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HelpRe: Japanese names for non-Japanese Children
in reply to a message by namebug
Ehh, it's a little weird to me. To me it seems different than using a name like Carys on a non-Welsh child, because Japanese names are more directly significant to the parent/child. They are usually composed of Japanese words, and mean something specific that the parent hopes for for their child.
Three of the four names you listed sound pretty Western: Hana (Hannah), Ken, and Sora. You could pull them off, but it would bug the BAJEEZUS out of me if you said Hann-uh instead of HAH-nah. Same with Sora. You'd have to pronounce the R correctly, which takes a lot of practice and would be hard for English speakers to say. There's no problem with Ken, since it's pronounced pretty much identically.
Ai is just not a good idea. It's pronounced almost exactly like the word "I." Just think of the confusion.. "Ai will go to the store." And imagine when she's a toddler and trying to learn English.. "You are Ai. I am Mom." !!!! I like Aiko better, and I think it works better.
Plus, it would bug me slightly if they had middle names, since Japanese people don't.
Three of the four names you listed sound pretty Western: Hana (Hannah), Ken, and Sora. You could pull them off, but it would bug the BAJEEZUS out of me if you said Hann-uh instead of HAH-nah. Same with Sora. You'd have to pronounce the R correctly, which takes a lot of practice and would be hard for English speakers to say. There's no problem with Ken, since it's pronounced pretty much identically.
Ai is just not a good idea. It's pronounced almost exactly like the word "I." Just think of the confusion.. "Ai will go to the store." And imagine when she's a toddler and trying to learn English.. "You are Ai. I am Mom." !!!! I like Aiko better, and I think it works better.
Plus, it would bug me slightly if they had middle names, since Japanese people don't.
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Yup these were the same thoughts I was having.
Most people can usually say my great-great-so-and-so was half Welsh, so we can get away with a Welsh name. It would be much tougher thinking of an excuse with a Japanese name besides "I love the culture."
I do like the pronouncation of HAH-nah instead of Hann-UH, it flows better and sounds niced, I think. I also agree the R is kind of tricky to say correctly! And unfortunately, Ai is the one name out of the list I like the most, but know it's practically unusable outside of Asian countries.
Oh well! :)
Most people can usually say my great-great-so-and-so was half Welsh, so we can get away with a Welsh name. It would be much tougher thinking of an excuse with a Japanese name besides "I love the culture."
I do like the pronouncation of HAH-nah instead of Hann-UH, it flows better and sounds niced, I think. I also agree the R is kind of tricky to say correctly! And unfortunately, Ai is the one name out of the list I like the most, but know it's practically unusable outside of Asian countries.
Oh well! :)
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