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HelpRe: Question about names and cultures
in reply to a message by RegalAmethyst
I'm American, and I actually disagree with your theory to a certain extent. If I saw someone without a German or Slovakian heritage named Ladislava I'd be like... weird, what the heck? Same would go if I saw someone with a super Hebrew name who wasn't Jewish or someone with a super Italian name who had no Italian heritage, etc. I knew a girl in college named Leilani who wasn't at all Hawaiian, and I thought it was kind of odd. I don't know if it has to do with how heritage and staying consistent with that is meaningful to me or what, but I would think that people will only use names that are part of their heritage or are acceptable as generic in American culture. Like Aidan or Connor. If you weren't Irish, I wouldn't think it was weird because they're so common. Most popular names are English somehow, and that makes sense to me since we speak English and used to be English. Even though lots of other stuff has gotten thrown in there for the majority of families. Anyway, hope that makes sense.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 2:58 PM
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I do know what you mean, very much. Ladislava was a bit of a strong choice. Maybe I should have gone with something more German, since there aren't a whole lot of Slovakian people in the US in comparison with German people. Anyways, I agree with you to a certain extent, and it brings up another question that may be ever more sensitive. If said American person was born or emigrated (with the intention to stay for life) to a non-English speaking country, say Slovakia, would it be considered weird for that person to be given or change their name to a Slovakian name? I ask this because a lot of people who are new to America (either them or their parents) are given or take generic American names, like Jennifer. I understand that they do it to fit in. It's normal and expected. But sometimes I...I don't want to say worry, but I do feel odd about how many people easily take American names (both here and in other countries) and yet how much of a barrier there is between an American person and a non white-European name. I almost feel like it allows white America to propagate and become the new global "person" instead of a cross cultural influence where people really can go both ways. How global are we if in a country that constantly boasts about being a country of immigrants the only real normal is white-European immigrant? But I could be really off here. I only have my own experience (and American media) to speak of.
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The reason the majority of people have white-European names is because the majority of people are of white-European heritage. In general, recent immigrants have names from wherever they're from. I know some will change their names, but I think that's more of a personal choice for them. No one will think it's weird if you were born in China and then came here and are still called something Chinese. Or even if you were born here but both of your parents were from China. But there are names (ones that aren't collectively commonly used) that are going to indicate your cultural background. If you were American and moved to some non-English speaking place, I wouldn't expect your name to be changed to reflect the new place, either. But some people might just think it would be easier for them and maybe they wouldn't care. I guess maybe I'm not entirely clear what you're meaning?
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:19 PM
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That's probably because I'm not being entirely clear. I think I said something closer to what I meant in reply to yasmine's post. Ugh, I'm getting so mixed up. It's been a long day.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:25 PM
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No worries, I definitely know that feeling!
I read your response to yasmine and it is more clear. I'd say it could be because white-European countries have so much world power, that is why some other countries are more apt to take "our" names for some of their own trends. And it's not just American naming trends that are adopted by other countries. We get the back of the British naming trends somewhat, I think. At least currently, more upper-class people BAs might look straight out of England. At least in my experience.
I read your response to yasmine and it is more clear. I'd say it could be because white-European countries have so much world power, that is why some other countries are more apt to take "our" names for some of their own trends. And it's not just American naming trends that are adopted by other countries. We get the back of the British naming trends somewhat, I think. At least currently, more upper-class people BAs might look straight out of England. At least in my experience.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 3:39 PM
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Yes, that could be it. I think ADT is right about multi-culturalism being an illusion. I really do believe, although I'd love to be set right, that on many levels globalization means that things are becoming more generic on a large scale instead of more diverse on a large scale. As a namenerd it makes me sad and slightly discouraged. I remember one interview that Oprah had with Maya Angelou. She (Maya Angelou) said that she knew that people in her neighborhood were starting to care more about where they lived because they were putting flower boxes on their window. That's sort of how I feel now, only without the flower boxes. I find it hard to believe that the world really is becoming global if people don't make the effort to go both ways. And I'm rambling.
Anyways, I do think we get some of the British naming trends, but I would say that it's on a very small scale. I've read before that in naming trends we're about 10 years behind England. So maybe in 10 years Hector or Elsie / Maisie type names will become more common here.
Anyways, I do think we get some of the British naming trends, but I would say that it's on a very small scale. I've read before that in naming trends we're about 10 years behind England. So maybe in 10 years Hector or Elsie / Maisie type names will become more common here.
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Yeah, kinda. But I see lots of people say stuff like "My family is Italian/Irish/Greek/etc. so we want an Italian/Irish/Greek/etc. name for our baby." Of course these names aren't usually too authentic or uncommon in the respective origins because they'd also need to work well-fairly well in an English speaking place. And then of course you also get the sorts who are like "Oh, my grandma is Irish so we want to name our daughter something Irish. We're calling her Makynzie." *facepalm*
Anyway, point being I think people still try to embrace where they're from, even if it's where they're from and not where their ancestors are from. And on many more ways than just the names they choose for their children.
Anyway, point being I think people still try to embrace where they're from, even if it's where they're from and not where their ancestors are from. And on many more ways than just the names they choose for their children.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 4:04 PM
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I agree that people try to find ways to honor where they're from. I know I do. Isn't the Makynzie thing too true? I see your facepalm and raise you an exasperated sigh.
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