Naming your baby may well be one of the most important early decisions you'll ever have to make as a parent, so it's good to do a bit of research into any potentially negative connotations.
According to experts at language-learning app Babbel, there are nine names in particular that may sound perfectly pleasant to English ears, but may well have less than adorable, or even downright offensive, meanings outside of the UK.
As previously reported by The Sun, language experts have urged parents-to-be to make sure they're "aware of what meanings and connotations these names take when translated into different languages".
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The linguists continued: "This can tell you more about where the name is from culturally and what it means in the context of this culture.
"Additionally, while this can often result in funny coincidences, occasionally the results can be a little awkward, so it's good to do your research beforehand".
With this in mind, a list of nine names has been compiled which illustrates the sort of awkward scenarios parents may well find themselves in if they don't conduct their all-important research.
First up is the name Mark, which will of course appeal to parents wishing to instill confidence and leadership attributes in their child. This is because it originates from the Latin name Marcus - as in Marcus Aurelius - meaning ‘warlike’.
However, over in Norway, the name Mark may not exactly reflect such courageous qualities, given that it sounds rather like the Norwegian word ‘mark’, which quite literally means worm. Not exactly the sort of animal many parents would want to be associated with their baby.
Next is Todd, a name derived from the Middle English word for fox, and which will naturally appeal to fans of Disney classic, The Fox and the Hound. However, over in Germany, the word ‘tod’ won't sound nearly as cute, given that it means death.
Originating from Old Norse, Eric means ‘eternal ruler’, and for many would feel like a strong choice for a new son. However, to Turkish ears, the name will sound similar to the far less mighty 'erik', which means plum.
Nick, a popular abbreviation of Nicholas, is a powerful Ancient Greek name that combines words meaning ‘victory’ and ‘people’. Sadly, it also sounds quite similar to the present tense of the French verb ‘niquer’, which translates as 'f**k'. No doubt this has caused some embarrassment over the years for Brits holidaying in France.
A commonly used shortened version of William, Bill is a name of Germanic origin that means ‘vehement protector’. Unfortunately, in the Dutch language, it also sounds much like the word for buttocks, ‘bil’.
The Hebrew meaning of Kayla is ‘crown, laurel’, which evokes a majestic feel, but this name is also quite similar to the Urdu word for banana (کیلا), which really isn't anywhere near as regal.
The name Camilla is another one that has Latin origins, coming from the word for an acolyte - or a person who assists a priest - during a religious ceremony. However, it also sounds noticeably similar to the Greek word for camel (καμήλα).
Lola is originally a sweet shortened version of the Spanish name Dolores. However, in Filipino, ‘lola’ means grandma, meaning some might regard it as quite an unusual name for a newborn baby.
Possibly the most awkward of the bunch has to be Cara, a name of Latin origin which the beautiful meaning ‘beloved one’. However, in Arabic, the similar-sounding word ‘khara’ quite literally means s**t.
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