[Opinions] Re: name for adopted Chinese baby
in reply to a message by Bonnie
I quite like all of the names. I think I like Sonia or Josephine best, but any would be fantastic. If you don't feel sure about Naomi, I'd strike it of the list, you have other options.
I don't mean to labour the point, but I agree with Array, Adelle and others that it is completely unnecessary to map names onto ethnicity. I actually found your question a little offensive. My ex was Chinese and called Vincent, he never had any problem with that or wanted to go by his Chinese name (his mn). I never noticed a reaction of surprise when he told people his name. I have Asian friends who have adopted a Western name, for example Mike rather than Myung. I have another friend who never uses his western name (his fn on birth certificate). This is a rather long way of saying I don't think she will have too much of a problem having a western fn and I don't think anyone is going to be surprised.
I don't mean to labour the point, but I agree with Array, Adelle and others that it is completely unnecessary to map names onto ethnicity. I actually found your question a little offensive. My ex was Chinese and called Vincent, he never had any problem with that or wanted to go by his Chinese name (his mn). I never noticed a reaction of surprise when he told people his name. I have Asian friends who have adopted a Western name, for example Mike rather than Myung. I have another friend who never uses his western name (his fn on birth certificate). This is a rather long way of saying I don't think she will have too much of a problem having a western fn and I don't think anyone is going to be surprised.
Replies
Sorry, I didn't want to offend anyone. I know that most Chinese-Americans have western first names - but, they usually have Chinese last names too. Personally, I never make any assumptions these days about who is behind a particular name, but many people do. And like it or not, studies have found that names are a particular issue for adult transracial adoptees. Quite a large percentage of the adult Korean adoptees have gone back to their original Korean names, either legally, or just for use among other Koreans.
Take a look at this blog entry...
http://twicetherice.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/finding-our-own-names/
Take a look at this blog entry...
http://twicetherice.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/finding-our-own-names/
My ex wasn't Chinese-American. He was an ethnically Chinese Malaysian citizen. The link you provided was interesting. I can't comment on what it feels like to be an adoptee. However I think if you retain your daughter's Chinese name as a middle name and give her a western name too, she can choose which name she would like to use.