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HelpRe: Using a name from another culture as an American
in reply to a message by Manipura
I think it’s fine to use German and Polish names with no connection to the place, I’d find it a little surprising. I picked Hans because it’s such a stereotypical and quintessential German name. Johan already feels vaguely more international.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable using, say, an Indian name or a Japanese one, though I know a French Yoko who was named so because her parents loved Yoko Ono. I’d use a Biblical name but not a Yiddish /Modern Hebrew one ( Sarah vs Suri or Rebecca vs Rivka for instance ).
“Someone once said that it wasn’t so hard to do right; what was hard was to know what was right to do.”
William X. Kienzle
I wouldn’t feel comfortable using, say, an Indian name or a Japanese one, though I know a French Yoko who was named so because her parents loved Yoko Ono. I’d use a Biblical name but not a Yiddish /Modern Hebrew one ( Sarah vs Suri or Rebecca vs Rivka for instance ).
“Someone once said that it wasn’t so hard to do right; what was hard was to know what was right to do.”
William X. Kienzle
This message was edited 9/7/2023, 2:26 AM
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Yeah, on one hand I understand (I wouldn't use a Japanese name either), but on the other, it's hard to wrap my head around. It's like if 100-200 years from now Somalians were surprised English speaking Americans descended from Somalian immigrants were still using Mohamed (as well as expecting that Muslims and Arabic speakers had not impacted wider American culture) - that'd sound odd, right?
Here there was a pretty obvious switch between Hans and Johan. I think people decided Johan sounds more modern, although I guess part of that could be that it also seems vaguely more French/Spanish.
Here there was a pretty obvious switch between Hans and Johan. I think people decided Johan sounds more modern, although I guess part of that could be that it also seems vaguely more French/Spanish.
This message was edited 9/8/2023, 2:55 AM
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