Yes, mongo as in Mongoloid (Down's syndrome, not the race) is offensive in mostly English speaking, Caucasian contexts. However, I'd figure MongoDB becoming a well known term would break some of the offensiveness associated with the pejorative use of mongo. At the same time, I don't think anyone keen on MongoDB will be thinking of the pejoratives associated with some part of the name.
then so should be the word mongoDB
really - which ones? (just curious)
Sweden for example, I think it's slang for people with Down's syndrome there or something.
It's offensive in Sweden.
In spanish is a synonym for stupid, subnormal, idiot...
Italy as well.
It's very offensive in German.
So how does that affect its usage in Germany? It's hard to imagine English speaking companies being comfortable with using, say, RetardDB.