Born in or out of wedlock???
There’s the answer.
Sorry, but the child is a bastard if they are not married. It’s not a slap at the child, but at the two “adults” that chose to have sex/child out of wedlock.
But - the word is used on the child - not the parents.
Look where and how the word is used. It is never directed at the parents - only as a derogative slung to insult someone, or penned on the backs for a small child.
being ‘correct’ does not make one ‘right’ = save the disparaging titles for the parents
If the baby was born in Italy his last name would have been Esposito, unless recognized by the father.
From the latin ex spositus or out of wedlock