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His name had me very, very confused. Wikipedia says his full name is Zoltan Istvan Gyurko. That makes a lot more sense. I don't think there's an English common

His name had me very, very confused. Wikipedia says his full name is Zoltan Istvan Gyurko. That makes a lot more sense. I don't think there's an English common name that is the equivalent of Zoltán (It comes from the word sultan), István is Steven. So if we just pick another common English name, calling him Zoltan Istvan is a lot like someone having the name Robert Steven. Gyurkó on the other hand is a normal Hungarian family name.

underyx 11y ago
Actually, family names that can also be first names are quite common in Hungarian. There are even people who have the same first and family name, such as István István. Edit: Heh, case in point: https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istv%C3%A1n_Istv%C3%A1n https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istv%C3%A1n_Istv%C3%A1n
- stoolpigeon 11y ago
  Huh - in the 4 years I've lived in Hungary I've yet to come across this. Of course that isn't that long - but enough that seeing Zoltan Istvan messed me up. Thanks for pointing that out - it's interesting.
  - Create 11y ago
    It's only from Napoleon, that there are names you are familiar with: and only in territories he occupied (much like SI, house numbering etc.). The places he didn't invade would keep names like "Bush House, London", or names like "Richardson" ...son of Richard. Zoltan Istvan is for Zoltan's son Istvan and he presumably would be from somewhere like Transylvania, where Napoleon (~ administration) never got a foothold.
- mcv 11y ago
  It's also common in the US. Surnames like Harrison or Taylor are surprisingly often used as firstnames.
coldtea 11y ago
>calling him Zoltan Istvan is a lot like someone having the name Robert Steven Actually there are lots of persons with names like "Robert Steven" and similar ("first names" as surnames).
teh_klev 11y ago
My first name and surname are both what you would consider first names, it's not that unusual, or maybe it's a Scottish thing. It does make for some really annoying conversations, both analogue and electronic where people call me by my surname e.g "Hi Kenny", and then I know they're not actually paying attention.

underyx 11y ago

Actually, family names that can also be first names are quite common in Hungarian. There are even people who have the same first and family name, such as István István. Edit: Heh, case in point: https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istv%C3%A1n_Istv%C3%A1n https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istv%C3%A1n_Istv%C3%A1n

stoolpigeon 11y ago
Huh - in the 4 years I've lived in Hungary I've yet to come across this. Of course that isn't that long - but enough that seeing Zoltan Istvan messed me up. Thanks for pointing that out - it's interesting.
- Create 11y ago
  It's only from Napoleon, that there are names you are familiar with: and only in territories he occupied (much like SI, house numbering etc.). The places he didn't invade would keep names like "Bush House, London", or names like "Richardson" ...son of Richard. Zoltan Istvan is for Zoltan's son Istvan and he presumably would be from somewhere like Transylvania, where Napoleon (~ administration) never got a foothold.
mcv 11y ago
It's also common in the US. Surnames like Harrison or Taylor are surprisingly often used as firstnames.

coldtea 11y ago

>calling him Zoltan Istvan is a lot like someone having the name Robert Steven Actually there are lots of persons with names like "Robert Steven" and similar ("first names" as surnames).

teh_klev 11y ago

My first name and surname are both what you would consider first names, it's not that unusual, or maybe it's a Scottish thing. It does make for some really annoying conversations, both analogue and electronic where people call me by my surname e.g "Hi Kenny", and then I know they're not actually paying attention.