, reduction of welfare state, Bild-Zeitung, Hartz4-TV etc.) of the 00's made people look down on the working class and unemployed people and everything associated with it (like names). It's still very prevalent.

[@mondkalb9813]

@@SawChaser The problem is, that the upper classes are well aware of these subtle things and name their kids accordingly, often with very old-fashioned or vintage names, which the lower (income) classes never even would think of. The curse of the use of fancy children names (mostly rooted in American/English-based celebrities) sticks with the children forever and can affect their lives in many negative ways. They probably won't even notice for a long time (with obvious exceptions like "Kevin"). It is like they get labeled for life. These little things are quite subliminal, but may influence the education and careers of young people like the sophisticated use of language which also comes naturally with a wealthy and well-educated upbringing in upper-class homes.

[@michimacho73]

ohhh, now all Kevins cans sue Mittermeier for their disadvantages. Mittermeier will end up poor (imagine payind indemnization to all Kevins) and in jail....

[@DasIllu]

In germany we even have the concept of "alpha-kevins". People so dense, they need instructions to just breath. Kevin has become less of a name but a title only bestowed to the most meritous of jackasses xD To earn the title of alpha kevin though, thats another league.

[@paigey-poo4235]

I know yoy guys aren’t actually waging a tirade against my dad but he’s the only Kevin I know so it feels like you are XD My dads a very nice and responsible man, fyi

[@tovarishlumberjack2356]

legend comment

[@Dominus_Potatus]

Please write the steps one line at a time, I need to breathe

[@DasIllu]

@@Dominus_Potatus Sorry, i am no Kevinstructor. xD

[@Dominus_Potatus]

@@DasIllu where can I hire one? XD

[@domgluhwein]

In my German town there is a restaurant that sells a "Kevin Pizza", with ingredients such as doner kebab, pickles, fried onions, and bbq sauce. The Kevinismus has no boundaries.

[@gwaptiva]

Donner Calzone! All the food groups in one go!

[@kevinsundelin8639]

As a Kevin, I would probably love that pizza

[@meissoun]

There is basically only one generation of Kevins in Switzerland, mostly named after Kevin Costner by women who had a crush on him when he was in his most „handsome“ phase. Which was also around the same time as when Home Alone came out. A few years after that, the name lost popularity, so if you meet a Kevin, you pretty much know his age without even seeing him.

[@stephjovi]

I always thought Kevin's in the German speaking world (I'm Austrian) are all around 31 and named because of home alone

[@fermintenava5911]

"Kevinismus" really is a weird thing here in Germany. I think it's just a (though very stereotypical) boy's name of the 90's, that just became too overhyped. It certainly transports a very Chad - like image, but that doesn't need to be the case. For the record, there's also a female version ("Chantalismus") and a counterversion ("Emilismus"), which is supposed to make the parents look rather educated by given their kids more traditional (but not TOO traditional) "Deutsch"-sounding names.

[@Notfallkaramell]

Since when is Emil german? It sounds foreign to me.

[@stefanfranke5651]

​@@Notfallkaramell It's still a rather traditional name in Germany coming from fr. Emile and lat. Aemilius but has a rather old-timey character. It was most popular around the turn of 19th to 20th century. So parents calling their children Emil or Emilie are stereotypically expected to be part of the posh, higher educated demographic.

[@Cau_No]

Chantal and Jacqueline (or "Schantall" & "Schackeline") with Kevin ("Kähwinn") are often used in some jokes around my area about not-so-bright-parents calling their annoying children. At least, the parents are the culprits for naming and educating them ...

[@JoniWan77]

@@stefanfranke5651 Doesn't help that the German novel "Emil und die Detektive" is eerily similar in its themes to "Home Alone", just in a more traditional story and medium. Both stories depict a young boy having to outsmart adults on his own. Themes, which are very popular to parents, who like to pamper and idolize their children just a little bit too much.

[@peterlustig6888]

Yes, this. The not so bright lower class people gave their kids this british/american names in the past, which damaged their reputation. Also Justin, Mandy, Bradon etc. The intellectual counter parts are names like Theo, Johannes, Maximilian, Wilhelm etc. You immediately think they are smart.

[@The15You]

Okay, hear me out. I was a French Kevin and this name got me so sick that I despise the name just for existing, it's so painful to be a Kevin in France because it has gathered so many bad associations that I pray for every Kevin to have a better life after. Now I use my second name, Florian, and I'm so much happier now, also it means Flower Blooming, how cute.

[@tyreesetranh4074]

The problem is the imbecilic hate and prejudice in French society, yet you've decided to put the blame on your own name. Rather pathetic.

[@The15You]

@@tyreesetranh4074 This name is a curse.

[@xyzaxy230]

"flower blooming" is a fitting meaning for a name shown only later in life (as opposed to "from birth"; I know "later in life" sounds too late, but I'm sometimes bad at describing stuff)

[@The15You]

@@xyzaxy230 Yeah, I'm really happy that I had this name on my Identity card. Unlike many of my friends, I had a perfect name to replace the one troubling me right here all along.

[@cynodont7391]

Stop complaining. You could be a Régis.

[@fernandosoto174]

There's something similar in Latin America. Low or medium-low income parents (some, not all of them) tend to name their kids like caracters in American movies. There are Kevins, Logans, Kimberlys. And there are memes about low income people that are robbers or something like that, and they're named Kevin, Brayan (hispanization of Brian), Kimberly, etc.

[@VitorEmanuelOliver]

In Brazil they just take any name with "son" in the end to make it sound American and then the kids grow up to become soccer players

[@fighttheevilrobots3417]

I taught 8th grade in a US school where the student population was about 70% Latino, primarily from Guatemala and Dominican Republic. The single most common name was Brayan and Brian.

[@fighttheevilrobots3417]

@@VitorEmanuelOliver I also taught with adult Brazilian immigrants and yes, Nielson, Nelson, Jefferson, Bryson, Wilson, etc... very very common.

[@Tony32]

So true, Brayan is synonym of thief. I always see "Cuidado con los Brayans" which basically means Watch out for thieves.

[@michelleb7399]

@@fighttheevilrobots3417 I was just going to say something similar. I teach elementary school in a 80% Latino area, have been for more than 20 years. Brayan et al was really popular with kids in our area a couple years ago… those kids are probably middle/high school now. Kimberly’s too. Right now, “A” names are really big. Lots of girls names Allison, Alison, Allyson.. etc. Kevin was huge a few years ago but still has a strong showing. Also, French sounding names for girls were popular for a bit, too.

[@leelnaanschmimsch3856]

Another thing about "Kevinism" is that it's often also related to stereotypes about people from East Germany (the former GDR) where people tended to give their children "exotic" names, from places where they could not go. Three decades after the german reunification that's still actually a thing.

[@prysrek8858]

And "Schantal/ Chantale/ any other variation of this name." is the female equivalent to Kevin.

[@snailie]

@@prysrek8858 Not just Chantal... Jacqueline will do the trick just as well. As well as Leon... actually there's a bit of a saying in Germany "Leon ist der Kevin für Besserverdiener", which roughly translates to "Leon is like the middle-class Kevin"... Knowing both a Kevin and a Leon (from work, they were past trainees), I must admit I'd much rather have Kevin back than Leon... XP

[@gurkenhamster]

Hab ich so noch nie drüber nachgedacht, guter Punkt! Ossi-Diskriminierung ist echt immer noch ein Riesenproblem, vor allem nach dem Ostdeutschland nach der "Wende" derart vom westlichen Kapital ausgenommen wurde.

[@sincereexistentialist4100]

that's awful.

[@AlexJones-ue1ll]

@@gurkenhamster "vor allem nach dem Ostdeutschland nach der "Wende" derart vom westlichen Kapital ausgenommen wurde." Du meinst nachdem die ehemaligen sozialistisch heruntergewirtschaften und maroden Strukturen abgerissen wurden und durch Westbillionen wieder aufgebaut wurden.

[@Kunaimaru]

"The Kevin" and "The Brian" are common names for robbers in Latin America. I think their mothers listened to backstreet boys.

[@missguided8503]

"Backstreet Boys" takes a whole different meaning in Latin America.

[@WTXYN]

ÈL KĘVÏŃ Ÿ ÊŁ BRÃĮÂŃ

[@emmanuelg.3999]

El Kevin, el Braian y la Jennifer...

[@Kunaimaru]

@@emmanuelg.3999 Falta la Kimberly xD

[@razzmatazz1974]

"-Se perdió la hermana del Kevin! -La Sharon? -No, todavía la están buscando!" (Leer con acento argentino)

[@cheviidevii]

I guess that explains why they hate calling up Kevin Volland for Germany Football Team even though he is a capable footballer.

[@fermintenava5911]

Which is weird, since a lot of other German footballers are named Kevin, too :D

[@SantomPh]

Kevin Kuranyi as well

[@BernardandManny]

@@SantomPh Kevin Kuranyi does have a very Kevin-y vibe to him, though. And he still managed 50 caps. With Volland, it's less the name and more the fact that he can't hit a cow's behind with a banjo.

[@LautaroArgentino]

Here in Argentina there's a similar thing. Names like Kevin, and other Anglo names, are seen as low-income, poorly educated and problematic. I think naming your child with a name from a foreign culture you don't belong to is seen as in super poor taste throughout the world.

[@martinmaynard141]

Serious question: In Muerte en Buenos Aires, when the Cops go to the gay club and say to the owner they are looking for someone called Kevin and he replies "Acá todo se llama Kevin" is he saying that they are all 1) Lower class or 2) they are all rent boys/petty criminals who might be wanted by the police? I have often wondered why that scene was included in the trailer.

[@LautaroArgentino]

@@martinmaynard141 just watched the trailer, and no I don't think that's what the film meant. I don't think the "Kevin" stereotype would frequent a gay night club, but maybe it makes sense in the movie itself?

[@EpochUnlocked]

Didn't Argentina have a solid german population with a Prussian influence?

[@LautaroArgentino]

@@EpochUnlocked You might be thinking of Chile. We had a lot of German immigrants as well, but they weren't many compared to other groups like Italians, Spanish, French, or Polish. Furthermore most of the Germans who came here were Volga Germans, from Russia.

[@EpochUnlocked]

@@LautaroArgentino I might be. Prussians and many germans lived in Poland, and might have went to Chile from there. Prussia is the old name for the area in which German invaded Poland over in ww2. I think it's called Danzig now. It swapped hands between Germany, Poland, and Russia. Maybe that's why you got all of those together in that area of South America.

[@nettcologne9186]

The study showed that teachers tend to associate names like Kevin, Chantal, Mandy, Justin, or Maurice with poor performance and behavioral problems (in Germany).

[@harounbraik868]

Funny because in France most if not all people named Maurice and Chantal are at least in their 40s

[@henrychinaski8686]

As a german I dont know anybody called Maurice. You sure you have the right name there?

[@darthplagueis13]

@@henrychinaski8686 As the son of a teacher who has had one (well... sort of. The mother of the kid once insisted "My son isn't named Morris, he's named Mow-ritz-eh!"), yeh. But it seems to be one of these self-reinforcing cliches. I don't think my mom has had a Mandy yet, but as far as the others are concerned, she's absolutely been having issues with kids of those names.

[@fermintenava5911]

That's strange. I knew all of three Mandys in my generation - none of them was treated especially bad.

[@swanpride]

Since I were doing a lot of volountary Youth work twenty years ago, I can relate. The most difficult child was pretty much always a Kevin.

[@ericbosken3114]

There used to be a popular Malaysian Chinese kid singing duo named... Kevin & Karen. My kids had a couple of their vcds. Guess the names have not aged that well in Germany!

[@SecularEvil]

Oh wow

[@envitech02]

I'm Malaysian myself. Never heard of them.

[@ProctorsGamble]

Nor in the USA where there are so many Karens now

[@tbk2010]

Parents of lower economic classes tend to give their children names that they, at the time, associate with a higher class or more reputable culture. Obviously this backfires if too many of them do it with the same name at the same time. In case of "Kevin" it's likely that "Home Alone" made them associate the name with Hollywood, the USA in general, and the upper-middle class shown in the movie.

[@gwaptiva]

See, that's where using US examples for prestige is the wrong way. One day the Plattenbaumuttis will understand that your kid needs to be called Farquar or Quintin to get anywhere... and yes, at that point your point about backfiring will apply but at least I'd have the enjoyment of seeing foreign F&Qs being really surprised about why people snigger at their names

[@lp-xl9ld]

"What's in a name?" --Shakespeare, c. 1595, "Romeo and Juliet" "Depends what the name is." --Pretty much anyone, these days

[@sw3d3nlol]

Here in sweden names like kevin and other anglo-saxon names are usually given by young lower class parents. Also most of these names are given special spellings like Cevin or anyelika. It's typically viewed as super trashy by the middle class and it often becomes a problem when the person grows up and tries to be taken seriously as it cements the lower class into the lower class.

[@christiankastorf1427]

And then you have low-education background Germans who give their little ones hyphenated names that make them the laughing stock of the entire neighbourhood and school like Emil-Ernesto, Jeremy-Pascal, Liam-Torsten, Marie-Cheyenne, Charice-Chantal....

[@nonexistent608]

That seems very problematic. Maybe don't judge people by their name.

[@sw3d3nlol]

@@nonexistent608 Such a Skyler response :(

[@christiankastorf1427]

@@nonexistent608 The philosophical problem is the difference between causality and parallelity. Certain names and certain misbehaviour do not rely on each other even when they are statistically more present in certain groups of society.

[@Nickelini]

"We Need to Talk About Kevin" - LOL, I see what you did there!

[@hermask815]

That movie was hard to bear.

[@michelleb7399]

@@hermask815 how did it compare to the book?

[@hermask815]

@@michelleb7399 I only saw the movie. it wasn’t a bad movie, just the relationship portrayed gave an uncanny feeling. I don’t know how much it deviated or stayed true to the book. I saw the movie on a local film festival where movies are shown that wouldn’t necessarily hit the regular cinemas.

[@kevinsuggs1]

Kevin Hart is the leader of all Kevin's. At our bi annual meeting we will discuss this video and you'll be hearing from Mr. Hart for our rebuttal video.

[@Boop__Doop]

Das füken you

[@augustcannon]

I voted for Kevin Bacon

[@kevinmark9854]

Kevin James

[@kevburke]

I think we can all agree that Spacey can go and join the Gavins. They can have him, the dirt bag.

[@klauskruger6187]

Bullshit. It's Kevin Keegan.

[@938oooo]

As a German Kevin it wasn't easy to live with this name. Sometimes I felt like a "untermensch". With this name you are branded in this country. I tend to use my middle name, because life is just easier with it

[@Ceranfeldhamster]

I (as a German) do not know where the stereotype comes from but it definitely exists. I cannot really say whether I like the name or not but I associate the name with the prejudices. I don’t think about it anything as much when hearing the name in English though. (For example when watching an American film)

[@SawChaser]

One word "classism". The name is associated with poorer people and poor people are looked down upon in Germany, especially since inflammatory tv shows (Hartz4-TV) that propagate the belief that poor people should be looked down upon went up in popularity in the 00s. These tv shows and other forms of media (Bild newspaper) coincided with increased neoliberal politics like Agenda2010 that hurt poor people the most and created a huge low wage sector.

[@mondkalb9813]

@@SawChaser Oh yes, the media. Don't get me started on RTL, Sat1, or BILD and the like. Notably TV shows. Horrible stuff.

[@matildacarlstedt]

This is a thing in Sweden aswell. It used to be the ”y” names (ending with a y) like Jonny, Conny, Ronny, Sonny, Tommy and so on. Now it’s more Kevin and maybe Robin. It says something about the parents and some people are judgemental. Only names that made me glare a bit (not proud of it) is Hayley and Hilton - siblings. And yes the mother looked like someone enjoying ”The simple life” series.

[@kackerlakensalat]

Hilton 😂😂😂😂

[@jdu7729]

Wait, Kevin beeing synonymous with stupid isn't a universal concept!? Next you want to tell me Schandall isn't either...

[@saft_morlol]

I can confirm, that we from Germany don't like the name Kevin and I know somebody who goes with the name Kevin, he takes it with humor.

[@Ddeletham]

German here: The last pronunciation of "Kevinismus" was the closest :) Though it doesn't seem to be a solely German thing. There's even a subreddit about Kevins (in English): r/StoriesAboutKevin

[@strangeworm4562]

Stories about Kevin came from a reddit post, it was about a teacher talking about the dumbest person they ever met and people liked it so much they started a subreddit for it

[@Ratryoshka]

The funny thing is 'Kevin' is a go-to or stereotypical name for Chinese Southeast Asians, and it has become a meme (idk i saw this meme on 9GAG saying are you a 30% Kevin or a 60% Kevin?)

[@NondaIE]

Irish Kevin here, seems to not be associated with anything in Ireland, not complaining judging by the other comments lol! Love my name :)

[@cm8692]

you said "Caoimhín" perfectly! it sounded exactly how it would be said in the Ulster dialect!! (other dialects would say it like qweev-een but Ulster says it like key-veen which is just as valid as the other dialects!)

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

Changing your name from Kevin to Adolf to improve your chances on dating websites.

[@juanitoice]

In Mexico there is a similar negative stereotype associated with both Brian and Kevin. Funny thing is that it's far more common to see "Brayan" a version based on Spanish phonetics. Because of the show the Wonder Years and movies like Home Alone, the name Kevin boomed into popularity in the late 80s/early 90s but most of them were born into lower-income families in poor neighborhoods so they were quickly associated with living in "el barrio" a.k.a. the hood/the ghetto and then eventually with gangs, drugs and thievery once they became teenagers/young adults. Eventually "El Brayan y el Kevin" have become running gags as names of hood thieves that mug and stab people and use hard but cheap drugs like paint thinner and glue. In regular Spanish, articles like "El" or "La" should not be followed by a proper name for a person, except for nicknames like "El Chapo", so you wouldn't see things like "La Jessica or el Jorge" in most conversations or contexts, but it's a common feature in hood Spanish in central Mexico so calling them "El Brayan y el Kevin" reinforces the idea that they are from the hood.

[@sparky6086]

"Handsome" is a bit like "elegant". In engineering. When a complex problem is solved simply and efficiently, the engineering solution is said to be "elegant".

[@kiga14]

I haven't been treated badly in Germany because I'm named Kevin, but some people there have told me of this association when I introduced myself.

[@holger_p]

It's not taken so seriously I think, more kind of a running gag.

[@Azaghal1988]

To be honest I as a german don't equate "Kevin" the Name with "Kevin" the stereotype. You can be named Kevin without being a Kevin and you don't need to be named Kevin to be a Kevin. Just like not every Karen is a Karen, but people with other Names can be Karens.

[@stefanfranke5651]

True

[@kiga14]

Glad to know.

[@powerviolentnightmare5026]

Well, if you met German people named Kevin you would know.

[@whosays1977]

This is amusing considering I have a fully German cousin here in the US named Kevin (born in 1977). I will have to share if/when I see him again.

[@mhnbchaos2992]

In Latin America Kevin is also seen as a "Bad name", ehen someone goes out late at night we even joke saying "Be careful with the Kevins", Same thing with the name Bryan

[@vexillarius6376]

Váyanse a dormir que a esta hora salen los Kevines

[@GravitaryCOM]

Kevin's female equivalent would be Jaqueline, made famous by: "Schakeline, komm weg von die Regale, du Arsch!" Yes, those names are easily being associated with asocial families who are abusing the social system. They are associated with the ones, where the mother buys cigarettes from the Hartz IV money they get and the kids steal in the stores. I dislike having such a negative association with those names, but that's just the way any Kevin or Jaqueline has ever behaved in front of me.

[@christiankastorf1427]

little correction: it is "anti-social" in English. That word is even more powerful than our German "asozial" because our word only expresses that those people live outside society. compare to "atypisch", "a" = "un". But anti-social means that this scum lives from society against society.

[@nonexistent608]

Names don't dictate behaviour, it seems like you're just prejudiced.

[@kevley26]

Me (a Kevin) from the US planning on going to school in Germany......uh oh

[@938oooo]

Better not they won't like you😂

[@FlavioDeBern92]

german here. just to clarify: while the name kevin is typically associated with families of lower social status, the term kevinismus can be applied to any instance of parents giving their child an obnoxiously ridiculous name (usually foreign or "exotic" names) independently from social status. for example, an upper class family naming their kid pierre or giuseppe could also be classified under kevinismus. the only difference would be that american culture is everywhere in german media and therefore the knowledge of american names is "available" to everyone, whereas french and italian are usually more associated with things that are stereotypically seen as especially "cultivated" or requiring some sort of "elite-like" status, like watching an opera, reading french philosophy, any other pretentios high class stereotype, etc

[@eriktaylor754]

Having a mother who was an accountant named Karen and a half brother named Kevin, both live up to these broad-based reputations before they became a "thing." I became so ebarased by their behaviors I changed my surname away from my adoptive Germanic one matching theirs, to my biological Scottish one. Names are quite powerful, often times some individuals do their best to live up to the meanings of theirs.

[@damenwhelan3236]

Kweevian. Becomes keevian. Becomes keevin. Became Kevin.

[@christopherhuang9501]

The last time I heard anything about the name Kevin in relation with Germany, it was just after "Dances With Wolves" came out and a newspaper article remarked on how Kevin Costner's popularity had led to this Irish name becoming suddenly popular in Germany of all places.

[@martinsenoner8186]

Kevin was the name of Kevin McCallister (home alone): in german "Kevin allein zu Hause", "Kevin - Allein in New York" and "Kevin - Allein gegen alle"

[@irinka_kat]

🤣🤣🤣 I'm from Germany and sadly people whose name is Kevin that I know fit the stereotype. For women, Chantal is the equivalent of Kevin here.

[@d0pomein]

"Kevin is a dad name" Can confirm. Is my dad's name

[@kevinchristiejr658]

As a Kevin I approve of this message.

[@familiebutterfly7661]

Hi I'm from Germany. The son of a friend of my mother is named Kevin, he visits my brother once a year because they are good friends and I can say we get along but most of the time he is annoying. He is a big troublemaker at home, always doing what he is not supposed to and a lazy Gamer, but we make no fun of him because of his name. In my school is a girl named Chantale, here again makes no one fun of here name. Atleast I never heard someone doing it.

[@geosophik9369]

Judging people by their names without knowing them. Sooo human. LOL

[@ye9803]

You can´t blame them really, prejudice exists. Always has. Most of the time it´s unconscious tho and people wouldn´t really want to make an effort in order to change that if it has no benefit for them. It´s essentially all based on numbers and the "likeliness" of something to happen (in the case of Kevin - them being rather uneducated and growing up in a lowerclass household), same reason why some people still think it is okay to judge people based on their skin colour or ethnicity "because numbers suggest they are more likely to commit certain crimes" (hence the right party in Germany still receiving 10-15% of all votes)

[@terriludolf6101]

In Germany Kevin always has a sister called Chantal

[@cesarefumare]

Similar phenomenon in Poland. Kids with names Brian and Jessica (in their polonised versions - Brajan and Dżesika) are like memes. This German Kevin thing is equivalent to the diminutive of the name Sebastian. Seba or Sebix is the ultimate Polish chav.

[@LautaroArgentino]

Here in Argentina it's the same. I wasn't aware that Kevins, Brians, Jessicas, etc. were such a global thing lmao

[@Sillykat420]

Interestingly, here in the UK Sebastian is quite a stereotypically "posh" name you wouldn't expect a chav to have. I think the name I most associate with that stereotype is Kyle, along with diminutive forms ending in -z or -zza (eg Gazza, Baz, Kez, Daz)

[@TheSlurpeeMan]

My experience with Germans has been okay? Although I guess any German who leaves Germany isn't going to be that judgemental. Maybe I'll get judged if I go to Germany...

[@DasIllu]

It is that you being named Kevin has a different background than the people here being namend Kevin.

[@Feldiii]

Come here and we'll judge you if you want 😌

[@meplays5269]

That depends. I think most germans will notice, put a mental note down and assess you a little bit more closely but ultimately put you into "normal" territory without you even noticing much. If you happen on to the other crowd just nope the heck outta there, cause this wont be the only judgement they will be making on you and everything else.

[@faultier1158]

Some things like unconcious bias are only visible on a statistical level - like Kevins getting worse grades on average for the same kind of work in German schools. I don't think an adult Kevin will face much active hostility though, but people might make stupid jokes from time to time.

[@LEK]

@@DasIllu No it has the exact same background. Its parents giving their children a name.

[@cennethadameveson3715]

Saint Kevin of Glendalough (Kevin = fair born) was a good looking monk! So good looking he was he was a megababemagnet. So prayed to God to be made ugly and God did and Kevin was left to the have a peaceful time in prayer.

[@OpasgegenLinks]

This guy looks like an insane scientist from a children‘s show

[@anupamasaha562]

if the thumbnail had kevin from home alone that would be funny

[@ottosaxo]

That's not hatred. It only means that Kevin's parents are easily led, too deeply impressed by a random movie.

[@CieJe.Alexander]

All through this video I kept hearing the family from the film 🎥 😱 Home Alone 😱🎥 yelling "KEVIN!"

[@0x777]

"Kevin" is to Germany what "Karen" is to the US: A pariah name.

[@herrgodfrey9563]

Honestly, where I live, in the Midwestern US, the name; 'Keven', is associated with trailer trash or a low economic background, as well. Maybe it's because the largest majority of Midwesterners have dense, German ancestry? 😂

[@alexreid1173]

I also live in the Midwest, and I honestly never made this connection? I know many Kevins, but I admit I’m also from a lower income community. Not necessarily a trailer park but still

[@Nomed38]

I went to school with 2 different guys named Kevin. One was a denizen of a trailer park and the other was a good mechanic that had a collection of cars and huffed paint.

[@Azaghal1988]

Don't know it there's a connection. The negative Stereotype of the name Kevin comes from a Wave of People calling their sons Kevin after "Home Alone" (the german Name of the movie was Kevin allein zuhaus)

[@paigey-poo4235]

Oh on the west coast it’s just… a name? My dads name is Kevin. He’d just a guy

[@zephyr733]

My name is on the Kevin list and it went so out of hand i got my name changed legally.

[@sizanogreen9900]

Alpha Kevin

[@carlosvaldez4356]

In Mexico, the names Kevin and Brian (although spelled Brayan) are associated to someone who might knife you/ mug you on the streets

[@Dominus_Potatus]

Just be careful when you are walking at night

[@leannezezeski-sass2773]

So Kevins are basically like Kyles in the US

[@prismaticc_abyss]

As a german I remember when we used to make fun of the name Kevin as teens in middle school but it dwindled into obscurity by the time we reached ~year 8-9. I havent heard any Kevin jokes or even met a Kevin in years

[@ryanwoodard418]

Caomh didn’t mean “handsome” though. It meant something more along the lines of “dear” or something familiar and associated with the home or family.

[@ficheallach]

That's what I was thinking. I've never heard/read "caomh" (old Iris "cóem") meaning "handsome".

[@muzyquest]

@7:00 I guess that a correspondence between lower social background and English-sounding names is common in many non-English speaking countries. For instance in Poland the names like Oliver, Bryan, Alan, Amanda, Mia are definitely more popular among lower classes, while the upper classes are more into the "old-fashioned" names like Franciszek, Stanisław, Witold, Łucja, Wanda.

[@katjagolden893]

So Kevin can be a masculine version of Karen. Its bad enough I have 2 Aunt Karen’s.

[@modmaker7617]

A male Karen is called a "Darren". IDK way. I guess it rhythms.

[@katjagolden893]

@@modmaker7617 - that’s new to me. Never heard a male name for some idiot before.

[@CarolineBearoline]

I love the bib overalls ❤️ thanks for the call out

[@Notfallkaramell]

German Abitur student here. I have a Kevin in my class. he breaks the stereotype for sure. He is one of the smarter ones of the class. And a bit of a workaholic.

[@paigey-poo4235]

Sounds like me dad too! Growing up with him it feels weird to associate the name with anything other than an aggressively hard working person!

[@justinianthegreat154]

Lol wtf, a name is just a name

[@BewareOfTheKraut]

Alpha Kevin & The Karens …could become a killer underground band name in Germany.

[@TheLowstef]

A video on Kevin and zero mentions of Home Alone? Seriously?

[@ChrisTian-rm7zm]

Kevin used to be a very popular name in Germany, which started with the soccer player Kevin Keegan, the actor Kevin Costner and of course the movie "Home alone". The decline of the name began much later, I think in the 2000s.

[@klauskruger6187]

Yes, you are right. Kevin Keegan. I was watching him playing. He was great.

[@ZestonN]

In The States, Kevin is essentially a Male Karen. Then, there's dubious Kevins like Kevin Spacey.

[@benjaminprietop]

Something similar happens here in Latin America. It's quite common for people of lower classes to give their children English names, often misspelled, like Brayan, Kimberly, Deisy, Jonathan. So, there's lot of memes and stereotypes about people with names like that being robbers, criminals or simply uneducated.

[@jorgehaswag7294]

As an American gen z I see Kevin as more of a 90s kid name rather than a dad name

[@leannezezeski-sass2773]

I mean 90s kids are actual dads now....

[@kof867]

I’ve never had any issues with my name being Kevin, didn’t even know it was a thing, then again I’m Irish and it’s quite a common name

[@sirperybLakeney]

Actually, maybe you're too young to know, but Kevin or Kev used to be used as a term indicating someone was lower class in Britain during the 80s and 90s. It probably came about due to the name becoming poular for working class kids due to the celebrity of Kevin Keegan in the 70s and its popularity coincided with the working man's game being associated with crowd violence. It actually was used in a very similar way to how Chav later would be. I wouldn't be too surprised if the German attitude to the word is a hand-me-down from Britain. Incidentally, Sharon was used in much the same way for women.

[@jeremybeau8334]

I had a germany girlfrined, she told me the "Kevin" name is a name for a blond kid with freckles, not very smart that misbehaves... cause is an english name, but i think the name "bad reputation" comes more from the USA than from the U.K. but i don't really know, i don't know what does germans really thinks of brits.... Im from Mexico by the way.

[@baptistemarfaing4509]

It’s the same in France

[@jensschroder8214]

The movie "Kevin allein' zu hause" = "Home Alone" made the name negative in Germany. Which parents leave their child at home alone?

[@abcdef27669]

When Germany hates something, you can expect the worst thing to happen...

[@Nikedemos]

"(...) we need to talk about Kevin" Ha. See what you did there.

[@Kantirant]

I can confirm that Kevin is a cursed name here in Germany.

[@DukeDukeGo]

Worse than bias on dating sites is probably the bias teachers and employers have against Kevins. There's been studies done on this. For example, they are often described as more disruptive in class than kids with "normal" german names. Other names this stereotype applies to are Mandy, Chantalle, Jaqueline, Justin, Jeremy. And adults with those names are most likely from former East Germany.

[@henningbartels6245]

The majority of Est Germans are not named Mandy, Chantalle, Jaqueline, Justin, Jeremy or alike and didn't have bad behaviors in classrooms - just to be clear.

[@heleneloh6133]

I think the root of Kevin`s unpopularity lies in the time of the reunificitaion of Western and Eastern Germany. The eastern Germans had a tendency to give theire children explicitly western or anglosaxon names like Kevin, Lucy or Maddy and, due to a lack of knowledge of the english language, often even spelled them wrong like Luzie or Mäddie. Combined with wide spread shovinistic views to that time, seing Eastern Germans as undereducated, culturally left behind people, this, I think, let to the current bad conotations with anglosaxon names in general. Why Kevin specificilly may actually have to do with the popularity of Kevin Costner in Germany during the 90s, especially among blue collar members of the German society.

[@3lli0]

For me, Kevin falls into the category of ruined by TV or film. Every time I hear the name Kevin, home alone comes to mind. Another example of this is Oliver. All I hear is the song from the movie Oliver. Rupert is just Rupert the bear. Annie with the movie Annie etc

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

From my understanding of Gaelic, it would be pronounced more like "Cow-wen" or "Coy-wen". The combination of MH should be like a "yw" sound.

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

My partners name is Steve and whenever he makes a Kevin joke everyone tells him that with his name he is on thin fucking ice too. Gotta love German humor sometimes. He takes it in stride.

[@KA-tu2em]

My name is Kevin and my twin brother is Patrick. We’re Irish American

[@steinerdrei]

The movie "Home alone" had the title "Kevin - allein zu Haus" in Germany. It is assumed that many German Kevins were named after that Kevin. It is also scientifically proved that poorer people more often name their children after movie characters or celebreties. That probably made Kevins bad reputation.

[@dorydarkling5596]

My dad's name is Kevin. He's also part German way way way back.

[@PathsUnwritten]

At least they don't hate bacon.

[@KCKingdomCreateGreatTrekAgain]

Kevin is a fine name unfortunately this generation wants every name to be unique.

[@Tricolorrr533]

A better question would be "who doesn't hate the name Kevin?"

[@niveknanorc7316]

idk,,kinda like it~

[@Oscario2004]

Damn, bro

[@Tricolorrr533]

@@niveknanorc7316 you're lucky your name is kevin backwards, that's already a lot better tbh

[@niveknanorc7316]

@@Tricolorrr533 lol

[@justinianthegreat154]

I like it

[@12kenbutsuri]

I guess name that starts with a and ends with dolf is also not so liked anymore.

[@Jan_Koopman]

Fictional Kevin: Kevin E. Levin (yes, that is his canonical full name) "Kevin 11" from Ben 10 (the original, not the reboot)

[@ЮрийБогомолов-б8щ]

And he started as a criminal. Common Latin American stereotype

[@smugglergoblin9503]

German and English are closely related (i think i dont need to explain this to everyone) and in German we have the word "handzahm" which sound similar to handsome. Hand also means hand in German. Handzahm is a word for tame animals that are easy to control and dont bite if petted.

[@camelopardalis84]

Meine Güte, ich glaube ich habe das Wort "handgezähmt" seit problemlos 10 Jahren nicht mehr gehört! Und ob ich jemals "handzahm" gehört habe, weiss ich nicht. Wahrscheinlich aber schon. Ich lese und höre sooo wenig auf Deutsch, daher bin ich mir bestimmte Wörter einfach überhaupt nicht mehr gewöhnt. "Gamaschen" ist so ein Wort. Ja, also ich noch Comics mit Dagobert Duck gelesen habe, war ich mit dem Wort regelmässig konfrontiert. Doch wo sonst hört man dieses Wort?

[@1098765432wo1]

Not judging people by their name something a Kevin would say.

[@RavenFilms]

Those “K” names…. My name is Krystle…. I’m in trouble.