Re: Question about names and cultures
I think it's because America has included people of a lot of different cultures and many Americans have more than one national/ethnic identity. And then, there is the fact that there are very few names you could identify as American in the same way you could Irish or Swahili. I've heard a lot of Americans want to use for example Irish names to honour their Irish heritage and yeah, I think it is because although there is a strong sense of what is "American" there is not a distinctive language or a long indigenous history. Also, American has become the norm and the price is that loss of coherent identity.
Ideally, I would like all names to be usable by everyone and all cultures to be seen as human rather than belonging to certain nations but in practise, it's more difficult. I think if you are part of a dominant culture, using names from other cultures seems like appropriation. I don't know why but I think a white American using an African name would be problematic where the reverse wouldn't be. Maybe someone can explain that. It also depends on whether you care about the meaning and context of your name or whether it just sounded cool. It's one thing to appreciate different cultures and another to use a name because it's exotic and not bother with the implications.
This is pretty disjointed and rambling so I apologise! Hopefully some of it makes sense. I think it's an interesting question and one I've thought about recently too.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Messages

Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 1:58 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Flare En Kuldes  ·  7/17/2011, 2:47 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/18/2011, 6:10 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Flare En Kuldes  ·  7/18/2011, 9:36 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  vigdis  ·  7/15/2011, 11:54 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Orsino  ·  7/16/2011, 5:33 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/16/2011, 5:14 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Billina  ·  7/15/2011, 9:33 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/16/2011, 5:21 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Mercy Joy  ·  7/15/2011, 7:29 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:47 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Rachel Shaina  ·  7/15/2011, 7:20 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Flare En Kuldes  ·  7/17/2011, 1:49 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:40 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Telfalathiel  ·  7/15/2011, 6:28 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:45 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Orsino  ·  7/15/2011, 5:48 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:29 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Orsino  ·  7/16/2011, 1:33 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Königin der Nacht  ·  7/16/2011, 7:17 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Ilex  ·  7/15/2011, 5:16 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Rose-Berry  ·  7/16/2011, 10:16 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Ilex  ·  7/16/2011, 2:27 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Rose-Berry  ·  7/16/2011, 2:43 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:24 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Ilex  ·  7/15/2011, 7:20 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:29 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  gail  ·  7/15/2011, 4:57 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:14 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  gail  ·  7/16/2011, 1:39 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/16/2011, 5:19 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  sambchop  ·  7/15/2011, 4:37 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:07 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  sambchop  ·  7/15/2011, 7:29 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:42 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  yasmine  ·  7/15/2011, 3:03 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:21 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  yasmine  ·  7/15/2011, 4:20 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 6:04 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Xenokleia  ·  7/15/2011, 3:25 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:29 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Llewella  ·  7/15/2011, 2:56 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:09 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Llewella  ·  7/15/2011, 3:18 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:25 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Llewella  ·  7/15/2011, 3:39 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:52 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Llewella  ·  7/15/2011, 4:03 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:04 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Just Jonquil  ·  7/15/2011, 2:36 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 2:55 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  Just Jonquil  ·  7/15/2011, 3:00 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 3:11 PM
I asked my mom her opinion on this last night! haha.  ·  Xenokleia  ·  7/15/2011, 2:31 PM
Re: I asked my mom her opinion on this last night! haha.  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 2:58 PM
Re: I asked my mom her opinion on this last night! haha.  ·  Xenokleia  ·  7/15/2011, 3:02 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 2:04 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 2:14 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 2:31 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 2:51 PM
That is very, very Fargo.  ·  vigdis  ·  7/16/2011, 12:03 AM
Re: That is very, very Fargo.  ·  Billina  ·  7/16/2011, 9:58 AM
Re: That is very, very Fargo.  ·  vigdis  ·  7/17/2011, 4:33 AM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 6:25 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/15/2011, 7:01 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 9:04 PM
Re: Question about names and cultures  ·  RegalAmethyst  ·  7/16/2011, 5:18 AM
typo: Avigail* n/t  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 9:05 PM
OLEKSANDR *  ·  ADT  ·  7/15/2011, 2:06 PM