Finnish professional golfers Minea Blomqvist and Roope Kakko welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on the last day of March.
They were going to name their son Elmeri Mikael, but right after he was born they threw in a third name: Aku — in honor of Donald Duck.
The Disney character Donald Duck, who is something of a cultural icon in the Nordic countries, is called Aku Ankka in Finland. Aku is short for the name Aukusti, the Finnish form of Augustus, while ankka is the Finnish word for duck.
The baby’s birth date (in European format) is 31/3, which immediately reminded Minea of Aku Ankka’s license plate, 313. So she and Roope added “Aku” to their son’s name, making it Elmeri Aku Mikael.
Which is rather fitting, as Roope and Minni (Minea’s nickname) are the Finnish names of Scrooge McDuck (Donald’s wealthy uncle) and Minnie Mouse.
But they’re going to call Elmeri by the nickname “Elmo.” Here’s why:
In Finland we have a sport book that’s called Elmo. He’s a sport person. He wins everything. Even in hundred meters he falls, but he still wins. It’s kind of like a magical book when you are a big sport hero. My boyfriend loves sport, and we follow ice hockey, so we thought that’s a great name for my son.
Sources:
- “Motherhood agrees with Finland’s Blomqvist.” Ladies European Tour 11 Feb. 2020.
- “Minea Blomqvist tekee rankkaa paluuta viheriöille.” Ilta-Sanomat 7 Jun. 2010.
- “Minea Blomqvistin vauvalle nimi Aku Ankan auton rekisterikilvestä.” Iltalehti 1 Apr. 2010.
- Donald Duck – Wikipedia