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HelpRe: Question about names and cultures
in reply to a message by RegalAmethyst
The reason the majority of people have white-European names is because the majority of people are of white-European heritage. In general, recent immigrants have names from wherever they're from. I know some will change their names, but I think that's more of a personal choice for them. No one will think it's weird if you were born in China and then came here and are still called something Chinese. Or even if you were born here but both of your parents were from China. But there are names (ones that aren't collectively commonly used) that are going to indicate your cultural background. If you were American and moved to some non-English speaking place, I wouldn't expect your name to be changed to reflect the new place, either. But some people might just think it would be easier for them and maybe they wouldn't care. I guess maybe I'm not entirely clear what you're meaning?
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:19 PM
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That's probably because I'm not being entirely clear. I think I said something closer to what I meant in reply to yasmine's post. Ugh, I'm getting so mixed up. It's been a long day.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:25 PM
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No worries, I definitely know that feeling!
I read your response to yasmine and it is more clear. I'd say it could be because white-European countries have so much world power, that is why some other countries are more apt to take "our" names for some of their own trends. And it's not just American naming trends that are adopted by other countries. We get the back of the British naming trends somewhat, I think. At least currently, more upper-class people BAs might look straight out of England. At least in my experience.
I read your response to yasmine and it is more clear. I'd say it could be because white-European countries have so much world power, that is why some other countries are more apt to take "our" names for some of their own trends. And it's not just American naming trends that are adopted by other countries. We get the back of the British naming trends somewhat, I think. At least currently, more upper-class people BAs might look straight out of England. At least in my experience.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:39 PM
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Yes, that could be it. I think ADT is right about multi-culturalism being an illusion. I really do believe, although I'd love to be set right, that on many levels globalization means that things are becoming more generic on a large scale instead of more diverse on a large scale. As a namenerd it makes me sad and slightly discouraged. I remember one interview that Oprah had with Maya Angelou. She (Maya Angelou) said that she knew that people in her neighborhood were starting to care more about where they lived because they were putting flower boxes on their window. That's sort of how I feel now, only without the flower boxes. I find it hard to believe that the world really is becoming global if people don't make the effort to go both ways. And I'm rambling.
Anyways, I do think we get some of the British naming trends, but I would say that it's on a very small scale. I've read before that in naming trends we're about 10 years behind England. So maybe in 10 years Hector or Elsie / Maisie type names will become more common here.
Anyways, I do think we get some of the British naming trends, but I would say that it's on a very small scale. I've read before that in naming trends we're about 10 years behind England. So maybe in 10 years Hector or Elsie / Maisie type names will become more common here.
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Yeah, kinda. But I see lots of people say stuff like "My family is Italian/Irish/Greek/etc. so we want an Italian/Irish/Greek/etc. name for our baby." Of course these names aren't usually too authentic or uncommon in the respective origins because they'd also need to work well-fairly well in an English speaking place. And then of course you also get the sorts who are like "Oh, my grandma is Irish so we want to name our daughter something Irish. We're calling her Makynzie." *facepalm*
Anyway, point being I think people still try to embrace where they're from, even if it's where they're from and not where their ancestors are from. And on many more ways than just the names they choose for their children.
Anyway, point being I think people still try to embrace where they're from, even if it's where they're from and not where their ancestors are from. And on many more ways than just the names they choose for their children.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 4:04 PM
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I agree that people try to find ways to honor where they're from. I know I do. Isn't the Makynzie thing too true? I see your facepalm and raise you an exasperated sigh.
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