(no subject)

[samaside.livejournal.com]

One thing that I've noticed a lot of people saying is that they would not encourage parents to give their kids culturally based names from other cultures if living in the United States. The biggest one is the very obvious Celtic and Welsh names with their 'unusual' spellings that really wouldn't be understood in the United States. I full agree.

HOWEVER.

I was wondering what names people would suggest in place of those sorts of names. Like, names that could be easily recognized as cultural or ethnic names (not limited to just Celtic and Welsh, but others as well) but could be easily comprehended in the United States.

Comments

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I would encourage Anglicized versions of culturally traditional names rather than the incredibly difficult to spell versions. Unless you're living in an area that is heavily populated with whatever group it is that uses those particular names and you do not, under any circumstances, forsee your child leaving said geographical area, I'd suggest it.

For example:
Rivka --> Rebekah
Noach --> Noah
Uilleam --> William
Màiri --> Mary

Sometimes it doesn't really matter and the names translate well enough that the original versions could be used. Rivka could probably be used without *too* much trouble, although I think a Rebekah would be much more likely to have her name pronounced/spelled correctly. Seamus, Diego, Liam, Sean, etc. would most likely be fine, regardless of what geographical area you are in.

So, to make a long story short, my suggested alternative for parents who want to use a culturally significant name on their child is to pick one that (a) makes sense phonetically in the language of whatever country they live in and (b) won't make their child's life incredibly difficult when they have to explain, "I know, Siobhan doesn't look like it's pronounced that way, but it is," for the rest of her life. Or, use the traditional name, but the Anglicized version of it.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

I generally like names that have an Irish connection to them, such as Patrick, Brendan, and Riley. I think those names are common enough in the states but do still have kind of an ethnic "tone" to them.

[murderprotocol.livejournal.com]

I really have no problem with it. I like many Irish names (or just European names in general), and there's some that I would consider using even though I'm not Irish, nor do I live there. With the way people travel and immigrate these days, I think it's a little silly to expect those names to stay in the country they originated.

I went to a multi-cultural high school with many European, Asian and Islander students. The majority of them had 'unusual' names, even the ones who were born in Australia, but we learnt to pronounce them correctly. If someone really couldn't, they had nicknames. Some of the Islander and Asian students did have English 'versions' of their names, but for the most part, they were who they were, and none of them ever had any problems with having an unusual name.

I don't think it matters what the name is or where it comes from; there will always be someone who will misspell it/can't pronounce it. My sister's name is Rachael and she's forever correcting people on how it's spelt.

If people want to honour their heritage, I say go for it. I bet there are people in the world who don't understand the names 'Kate' or 'John'.

(I do agree with the above commentor though on Anglicised versions of traditional names if it really is a bother.)

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what I would suggest, because I don't really have a problem with the obvious Celtic and Welsh names with their unusual spellings. If people can't understand them, spell it, pronounce it, and move on.

My name's not Celtic and Welsh or anything (I actually think that it's American) and I still have to pronounce it and spell it for everybody, at least once. It can get tiring, but I've never lost any sleep about it.

Name your kids what you want, no matter where you live.

[yukonsally]

I'm a big fan of those names being a middle name.