Kevinismus

In German, Kevinismus ("Kevinism") is the negative preconception German people have of Germans with trendy, exotic-sounding first names considered to be an indicator of a low social class.[1] The prototypical example is Kevin, which like most such names came to Germany from Anglo-American culture. Specifically, the 1990 comedy Home Alone, the German title of which Kevin – Allein zu Haus includes the hero's name, is credited with making Kevin to be the most popular boys' name chosen in Germany in 1991.[2] Kevin Costner's 1990 film Dances with Wolves is often cited as an additional factor.[3] Both films were released in Germany in 1991 and were the two most successful films there in that year.[4]

Sometimes Chantalismus ("Chantalism") is used as a female equivalent, from the French name Chantal.[5]

  1. ^ Pribyl, Katrin (26 February 2008). ""Kevinismus": Wie Namen die Zukunft von Kindern beeinflussen". DIE WELT. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ Ein Fall von Kevinismus (in German)
  3. ^ Kevinismus und Chantalismus: Wenn der Vorname zur Hypothek wird (in German)
  4. ^ Top 100 Deutschland 1991
  5. ^ Kevinismus, vermeidbare Kinderkrankheit ["Kevinism, an avoidable childhood illness"] Archived 25 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine in Welt-Online dated 23 December 2007, viewed on 9 June 2013