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HelpRe: Question about names and cultures
in reply to a message by RegalAmethyst
I wouldn't say we Americans don't have a mother culture. Some of us with ancestors who have been here for centuries consider the American culture to be our mother culture. Just because it doesn't have a specific foreign culture as its base doesn't mean anything to me. We have mainly Germano-Celtic British, Polish, and some French, Czech and Norwegian roots. My relative's Lutheran church has a latke lunch every year, and serve lefse as a side. Bratwurst, sauerkraut, kielbasa are common. We can get paczki for Mardi Gras. We have Oktoberfests all over the state (Wisconsin).
As for names, I think most people worry more about flow than what the nation of origin of the name is. Yes, English names are common because that is our language and a big part of the begining of the country. I would be surprised to find a Keturah Gomez or Anoush Skenendore, but if the parents like the flow of those names, it is their decision. But, maybe that is why we have so many place name and new names now. They don't have foreign roots as a first name. That makes them American names, not English or French, or Chinese, etc. That's also why I was surprised to see Madison in the ratings for top English/ British names. Madison is American, OUR founding father. He wanted to get rid of you guys (last sentence directed to Brits)
Maybe I didn't answer your question exactly, but that's what I think about about the subject.
As for names, I think most people worry more about flow than what the nation of origin of the name is. Yes, English names are common because that is our language and a big part of the begining of the country. I would be surprised to find a Keturah Gomez or Anoush Skenendore, but if the parents like the flow of those names, it is their decision. But, maybe that is why we have so many place name and new names now. They don't have foreign roots as a first name. That makes them American names, not English or French, or Chinese, etc. That's also why I was surprised to see Madison in the ratings for top English/ British names. Madison is American, OUR founding father. He wanted to get rid of you guys (last sentence directed to Brits)
Maybe I didn't answer your question exactly, but that's what I think about about the subject.
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Just to say about Madison, I think it's popular here (Britain) among certain groups of people because it has that trendy/American vibe (and has been used in popular culture like the film Splash). I very much doubt it's anything to do with the historical figure, Madison. He's not very well known here and I had never really heard of him until I joined BtN and looked up the meaning once I noticed the name becoming popular.
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I never expected people in Britain to know the same things as we learn here about the American Revolution. I just used it as an example because as a first name, it's an American name, no matter where the last name came from. Knowing what I learned growing up, it really surprised me. I guess my reaction to that is the same as hearing about a Yuko Vander Heyden (just an example) or some other culturally mismatched combo.
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I get what you are saying. I suppose some cultural names do seem mismatched but American culture is so prevalent around the world, especially in English-speaking areas, so some people are more likely to choose American names for that reason because they have an image of being cool or something, whereas they wouldn't choose a Japanese name or some other more obscure culture they have no connection with.
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I understand that. That's why I said I wasn't speaking for everyone. I myself have always felt the lack of connection from a "mother culture" in my life from a very young age. That's just me. I do have to say, the description of festivities in your area sounds really interesting.
But, maybe that is why we have so many place name and new names now. They don't have foreign roots as a first name. That makes them American names, not English or French, or Chinese, etc.
I won't pretend to be a fan of the names that you mention, but this is a really good point that I hadn't thought of before.
My point seems to have disintegrated a bit, through no one's fault but my own. Originally my question was something more along the lines of "How far can a white American person go when it comes to adopting names from a foreign/minority culture without offending anyone?" The side of white American-Europeans taking on American names through time or non-white American people taking American/English names is only one side of the coin. Geez, I don't even know if that made sense. I don't think I've confused myself this badly in a long time!
But, maybe that is why we have so many place name and new names now. They don't have foreign roots as a first name. That makes them American names, not English or French, or Chinese, etc.
I won't pretend to be a fan of the names that you mention, but this is a really good point that I hadn't thought of before.
My point seems to have disintegrated a bit, through no one's fault but my own. Originally my question was something more along the lines of "How far can a white American person go when it comes to adopting names from a foreign/minority culture without offending anyone?" The side of white American-Europeans taking on American names through time or non-white American people taking American/English names is only one side of the coin. Geez, I don't even know if that made sense. I don't think I've confused myself this badly in a long time!
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I didn't think about the place names and new names being from the Ameican culture until I wrote this. I knew of Native Americans named Cheyenne and Dakota from school (they weren't in my grade, though). Those have become trendy American names. I can think of a few white kids in the school I work at with those names, but they also fall in the place name trends. I think that if someone used a name that isn't expected because of your race or last name, you would expect the person to have some sort of a connection to it. A late best friend, you are fascinated by the culture, any important connection, not just I like it.
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I agree. Some kind of connection definitely makes the choice more legitimate.
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