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HelpHelp me choose an English name!
Hi all! I'm a Chinese-Canadian 20-year-old female who's never had an English name. My Chinese name is Ruoqi Yang, and since kindergarten I've gone by a nickname that my parents used at home when I was small. They thought I'd just switch back to Ruoqi eventually, but somehow I just never did. The nickname seems way too nickname-y now – I've gotten "oh, that's my dog's/cat's name!" more times than I can count.
But I also don't want to switch back to my Chinese name, because I don't particularly like the way it sounds in English. Besides, a LOT of different characters get the same pinyin spelling 'ruo' and 'qi', which means that a quick search will turn up thousands of people with apparently the same full name as me. As someone who wants to become a published author someday, I wish my name was something more distinguishable.
So, I've been looking for a new name for school, work, and possibly my writing career. ('Ruoqi' will then be reserved for family and close friends). Since the nickname I had starts with 'K', I want the new name to start with 'K' for continuity. I want my name to lean gender-neutral, as super feminine names don't quite sit right with me. Right now, I've narrowed it down to two names:
Kellyn (KELL-in) – This name really clicked with me. Someone important to me was named 'Kelly', and I'd love to honour her in my new name. Kelly is slightly too commonplace though, and I like the way that the '-yn' of 'Kellyn' sounds.
Kylin (KYE-lin) – Similar, but I like this name because it is a variant spelling of 'Qilin', the famous Chinese mythical beast which also contains the ‘qi’ in ‘Ruoqi’. So the name would both pay homage to my Chinese heritage AND be a pronounceable English name! *See edit.
What are your thoughts? First impressions on the two names? I like the cultural background of 'Kylin', but I (and my parents) prefer the way that 'Kellyn' sounds and feels, as a name. But is 'Kellyn' a distinctly Irish/Celtic name? Will people wonder how in the world someone who looks 100% East Asian ended up with the name 'Kellyn'? (Just like I'd be a little confused if I met a white person named 'Yuqing' or 'Donghan', I wouldn't want to create this kind of confusion about my name.) Any variations on these names are also welcome.
Thanks a ton for your input!
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EDIT:
Thinking about it more, I would actually change the spelling of 'Kylin' to 'Kylen'. I think that 'Kylin' is a bit too literal in its meaning. To a Chinese person, if I named myself the anglicized spelling of 'Qilin', it would be like if I named myself 'Dragon' or 'Unicorn' or something. So I would change the 'i' to an 'e', so the connection to 'Qilin' is more subtle.
But I also don't want to switch back to my Chinese name, because I don't particularly like the way it sounds in English. Besides, a LOT of different characters get the same pinyin spelling 'ruo' and 'qi', which means that a quick search will turn up thousands of people with apparently the same full name as me. As someone who wants to become a published author someday, I wish my name was something more distinguishable.
So, I've been looking for a new name for school, work, and possibly my writing career. ('Ruoqi' will then be reserved for family and close friends). Since the nickname I had starts with 'K', I want the new name to start with 'K' for continuity. I want my name to lean gender-neutral, as super feminine names don't quite sit right with me. Right now, I've narrowed it down to two names:
Kellyn (KELL-in) – This name really clicked with me. Someone important to me was named 'Kelly', and I'd love to honour her in my new name. Kelly is slightly too commonplace though, and I like the way that the '-yn' of 'Kellyn' sounds.
Kylin (KYE-lin) – Similar, but I like this name because it is a variant spelling of 'Qilin', the famous Chinese mythical beast which also contains the ‘qi’ in ‘Ruoqi’. So the name would both pay homage to my Chinese heritage AND be a pronounceable English name! *See edit.
What are your thoughts? First impressions on the two names? I like the cultural background of 'Kylin', but I (and my parents) prefer the way that 'Kellyn' sounds and feels, as a name. But is 'Kellyn' a distinctly Irish/Celtic name? Will people wonder how in the world someone who looks 100% East Asian ended up with the name 'Kellyn'? (Just like I'd be a little confused if I met a white person named 'Yuqing' or 'Donghan', I wouldn't want to create this kind of confusion about my name.) Any variations on these names are also welcome.
Thanks a ton for your input!
---
EDIT:
Thinking about it more, I would actually change the spelling of 'Kylin' to 'Kylen'. I think that 'Kylin' is a bit too literal in its meaning. To a Chinese person, if I named myself the anglicized spelling of 'Qilin', it would be like if I named myself 'Dragon' or 'Unicorn' or something. So I would change the 'i' to an 'e', so the connection to 'Qilin' is more subtle.
This message was edited 3/15/2022, 8:07 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I really like Kylin! It sounds Chinese but English-trendy. Its backstory seems significant as well.
You could also go by Kai, I agree with that. It's used in multiple cultures and is used for boys and girls.
Kellyn is nice, but it sounds manlier than it does unisex. I just prefer Kelly.
Another option: Kyli/Kylie (like Kai-Li) is pretty.
Or you could by Kel. It still honors your Kelly, but is short and to the chase. Also, it loses any "Irish" feeling to it, if that makes you more comfortable, since Kel is an English nickname. But as someone already pointed out, a lot of people are using "white" names now. It shouldn't be seen as strange anymore.
Good luck with your name change, and happy writing!
You could also go by Kai, I agree with that. It's used in multiple cultures and is used for boys and girls.
Kellyn is nice, but it sounds manlier than it does unisex. I just prefer Kelly.
Another option: Kyli/Kylie (like Kai-Li) is pretty.
Or you could by Kel. It still honors your Kelly, but is short and to the chase. Also, it loses any "Irish" feeling to it, if that makes you more comfortable, since Kel is an English nickname. But as someone already pointed out, a lot of people are using "white" names now. It shouldn't be seen as strange anymore.
Good luck with your name change, and happy writing!
This message was edited 3/16/2022, 9:34 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions!! I really love 'Kel', but as a nickname. One of my issues is that my original nickname is that people kept asking 'Is that a nickname for something?' and I felt it would be unprofessional to use it in the workplace. Would there be another name that would nickname to 'Kel' that isn't suuuper common? (I was contemplating 'Kelsier' lol, after a really cool character in the Mistborn series. But alas, I don't want to take on the name of a fictional character.)
As for Kylie...I keep thinking of Kylie Jenner and let's just say my style is nothing like hers. Thanks for the suggestion though
As for Kylie...I keep thinking of Kylie Jenner and let's just say my style is nothing like hers. Thanks for the suggestion though
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You're welcome! And I agree with Kerlyn Taryn. Kelsey still contains 'Kel". That might be a good unisex alternative for you. And despite it being unisex, no one will assume you're a boy! I also understand the Kylie Jenner thing..we can't all be supermodels, right? We have our own styles going on. No time for runways. Stories must be written.
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What about Kyah, Kyra, Kyla, Kelsey.
I really like Kylin though
I really like Kylin though
This message was edited 3/15/2022, 11:13 PM
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I love your meaning behind your new name choices!
As an outsider looking in, both of those names seem very "chosen" because they're in the style of the time you're picking them, rather than the time you were born.
"Kellyn" is enough of a cultural mismash that I don't think it would be jarring on an East Asian person.
It seems to me that you prefer it to Kylin, even though the cultural meaning is super cool.
Kai is maybe an obvious alternate choice. I personally like Kai better because the -lyn ending (or -len or -lin or whatever) is SO ubiquitous now that I'm turned off by it (though it is a good way to cue gender neutral). Kit is similar...
As an outsider looking in, both of those names seem very "chosen" because they're in the style of the time you're picking them, rather than the time you were born.
"Kellyn" is enough of a cultural mismash that I don't think it would be jarring on an East Asian person.
It seems to me that you prefer it to Kylin, even though the cultural meaning is super cool.
Kai is maybe an obvious alternate choice. I personally like Kai better because the -lyn ending (or -len or -lin or whatever) is SO ubiquitous now that I'm turned off by it (though it is a good way to cue gender neutral). Kit is similar...
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Thanks a lot!! I already know a Kai though, and I'd feel weird saying that name to the mirror and thinking of him each time haha.
Also, around what time period would you say that the -lyn ending was/is most popular? I know a few Carolyns and Caitlins my age (I'm 20 this year, and have been told I look younger), so that's why I thought the -lyn endings on these names wouldn't be toooo generationally out-of-place.
Thanks again :)
Also, around what time period would you say that the -lyn ending was/is most popular? I know a few Carolyns and Caitlins my age (I'm 20 this year, and have been told I look younger), so that's why I thought the -lyn endings on these names wouldn't be toooo generationally out-of-place.
Thanks again :)
This message was edited 3/15/2022, 7:54 PM
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I would say it's most popular now. And while there were a ton of single names like that before like Carolyn and Caitlyn, the modern style is to have a made-up name, which Kellyn and Kylin fit mroe in the style of. But to be fair, I do know one Kellan and one Kylen around my age (born 1990).
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Thanks! I was actually thinking 'Kylen' instead of 'Kylin' – see the edited post. And I agree. One concern with both names is that they sound made-up. I will have to think about it more...
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I like the Kylin spelling better Lin, more feminine than Len. The lin ending quite suitable for your age and ancestry
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What does it mean Ruoqi Yang?
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I don't really like either name, they both seem kind trendeigh, but they seem to have substance and meaning to you and that is what is important.
Kellyn doesn't read as Irish/Celtic to me, I am assuming it is pronounced like Kellan which is an English surname with German origins. I don't think it would be weird on a Chinese-Canadian person, my school (in Vancouver) had a 75% Chinese population and we actually had a large number of immigrant students with Welsh names, like Rhiannon, Ffion, and Gwyneth apparently the English school a lot of their parents went to liked to change things up so that they didn't all end up with the same small group of English names.
Kellyn doesn't read as Irish/Celtic to me, I am assuming it is pronounced like Kellan which is an English surname with German origins. I don't think it would be weird on a Chinese-Canadian person, my school (in Vancouver) had a 75% Chinese population and we actually had a large number of immigrant students with Welsh names, like Rhiannon, Ffion, and Gwyneth apparently the English school a lot of their parents went to liked to change things up so that they didn't all end up with the same small group of English names.
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Thanks for the info!! Yeah, I agree that they're both on the 'trendeigh' side lol. The problem with more common names is that I would already know someone named that either in real life or online, and if I gave myself that name I would keep feeling like it was someone else's.
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There are tons of names that are neither trendy nor common. I think you’ll find that even if nobody has the exact name you choose, you’ll still end up getting lumped in with the pile of insubstantial surname-as-firstname people whose names contain some combination of K, Y,L and N.
These names aren’t my style, but if you like them and they hold meaning for you, go for it. Just be aware that they aren’t as unique as you think, given the current trends.
These names aren’t my style, but if you like them and they hold meaning for you, go for it. Just be aware that they aren’t as unique as you think, given the current trends.
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Good points!
Would you have any suggestions of neither trendy nor common names that start with 'K'? I see that your name list has no 'K' names lol. I know that 'K' is an overly trendy letter at the moment, but unfortunately the 'K' will have to stay for me... The nickname my parents gave me starts with a 'K', and I want to honour that too. ;)
Would you have any suggestions of neither trendy nor common names that start with 'K'? I see that your name list has no 'K' names lol. I know that 'K' is an overly trendy letter at the moment, but unfortunately the 'K' will have to stay for me... The nickname my parents gave me starts with a 'K', and I want to honour that too. ;)
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Both names are nice, I think Kylin would be better
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Thanks! :) Could you elaborate on why you prefer 'Kylin'?
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I like the sound of the ky and lin better
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Gotcha!
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I think if you prefer the sound of Kellyn, you should use Kellyn. I don't think it's any stranger than a Chinese person with an English name without Irish/Celtic roots. Maybe people will wonder, but lots of people have or use names that match the culture they live in more than their ancestry.
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Thanks! :) I'm torn between the two because one I prefer the sound, and the other the meaning...
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Kylin the name is unique like you and it seems suitable for your heritage.
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