He’s colorful and cool, but today’s choice might present some problems.
Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Name of the Day: Bruno.
There’s something about Bruno that reads tough, even thuggish. But that’s at odds with his meaning and history of use. Bruno simply means brown – think brun in French. It’s one of many monikers once chosen to describe the physical attributes of the bearer.
Bruno has been in use for centuries. A Duke of Saxony wore it in the 800s. In the 900s, Archbishop Bruno of Cologne was among the most powerful men in Germany. At least three saints were called Bruno over the next two hundred years or so. While the name could never be called popular, we can find it in use throughout medieval Europe. In fact, Bruno was the given name of both Pope Gregory V and Pope Saint Leo IX.
But the name took on a different tone thanks to Angelo Bruno, the man who ran organized crime in Philadelphia in recent decades. While there was a minimum of violence on his watch – he was nicknamed “The Gentle Don” – he’s still lent the name a certain thuggish tone.
Another Bruno who isn’t doing much for the name’s revival is one of Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters – a faux-hawk sporting Austrian fashion reporter. Thanks to the success of Cohen’s Borat movie, Bruno is headed for the big screen in 2009. We can overlook the mobster, but Cohen’s flamboyant parody could torpedo the moniker.
Or not. Besides the medieval figures, athletes, actors and politicians from all over Europe answer to Bruno. He’s the ursine mascot of Brown University, Cinderella’s pet dog in the 1950 movie and half of Lewis Carroll’s fairy siblings, Sylvie and Bruno. In Spain, Bruno currently ranks in the Top 100 most popular boys’ names. And celebrity chef Nigella Lawson chose Bruno for her son.
In the US, Bruno regularly ranked in the Top 1000 through the 1960s. He fell out of favor, but since 2000, he’s been making a comeback. Last year, he ranked #807. That translates to around 250 new baby Brunos last year.
We can’t help but find Bruno tricky. One the one hand, the “o” ending is hot. Diego and Antonio both rank in the US Top 100, and plenty of parents are considering choices like Leo, Marco and Matteo. He’d fit right in.
If Bruno reads a bit tough, that’s not a bad thing. With starbaby Rocco ranking #448 and choices like Cade and Cole gaining, Bruno could split the difference. He’s part romantic Italiante, part slugger.
We like Bruno and think he’d be a great choice – except oh, that movie makes us nervous! Perhaps the best category for Bruno is “on hold” until after the film’s release. If it fizzles, put Bruno back your list. But if it rakes in even half the cash of Borat? Sadly, Bruno may prove more burdensome than fashionable.
My eyes – they are a-rolling.
There is no way this wouold ever make my list. I would laugh if someone told me they were thinking of it. They might as well tell me they’re thinking of Grub or Hlock. Ugh.
I know.
Darn it, he fits so well for us, too. He’s a family surname (my stepmom’s maiden name) and so fits the theme we have going. There’s so few family surnames that lend themselves to boys, I mean, Rose, in three varieties is a surname in the family for me! (Rose, Belrose & Rosamel) sheesh!
I am really getting tired of Sacha Baron Cohen. Maybe my brand of humor is still too Monty Python/Black Adderish but Borat did nothing but disgust me and I doubt his new one will entertain me much either. *sigh*. Bruno’s aces (reminds me of sturdy loafers for some reason) and with my boys propensity to be chubby toddlers but leonine men, I think it would work beautfully. He’s on my “wait & see list” these days too but wow! would I give just about anything to use him!
I really want to like it. But it just reminds me of hound dogs and gangsters.
Lola – the loafers – shoes in general – I thought of that too because of Bruno Magli. Bruno sounds like Butch, but Mediterranean to me. It’s not up my alley but I wouldn’t be shocked to find one in my baby’s class in a few years when she starts school.
I like many Spanish and Italian names ending in -o- Diego, Antonio, Stefano, and so on, though I haven’t a last name that sounds good with them. But Bruno’s a little too thuggish for me. Someone told me the other day her grandson was going to be named Bruno. She wasn’t too happy about it.
Oh Bruno is adorable, he was on my list for a while. Sounds kinda cute with my last name, too (starts with a B). Our babies will definitely be tall and probably on the largish side, so this name might be a little too stereotypical for us. I can totally see myself with a son name Bruno, though… I just feel like there are way too many people who hate it to actually use it, seems like you’d constantly get “You named your baby Bruno?” comments. I’d like to see it get a little more popular, I’d love to meet a little Bruno.
I want to like this name, and I can appreciate it for others, but perhaps being raised in the Mafia haven of northern NJ has really lent this a “family” feel to me. Just seems like a name you’d give a kid that you want to be a real tough guy… I’m sure, though, that if I met an adorable Bruno he would help turn me around.
I love Bruno. I met a tall, dark, and handsome one recently. I think Bruno could really work, but I see the “tough guy” thing, too. I figured he’d rise for sure, anyway, being an ‘o’ club member. I guess there are enough thuggish ruggish associations to keep him at bay. I don’t think I could use him myself, but I’d love to meet more of them.
Bek, I grew up just south of you, in Central, NJ (Woodbridge). Because of that, I can picture both types of Brunos, the tough, angry dude and the peaceful whale watcher type. With kids who top out at 6’2″ and 6’1″ and anywhere between 175 and 200 but not fat, I definitely think Bruno’s a good choice for us. You jst may yet get to see an adorable Bruno!
Yep. I think this name has been officially torpedoed.
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