(no subject)

[cxtxc.livejournal.com]

What are you guys opinions on using names that aren't of your background? Like not having any Russian heritage but using a name like Fyodor? I'm asking because I live in Italy and I like a few names common in America and the U.K (Isaac, Tristan etc), butttt it's like...would that sound too weird on an Italian child?

Comments

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I think there are certain names that are universal. For instance, I'm not Jewish, but I would use the name Rachel, even though it has Hebrew roots to it. Conversely, I wouldn't use the name Rivka, because it's not universal and it's more specific to that culture. I'd feel weird using the name, because it's going to sound weird on a little blonde haired, blue eyed girl with a Danish last name.

I think, if you have a connection to the background, it's okay to use, and I don't there that people SHOULDN'T use the names, but I do think it kind of sounds weird when you have a kid named Giovanni O'Connor or something. If you hear the name and automatically think "Italian" or "French" or whatever, and you have a last name (or are quite obviously, by the way you look, for instance) that is also quite distinctive, it's going to be difficult to make them sound okay together.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I actually have a Caribbean-American (black) friend called Rivka and it fits her very well.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

That's basically how I feel as well. Some names won't immediately sound incongruous, because they have come to be used by people in other parts of the world, sometimes to the point that you can't even tell anymore what the origin of the name is. But if a name is really specific to just one part of the world, and it's not the same as your own, I think it's going to sound odd.

Of course, this question is kind of hard, because I am coming at this from a North American perspective, not an Italian one ... to me, the names you mentioned are commonplace enough that I can't imagine them sounding weird, but that might not be the case there.

Then again, if I meet someone whose background is Chinese or something, but their first name is Emily, my assumption is going to be that they were born in North America, and that scenario might apply here as well. It might sound fine, because there are probably people with the same entire names you're thinking of in North America, but people might assume that your child is from here as well.

Sorry if that didn't make sense! It did in my head!

African American Names

[crossingthesea.livejournal.com]

I think you said this really well.

To the OP, when you are drawn to names in other languages or cultures, do you consider their local equivalents (i.e. Fyodor = Theodore = Teodoro, that kind of thing)? I'm curious.

Personally I really like names that are considered African American names, like Tyrone, Tyrese, Keisha, Kwame that kind of thing. My child won't be American, so those names aren't in the running, but they make me happy to hear.

BTW, I'm also interested that we get almost NO mention of these kinds of names in this community. Too bad, I'd really like to hear more.

Re: African American Names

[cxtxc.livejournal.com]

I do actually, but I usually never care for the equivalents.

I like African Americans names too, but I get the feeling that people here consider them kry8tve and not a representation of the African American culture.

Re: African American Names

[crossingthesea.livejournal.com]

Well we hear of the worst case examples here (apostrophes in a name are never okay), but we don't hear of the more standard ones, which is too bad. I don't come across them anymore as I no longer live in the US, but I appreciate them heartily when I do.

[sweatydog.livejournal.com]

You mean Rosa is a Spanish or Portuguese name. I have Spanish and Portuguese heritage and I am not Mexican.

Thats one of those things that is painful on my eyes and ears. When people lump all latinos together and call them Mexicans.

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

No.

[sweatydog.livejournal.com]

But it would still be a name of Spanish origin I believe.

I don't actually speak Spanish so I wouldn't know about pronunciation.

I think though because it would be a name influenced by the Spanish or Portuguese influence ( I don't know much about the history) but I don't think it would be considered Mexican if it weren't a native Mexican name.

Like my grand parents both have Spanish and Portuguese names, we are still Puerto Rican and probably part native Boricua but the names are from Spanish and Portuguese influence.

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

I've lived in Spain and visited Mexico and Ecuador; I speak Spanish decently for somebody who no longer visits Spanish-speaking countries frequently. Additionally, both of my parents were born in Brazil and I speak Portuguese.

Rosa might be said SLIGHTLY differently in Barcelona, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, etc., but no more so than American regional accents would change the way people say "Molly" or whatever.

For the record, going by experience, I doubt these xenophobic American Rosa-naming people are saying it quite like the Spanish speakers -- but the Spaniards, Mexicans, etc. would certainly understand easily enough.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I probably wouldn't do it for a first name, but maybe for a middle name. I am part Russian and part German but I don't identify with either of those cultures at all as my family has been American for generations so even though I am obsessed with Russian names I probably wouldn't use Ekaterina or Nikolai as first names. However, I always find it cool on other people's children.

[sweatydog.livejournal.com]

I like the names Serj and Sergei... which according to behind the name are Russian and Bulgarian.

I'm American, half white (no Russian heritage to my knowledge) and half Puerto Rican.

If I like a name I'll use it simple as that. Serj would be to honor one of my idols.

I have though always wanted to honor my dads (Puerto Rican) side of the family. (Joaquin and Alejandra my current picks)

I've said before that the world is becoming such a melting pot and there are so many multiracial people around that its almost imposable to stick to honoring one single line.

[jazbot.livejournal.com]

...Tankian?

[sweatydog.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed.

[red-inuzuka.livejournal.com]

I've always debated this too, since there are some names I love that would probably never fit any of my children. I think it really depends on the names and the look of the possible baby and the last name going with it. Like a pale Irish baby with bright red hair and a bucket load of freckles with the name Juan or a dark skinned Hispanic with the name Liam would make me giggle, esp if I couldn't see the parents or the last name was very ethically what they looked liked. But there are more universal names that must have some origin but it doesn't mean the child is that same ethnicity too. Like Jessica, my name, is Hebrew, but there is no Jewish ancestory anywhere in my history.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

I like a lot of Scandinavian names (Janne, Jesper, and Johan to name a few), and I wouldn't have a problem using them even though I have absolutely no Scandinavian in me. I'm half Russian and half German, if that matters. I say if you like the name, go ahead and use it, unless you have a last name that really shows off your nationality and it clashes with the first name (e.g. Keiko Goldstein or Aleksei Rodriguez).

[fireyirishangel.livejournal.com]

I vetoed a number of names that my fiance suggested because they felt too strongly tied to a culture not my own, and I was uncomfortable with that. I don't judge others who make those choices, but it wasn't something I wanted to do. I agree with the person above - Giovanni O'Connor sounds a little... odd. But if you love the name, you love the name. I suspect if I loved Dmitri as much as my fiance does, I wouldn't care that it sounds anything but Scot/Irish :)

[scouty.livejournal.com]

its perfectly fine to me !!

I dont care for heritage at all !

I live in germany and my kids will get english names...
I like them and thats the most important thing !

why should I give my kids names that are not my first choice but fit to the heritage ?!

we live in a world open world so it should not be a problem in the future

the only thing I care about is that people here in my country can say it properly (e.g. I would not use seth! as many cant say the TH and he would be a SEV or a SET !) I mean there a few names I love but would not my kid because it means something here (e.g. zeke = zecke in german = tick )

[krysteener.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. I'm black and I like a bunch of different ethnic names (like different ethnicities than my own) and could I get away with naming my kid Giovanni or something?

And I decided that I don't care lol. If I like the name, I'll use it. The only reservation that I have is whether people in my country can pronounce the name. I love Irish names but most likely will never use one because the ones I like may be hard for people to figure out.

[xpaniic.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you one the last part.

[quite-rosie.livejournal.com]

I don't have a problem with it. My name is Tara. I'm not a bit Irish.

I will most likely give a daughter an Italian name (my mom's family is Italian) or a Spanish name (because I like Spanish names and I speak Spanish too).

My husband almost got a hobbit name! His dad wanted to name him Bilbo Baggins. Now that really is a stretch!

[butterflyishida.livejournal.com]

i agree with most people with the universal thing going well but i also love unusal names. I spent a lot of my late teenage/early 20s loving Japanese names but as I rethink them now, most wouldn't suit a caucasian Canadian child ;_;

the pair of names you listed though...I think they could work well in the 'universal' category. Perhaps find the Italian variation of them?

Tristian is one of my fave boys names. Its getting hugely popular in my local dayvare/extended family network though.

[memorymaze.livejournal.com]

My cousin and his wife (Canadian) named their baby girl Petra.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

I have the same issue. I really like the name Vlada but it's Russian and I'm not russian at all.

[xpaniic.livejournal.com]

I was wondering this same exact thing one day.
I like Hawaiian names but the only Hawaiian in my ENTIRE family is my great aunt (by marriage).

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

I don't care about name backgrounds as long as the name fits the child and the general sibset. I love European names, especially ones from Italy and Greece, and I'm African-American. By the names of my fellows Blacks, the names I choose are very feminine or very masculine, sophisticated, and poetic.... not at all like the trendy, kre8tyve "pronounce that again, spell it for me" names I hear on a daily basis.

SO yeah.