Back in 2010, The Wife and I stayed in a hostel in Brooklyn. We rented a private room, which was furnished with 2 rickety bunk beds, a tiny refrigerator and a sickly little houseplant too pathetic to live.
ME: “Our hostel plant needs a name. What should it be?”
THE WIFE: “… Horst.”
(In Germany, apparently, ‘Horst’ is kind of insulting; like naming your child Igby or Gomez.)
Click here to learn more about the term “Denglish.”
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Oh God, My Wife Is German. 
Horst, Klaus or Guido … are outdated names – but – these outdated names are likely used again to name plants, vacuum cleaners bikes. It makes life so much more colorful. :)
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Still tears in my eyes. I love The Wife’s dry sense of humor. See, we Germans do have a sense of humor and don’t believe anyone who says otherwise.
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We have a neighbor named Horst, which until now just made me giggle inwardly, thanks for letting me know I can laugh outwardly. It is funny, right?
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Totally! I basically asked my wife for the lamest German name she could think of, and Horst came to her mind instantly. :)
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My wife has said since the “Home Alone” movies came out Kevin is a pretty lame name in Germany, but still used on occasion, and not by English speaking expats.
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Horst Tappert (“Derrick”) is one fine actor anyways!
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