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HelpNames you can't use
What are some names from one of your ethnicites/nationalities that you wish you could use, but because of your other ethnic background(s) or nationality(ies) can't use? Which names doesn't work with your other language(s) at all?
I would love to use the name Gro, but it would be pronounced GRAW in Finnish, which sounds like the Norwegian word for grey. It's not an alternative to spell it like Gruu either.
Another similar name would be Gry, which would be pronounced GROO in Finnish. Other spellings would not be an alternative here either, as the norwegian y doesn't really have an accurate or satisfying replacement in the Finnish language.
I would love to use the name Gro, but it would be pronounced GRAW in Finnish, which sounds like the Norwegian word for grey. It's not an alternative to spell it like Gruu either.
Another similar name would be Gry, which would be pronounced GROO in Finnish. Other spellings would not be an alternative here either, as the norwegian y doesn't really have an accurate or satisfying replacement in the Finnish language.
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I like the name Rue, but it means street in French.
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To me it just looks weird/foreign. I wouldn't have thought to connect it with Fanny.
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I really like Myfanwy too. It is lovely. I also like Taliesin, Glendower, and a lot of other Welsh names.
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I like several different Japanese names out there, like a lot, but I can't really use any of them because I'm not Japanese, or even Asian for that matter so unless their dad was Japanese I couldn't use any of them without it being kind of cringe. There is a YouTuber I sometimes watch (ironically watch) and both of her kids have Japanese names even though she and her husband are white so I know how weird it seems/looks/appears etc. almost inappropriate even.
My favorites include things like Koyomi, Satomi, Rin, Haru, Haruka, Yuri, Haruhi, Yukino, Chiaki, Kana, Yui, Asana, Makoto etc
My favorites include things like Koyomi, Satomi, Rin, Haru, Haruka, Yuri, Haruhi, Yukino, Chiaki, Kana, Yui, Asana, Makoto etc
This message was edited 11/14/2021, 12:18 PM
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I love many Japanese names as well, as you can tell by my extensive PNL.. But I agree with you; its weird to use names from another culture/language that you have no connection to. People in minorities consider that as cultural appropriation. It also looks ignorant and kind of boastful. "Hey, I know Japanese names. Do you? Huh? Maybe you should get educated!"
I'd avoid doing that. I think it would hurt people's feelings. Plus, what if the kids didn't like their names? If I had a French name, I would think that it was pompous that my mom and dad gave me a name just because it sounded beautiful, not because it honored a relative or fit into our cultural background. I'd be really confused: "Are we French?" Them:"Oh, Idunno."
I'd avoid doing that. I think it would hurt people's feelings. Plus, what if the kids didn't like their names? If I had a French name, I would think that it was pompous that my mom and dad gave me a name just because it sounded beautiful, not because it honored a relative or fit into our cultural background. I'd be really confused: "Are we French?" Them:"Oh, Idunno."
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That I don't really have a problem with, I mean a lot of Caucasian Americans are just a mesh up of all the Europe countries so it isn't as jarring or viewed as appropriation, at least not to the same extent. There is a line somewhere of course, we shouldn't be shoe horning people into only using names of their culture of course. Especially when a lot of people don't even know their heritage (in the states at least) I think it would be silly to only use names of your country of origin that seems too extreme.
I'm only about a quarter French but even if I wasn't a drop of it I'd still feel comfortable using it. I just think using some names on the far end of the spectrum are a bit extreme if you are white and aren't connected to a minority in any way but want to use their names, but I do think there are still situations where naming outside of one's immediate ancestry are fine.
I'm only about a quarter French but even if I wasn't a drop of it I'd still feel comfortable using it. I just think using some names on the far end of the spectrum are a bit extreme if you are white and aren't connected to a minority in any way but want to use their names, but I do think there are still situations where naming outside of one's immediate ancestry are fine.
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You make a good point! I love Antonio, maybe I should use it.
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Is Grey in Norwegian not an appropriate name? English speakers use it, but hey, every culture is different.
There aren't any names that I want to use currently, that would sound wrong in English. But there are English names that I happen to like such as Coy, Dash, Cash, Chase and Trace, and they sound strange to some native speakers. However, those names are popular in the US right now. So, some parents like the names enough to use them, and don't find them inappropriate at all.
Ana might sound weird to some Japanese people, because it sounds like the word "hole". But they still use it if they like. That's because they could use whatever kanji they want in order to change the meaning, or they can give it no meaning by spelling it in hiragana or katakana. They have many options, so there are some girls out there named "Hole", except it doesn't mean Hole.
The name Anna is more popular in Japan than Ana, probably for the reason I stated above.
Some people commented that Jude means "Jew" in German and that Tod means "death" in German. I don't know if that's true, but if so, then I think that a Jude has gone to Germany before, and he has been in for a real surprise - but not really a life-altering one. And the Todd spelling is more common than the Tod spelling, so Todds going to Germany might have better luck... I am not sure. And one Danish commenter said that Tessa meant "to pee" and was outlawed in Denmark.
Practically every name sounds stupid in some language. As long as the name doesn't mean death or disease, its probably not a big deal.
And by the way, according to Wikipedia some traditional Hawaiian names have bad meanings. Some superstitious parents do this to protect the children from curses. I think that the disturbing meanings are meant to humble the children, so no evil spirits will deem vain for having pretty names with nice meanings, like Moana, I suppose. If that's true, then I think that that's considerate of the parents. Kids named Kapuka meaning "Ugly" are not teased in Hawaii, only by foreigners who go there, and do not understand the reasoning behind it. Its considered bad in English culture, but not considered as such in Hawaii, which just so happens to be in an English speaking country. The United States doesn't have an official language. There are numerous languages here, so any name is allowed, I guess? Just not EVERY name.
You know which names are right for your children more than others do.
There aren't any names that I want to use currently, that would sound wrong in English. But there are English names that I happen to like such as Coy, Dash, Cash, Chase and Trace, and they sound strange to some native speakers. However, those names are popular in the US right now. So, some parents like the names enough to use them, and don't find them inappropriate at all.
Ana might sound weird to some Japanese people, because it sounds like the word "hole". But they still use it if they like. That's because they could use whatever kanji they want in order to change the meaning, or they can give it no meaning by spelling it in hiragana or katakana. They have many options, so there are some girls out there named "Hole", except it doesn't mean Hole.
The name Anna is more popular in Japan than Ana, probably for the reason I stated above.
Some people commented that Jude means "Jew" in German and that Tod means "death" in German. I don't know if that's true, but if so, then I think that a Jude has gone to Germany before, and he has been in for a real surprise - but not really a life-altering one. And the Todd spelling is more common than the Tod spelling, so Todds going to Germany might have better luck... I am not sure. And one Danish commenter said that Tessa meant "to pee" and was outlawed in Denmark.
Practically every name sounds stupid in some language. As long as the name doesn't mean death or disease, its probably not a big deal.
And by the way, according to Wikipedia some traditional Hawaiian names have bad meanings. Some superstitious parents do this to protect the children from curses. I think that the disturbing meanings are meant to humble the children, so no evil spirits will deem vain for having pretty names with nice meanings, like Moana, I suppose. If that's true, then I think that that's considerate of the parents. Kids named Kapuka meaning "Ugly" are not teased in Hawaii, only by foreigners who go there, and do not understand the reasoning behind it. Its considered bad in English culture, but not considered as such in Hawaii, which just so happens to be in an English speaking country. The United States doesn't have an official language. There are numerous languages here, so any name is allowed, I guess? Just not EVERY name.
You know which names are right for your children more than others do.
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Grey is in my opinion synonymous with boring or unnoticeable in Norwegian, possibly due to terms like "grå mus" (grey mouse, an unnoticeable person lookwise) and "kommunegrått/musegrått" (grey blonde/mouse grey colour of hair). It isn't terrible, but some might see it as a greater burden than others. I think there is a difference between names that come from words still used today and archaic words. Words that where used and meant grey 1000 years ago wouldn't bother me as much.
Part of the problem for me is the sound. GRAW doesn't sound nice to me, but Gro does.
What matters most to me is that the name doesn't burden the child in the languages they will use in their childhood and teens. If it means something bad or sounds like something bad (depends on how bad) in a language they don't know, I agree, it's not a big deal. There is of course a dilemma if we where to move to a different country where the name stands out and starts burdening them. I wouldn't want them to feel resent towards their name. I hope that I would be able to prevent that and make sure they understand the value of the name in its language of origin.
Jüde and Tod does mean jew and dead in German. Jude is pronounced differently from Jüde, but not sure if it's different enough for the germans not to take notice. Either way, as you said, the meaning isn't life changing.
Culture definetly does have an impact on what people deem apropriate, when it comes to naming their children :)
I think the other views you have mentioned are very interesting! I imagine, if people grew up with other people with names with "bad" meanings, they wouldn't see a reason to bully.
Part of the problem for me is the sound. GRAW doesn't sound nice to me, but Gro does.
What matters most to me is that the name doesn't burden the child in the languages they will use in their childhood and teens. If it means something bad or sounds like something bad (depends on how bad) in a language they don't know, I agree, it's not a big deal. There is of course a dilemma if we where to move to a different country where the name stands out and starts burdening them. I wouldn't want them to feel resent towards their name. I hope that I would be able to prevent that and make sure they understand the value of the name in its language of origin.
Jüde and Tod does mean jew and dead in German. Jude is pronounced differently from Jüde, but not sure if it's different enough for the germans not to take notice. Either way, as you said, the meaning isn't life changing.
Culture definetly does have an impact on what people deem apropriate, when it comes to naming their children :)
I think the other views you have mentioned are very interesting! I imagine, if people grew up with other people with names with "bad" meanings, they wouldn't see a reason to bully.
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I think you'd make a responsible parent, if you aren't one already! You have clearly put a lot of thought into this, which people should do before naming with their kids. Its too bad that the grey mouse association is hanging there, though. I actually like Gro/Groo. Hmm..
I think we have some unfortunate terms for people. Our "grey mouse" would be Plain Jane. For idiots: Simple Simon. For creepy people: Peeping Tom...the English language is polluted with those, as if we really needed more words for that kind of stuff. And then Braxton Hicks labor contractions. People are still calling their sons Braxton, but poor Dick and Fanny may never see the light of day again.
And Willy reached the charts this year instead of Willie. The latter spelling has been used to refer to penises. Willie: guy. Penis: guy part. *sigh* Some names just don't make it. Lol
I think we have some unfortunate terms for people. Our "grey mouse" would be Plain Jane. For idiots: Simple Simon. For creepy people: Peeping Tom...the English language is polluted with those, as if we really needed more words for that kind of stuff. And then Braxton Hicks labor contractions. People are still calling their sons Braxton, but poor Dick and Fanny may never see the light of day again.
And Willy reached the charts this year instead of Willie. The latter spelling has been used to refer to penises. Willie: guy. Penis: guy part. *sigh* Some names just don't make it. Lol
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