so APPARENTLY clark purposefully gave superboy the name “kon-el,” fully knowing that the word “kon” is an offensive kryptonian slur meaning “abomination”
@ Clark
Those are different continuities! Clark named Kon “Kon-El” in post-Crisis way back in the 90s and it was a way of saying “you are part of my people and part of my family.” It was a long overdue gesture but still a nice one. I’m not sure if “Kon” had a specific meaning at that point but it definitely didn’t mean abomination yet.
Later, in New 52, which is a totally different continuity, Kara - who speaks Kryptonese as a first language and understands its cultural mores in a way Clark doesn’t - meets Superboy, is horrified to discover that he’s a clone because clones are bad bad news on Krypton, and, because he’s wearing the family crest, dubs him Kon-El: “an abomination in the House of El.” But he’s like “but I don’t want to become a killing machine” and she’s like “oh okay then” and they’re cool.
Naturally, he keeps the name, because he’s 16 and “an abomination in the House of El” is actually FUCKING RAD.
So yes, it wasn’t a nice thing for Kara to call him but she had been on Earth for like 4 days at the time and was still processing the trauma of having her entire planet wiped out, and she subsequently goes to the mat for Kon multiple times when people are like “kill the clone!” so yeah, this is more a teenager naming himself something edgy and goth than anything else. And good for him!
Okay, so I just looked it up and Clark gives him the name “Kon-El” because it was the name of a real Kryptonian (so definitely not “abomination”).
Also worth noting that “Kon-El” was Kon’s first real name - “Conner Kent” wasn’t a thing until the 2000s (and was also bequeathed by Clark). Before Clark named him, he was just called Superboy, S.B., or (affectionately) Kid.
Which is why when Clark gives him the name, he cries:
