FWIW my first thought was the same as GP, and then only later did I consider that maybe it's punning on bastard, but I still wasn't sure. Probably better to pick another name and not have to keep explaining it.
It needs to be explained that it's not using ableist language, meaning that every time it's shared a discussion like this one will take place, regardless of what you think about it.
> It needs to be explained that it's not using ableist language
Why? This doesn't logically follow to the author renaming their thing unless you think speech policing on the internet is some kind of valid passtime or has any weight on anything in the real world.
> meaning that every time it's shared a discussion like this one will take place
So it's a good PR move because the PC police can't figure out that just maybe every corner doesn't have a nazi around it and maybe it's just a play on bastard?
It doesn't matter if you believe speech policing is valid or not. It does and will happen. I mean, look here: right now the top two top-level comments here are about the name, rather than talking about the project itself.
It's irrelevant what should or should not be, in this case. If you want to avoid people discussing potential controversy around the name you've chosen, then don't choose a name that has controversy potential (and if you do that by accident, graciously change it). I'm talking about outcomes here, not about what anyone might think should or shouldn't happen.
The author can do what they want, but if they care what associations people have about the name and they didn't consider this, they now have new information.
Even if it was a play on retard I think it's really none of your business what someone calls their thing.
The kneejerk response here to be "you have change its name" is so damn entitled.