[Opinions] Japanese names
my husband and i both really love Japanese names, although he is Scottish and i am English. Do you think it would sound silly to put a Japenese name in our family. children we have already are called Iris and Eli ( in case you did not read my first post), so not at all Japanese. Also will miss pronunciation spoil them? do not know what to do. For a boy we like AKIRA. Does this sound too feminine. For a girl we like KIKU and KIOKO. If we were to choose a Japanese name what would we do for a middle name?
Also furthur to my last post 2 other girls names i forgot to put down are Delilah and Evangeline. Thanks for yoour help. still got a while until baby born so not too desparate yet
Also furthur to my last post 2 other girls names i forgot to put down are Delilah and Evangeline. Thanks for yoour help. still got a while until baby born so not too desparate yet
Replies
I think one can use whatever nationality of name they want. As long as they like it - that's all that matter. Although, I don't care for Akira (yes, it sounds too feminine for a boy) or Kiku and Kioko. I know a bird named Kiku. Sorry, but I also don't care for Delilah or Evangeline.
I'm in favor, for Japanese names that are not awkward to pronounce in English and which are at least moderately familiar because of somewhat famous bearers. Akira is a great example (A. Kirosawa being the source of fame, as far as I know), and isn't femmey at all to me, since I have heard much of A. Kirosawa.
Kiku is a tad hard to say with perfect comfort in English and sounds a bit like 'cuckoo.' But Kioko (or Kyoko?) would work.
Delilah makes me think of the Bible story even though I've never even read it -- which might give you some idea of how saturated it is with that (not-so-wonderful) association. But I think it's been well-used enough, that it may not matter. It's a pretty name. Evangeline turns me off because I can't help associating the name with the word 'evangelical,' which is a loaded word in the current political climate (I am in the US).
- chazda
Kiku is a tad hard to say with perfect comfort in English and sounds a bit like 'cuckoo.' But Kioko (or Kyoko?) would work.
Delilah makes me think of the Bible story even though I've never even read it -- which might give you some idea of how saturated it is with that (not-so-wonderful) association. But I think it's been well-used enough, that it may not matter. It's a pretty name. Evangeline turns me off because I can't help associating the name with the word 'evangelical,' which is a loaded word in the current political climate (I am in the US).
- chazda
I love some Japanese names, too. My favorite for girls is Akemi. I also like Aiko, Aimi, and Rika.
The problem is that the 'k' in many Japanese names does seem striking and, well, foreign. I'd go for something more 'European'-sounding. Aimi could be interpreted as a creative spelling of Amy... and Rika a clipped form of Fredrika/Henrika/Erika.
Evangeline makes a great mn.
Rika Evangeline?
Aimi/Amy Evangeline?
Lass
The problem is that the 'k' in many Japanese names does seem striking and, well, foreign. I'd go for something more 'European'-sounding. Aimi could be interpreted as a creative spelling of Amy... and Rika a clipped form of Fredrika/Henrika/Erika.
Evangeline makes a great mn.
Rika Evangeline?
Aimi/Amy Evangeline?
Lass