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HelpRe: Anime name list - thoughts?
in reply to a message by Manipura
First of all, I don't see why someone with no Japanese heritage would use a Japanese name in the first place. Second of all, many names on the feminine list are masculine and vice versa. Third of all, many of them are considered dated in Japan.
masculine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124079
feminine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124080
masculine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124079
feminine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124080
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The Bump explains:
When picking a name for baby the most important factors to consider are the definitions and the connotations you have with each name you look at. Anime names are packed with meanings and often have an easy ring to them as well. If Spirited Away was a tale that spoke to you and baby is bound to be an inquisitive little thing, Chihiro could be the perfect match for you both. haha.
I'm wondering more about potential trends than tastefulness. Like what if people actually use these lists or popular anime characters more broadly as naming inspiration?? I don't see why not, so I wonder if people know of any they like or hate.
I think a lot of Americans wouldn't really think about it as weird to use the Japanese ones (although as Higuma said, they're not all Japanese; some are Western like Alphonse or words like Light and Serenity - I just don't know any to add personally), as long as it's pop culture. Americans use pop culture names like Nala, Dakota, Odin, Enzo, Arya, Sullivan without being Swahili, Dakota, Scandinavian, Italian, Indian/Iranian, Irish. The datedness thing happens a lot across language barriers; for example, a lot of French names popular in the US were dated in France. One of the predicted characteristics of Gen Z naming style is using gendered names more interchangeably, but I do think the list maker just was being careless. Asian Americans are 6% of Gen Z in the US also, although I don't know how many have Japanese heritage specifically and doubt they'll all pick names to reflect their heritage, although potentially they could pick an anime name for similar reasons other Americans might.
When picking a name for baby the most important factors to consider are the definitions and the connotations you have with each name you look at. Anime names are packed with meanings and often have an easy ring to them as well. If Spirited Away was a tale that spoke to you and baby is bound to be an inquisitive little thing, Chihiro could be the perfect match for you both. haha.
I'm wondering more about potential trends than tastefulness. Like what if people actually use these lists or popular anime characters more broadly as naming inspiration?? I don't see why not, so I wonder if people know of any they like or hate.
I think a lot of Americans wouldn't really think about it as weird to use the Japanese ones (although as Higuma said, they're not all Japanese; some are Western like Alphonse or words like Light and Serenity - I just don't know any to add personally), as long as it's pop culture. Americans use pop culture names like Nala, Dakota, Odin, Enzo, Arya, Sullivan without being Swahili, Dakota, Scandinavian, Italian, Indian/Iranian, Irish. The datedness thing happens a lot across language barriers; for example, a lot of French names popular in the US were dated in France. One of the predicted characteristics of Gen Z naming style is using gendered names more interchangeably, but I do think the list maker just was being careless. Asian Americans are 6% of Gen Z in the US also, although I don't know how many have Japanese heritage specifically and doubt they'll all pick names to reflect their heritage, although potentially they could pick an anime name for similar reasons other Americans might.
This message was edited 3/28/2022, 5:45 AM
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