Tonibler (Albanian: Tonibler) is a male given name in Kosovo, given in honour of Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, following his role in the 1999 NATO air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. Blair was considered instrumental in removing Slobodan Milošević from power, and boys born following the war were sometimes given the name Toni or Tonibler.[1]
 Tony Blair in Kosovo, 9 July 2010, meeting children named after him | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Former British prime minister Tony Blair |
| Region of origin | Kosovo |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Toni, Bler |
In 2010, Blair made a visit to Kosovo where he met several boys bearing the name.[2][3] He returned to the country in June 2024, where he met five adult men with the name alongside Kosovan president Vjosa Osmani.[4]
Other names such as Klinton and Madeleine, from U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright respectively, are also popular in Kosovo for similar reasons.[5]
People
edit- Bler Thaçi, Kosovar football player
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Namesakes welcome Tony Blair during Kosovo visit". BBC News. BBC. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Borger, Julian (20 June 2014). "Meet the Kosovan Albanians who named their sons after Tony Blair". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Chu, Ben (10 July 2010). "Named after Tony in the land where Blair is king". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Starcevic, Seb (11 June 2024). "Tony Blair meets Tonibler, Tonibler, Tonibler, Tonibler and Tonibler". Politico Europe. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "ToniBler and Klinton: Gratitude for West lives on in Kosovar names". France24. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
External links
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