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HelpFavorite name from your culture, Favorite name from a foreign culture...?
Hey All,
The post below on "class" got me thinking about how we often perceive names that fit into our cultural heritage as "classier" than those from other cultures.
This led me to wonder how many of us have names we simply adore than fit into our own native culture (be it where you live, where you are from or where your parents are from) and how many of us have names on our list that, at first glance, seem to clash with our ethnicities.
Many of you know that I swoon for French names, but I have a huge list of names that catch my fancy.
QUESTION:
So basically, what are some names you love that totally make sense for who you are, and some names you love that might seem off-the-wall to an outsider, purely based on origins and usage?
I'll offer mine:
Italian girl names I love - Ludovica, Giuditta, and Ilaria
Italian boy names I love - Giacinto, Cesare, and Raoul
English girl names I love - Hannah, Margaret and Alice
English boy names I love - John, Peter, and Roger
Cultural Clash girl names I love - Suzume (Japanese) and Fionnuala (Irish)
Cultural Clash boy names I love - Phirun (Cambodian) and Evren (Turkish)
______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
The post below on "class" got me thinking about how we often perceive names that fit into our cultural heritage as "classier" than those from other cultures.
This led me to wonder how many of us have names we simply adore than fit into our own native culture (be it where you live, where you are from or where your parents are from) and how many of us have names on our list that, at first glance, seem to clash with our ethnicities.
Many of you know that I swoon for French names, but I have a huge list of names that catch my fancy.
QUESTION:
So basically, what are some names you love that totally make sense for who you are, and some names you love that might seem off-the-wall to an outsider, purely based on origins and usage?
I'll offer mine:
Italian girl names I love - Ludovica, Giuditta, and Ilaria
Italian boy names I love - Giacinto, Cesare, and Raoul
English girl names I love - Hannah, Margaret and Alice
English boy names I love - John, Peter, and Roger
Cultural Clash girl names I love - Suzume (Japanese) and Fionnuala (Irish)
Cultural Clash boy names I love - Phirun (Cambodian) and Evren (Turkish)
______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
This message was edited 7/29/2015, 10:23 AM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Polish girl names I love - Emilia, Anna, Helena, Jaśmina, Laura, Klara, Sara, Klarysa, Eliza and Luiza.
Polish boy names I love - Jacek (my never ending love!) and Filip.
Cultural clash girl names I love: Saskia (Dutch) (Saskia can be used in Poland, but is extremely unpopular and generally known only as a foreign name, Fionnuala (Irish), Eithne (Irish), Sofia (Swedish) (it's much better than Zofia), Vivi (Swedish), Annika (Swedish), Hyacinth (English), Elsa (Swedish).
Cultural clash boy names I love:
Jack (English), Armin (the same situation as Saskia), Hyacinth (English), Pól (Irish), Declan ‘Irish), Peter (English), Mikko (Finnish).
Polish boy names I love - Jacek (my never ending love!) and Filip.
Cultural clash girl names I love: Saskia (Dutch) (Saskia can be used in Poland, but is extremely unpopular and generally known only as a foreign name, Fionnuala (Irish), Eithne (Irish), Sofia (Swedish) (it's much better than Zofia), Vivi (Swedish), Annika (Swedish), Hyacinth (English), Elsa (Swedish).
Cultural clash boy names I love:
Jack (English), Armin (the same situation as Saskia), Hyacinth (English), Pól (Irish), Declan ‘Irish), Peter (English), Mikko (Finnish).
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I've always liked Hyacinth as well. It's quite uncommon as a name, really. I only recently started loving the Italian versions of Giacinta and Giacinto. I actually find them more usable than Hyacinth where I live. Still a pretty name though.
I might have to add Jacek to my list! It's very smooth and bold.
I might have to add Jacek to my list! It's very smooth and bold.
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Yeah, I think that Hyacinth is amazing. Giacinto and Giacinta too, though I guess I'll always prefer Hyacinth, at least for a girl. Ah, and we have also a fine form of Jacek in Poland - Hiacynt - and its feminine form Hiacynta. A very uncommon, old, but beautiful names. I like them very much, but less than Jacek.
Yes, I agree with you, that Jacek is smooth and bold name, and can't understand so many Polish people who say that Jacek is such a lowerclass, hard name. For me it's the best of Polish names and I'm sure that if I have a son in future he's name or at least middle name will be Jacek. I know one little Jacuś, he is now 5 and is charming. :)
Yes, I agree with you, that Jacek is smooth and bold name, and can't understand so many Polish people who say that Jacek is such a lowerclass, hard name. For me it's the best of Polish names and I'm sure that if I have a son in future he's name or at least middle name will be Jacek. I know one little Jacuś, he is now 5 and is charming. :)
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My culture is a mixture of Dutch, English, Native American, etc., so I suppose I most identify with English-American names (or names that are popular in these countries). My faves would be along the lines of Louisa, Katherine, Victoria, Christopher, Gabriel, and Leo.
Another culture? Definitely Greek: Aikaterine and Leonidas or Italian: Marina and Domenico.
Another culture? Definitely Greek: Aikaterine and Leonidas or Italian: Marina and Domenico.
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There are many names that I like that fit my Italian,Australian, Spanish, German background and there are many that I like that are very different, I too love French names and I really like Arabic names.
Italian girls names I love: Arianna, Octavia, Silvana, Eliana, Lucia, Elena. Can also be Spanish
Italian boy names: Ippolito, Luca, Cesare, Gabriel. Can also be Spanish
English/German girls names: Clara, Adelaide, Evelyn, Charlotte
English/German boys names: Arthur, Oliver, Benjamin, Edmund
Culture Clash girls names I love- Luljeta or Lule (Albanian), Mireille (French) and Sahar (Arabic)
Culture Clash boys names I love- Dmitri (Russian), Asa (Hebrew), Malik (Arabic).
PNL: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224. New ones
Italian girls names I love: Arianna, Octavia, Silvana, Eliana, Lucia, Elena. Can also be Spanish
Italian boy names: Ippolito, Luca, Cesare, Gabriel. Can also be Spanish
English/German girls names: Clara, Adelaide, Evelyn, Charlotte
English/German boys names: Arthur, Oliver, Benjamin, Edmund
Culture Clash girls names I love- Luljeta or Lule (Albanian), Mireille (French) and Sahar (Arabic)
Culture Clash boys names I love- Dmitri (Russian), Asa (Hebrew), Malik (Arabic).
PNL: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224. New ones
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Ah, Mireille. That lovely name. I truly adore it, but even I have to say that it would clash with my surroundings and background, as much as I embrace French names. People just don't get the silent double L here.
Lule and Malik are quite nice too.
I love how eclectic your background is btw.
Also - Silvana is wonderful. I am a huge fan of the male Silvan or Sylvan too.
Lule and Malik are quite nice too.
I love how eclectic your background is btw.
Also - Silvana is wonderful. I am a huge fan of the male Silvan or Sylvan too.
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Names I'd use:
Amy, Edith, Virginia, Julia, Claudia, River
Nicholas, Francis, Damon, Cyrus, Marcus
Some names I like the look/sound of but would never use due to feeling like they're too foreign and not really knowing what they connote in the cultures of origin:
Ramon, Ravi, Dimitri, Ruslan, Mitra
Amparo, Dominique, Deirdre, Bronwen, Radha, Shirin, Vasilisa
- Dominique, Deirdre, and Bronwen are probably passably American usages but not comfy for me
Amy, Edith, Virginia, Julia, Claudia, River
Nicholas, Francis, Damon, Cyrus, Marcus
Some names I like the look/sound of but would never use due to feeling like they're too foreign and not really knowing what they connote in the cultures of origin:
Ramon, Ravi, Dimitri, Ruslan, Mitra
Amparo, Dominique, Deirdre, Bronwen, Radha, Shirin, Vasilisa
- Dominique, Deirdre, and Bronwen are probably passably American usages but not comfy for me
This message was edited 7/29/2015, 1:11 PM
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I just read your list and thought how bold and unexpected the combo Claudia River would be!
Also a fan of Cyrus btw.
And, I feel the same way about Deidre. Deidre and Moira are two names that never make it to the usability list because they are just outside the realm of "making sense" for me. Vasilisa is nice. I am not sure I have heard of it before!
Also a fan of Cyrus btw.
And, I feel the same way about Deidre. Deidre and Moira are two names that never make it to the usability list because they are just outside the realm of "making sense" for me. Vasilisa is nice. I am not sure I have heard of it before!
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I was almost named Moira. :)
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Most of the names on my favorite list are from other cultures than my own (Swedish). Of course there are names used here that I like, but most of them wouldn't fit on my list.
But OK, there are a few names on my list that would be seen as totally "normal" in Sweden:
Alma
Christine (although Kristin is the more common Swedish spelling)
Frida
Gabriel
Greta
Henning
Johanna
Liv
Lotte (although Lotta is more common)
Märta (note: It's NOT a version of Martha, but of Margareta)
Oscar
Sarah (although the most common spelling is Sara)
Sebastian
Sixten
Sofia
Tova
Tua
Vega
I also like the Icelandic Ástrós, the Norwegian Ingvild and the Finnish Lumi.
The other favorites on my list are from the following cultures:
Yoruba, English, Latin, French, Acadian/Creole French, Greek, Scottish, Bosnian, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Welsh, Italian, Nahuatl, Romanian, Basque, Cornish, Hungarian, Irish, Yiddish, Dutch, Hebrew, Armenian, Czech, Mapuche, Occitan, Japanese, Tupí, Zapotec, Breton, Hindi and Lithuanian!
But OK, there are a few names on my list that would be seen as totally "normal" in Sweden:
Alma
Christine (although Kristin is the more common Swedish spelling)
Frida
Gabriel
Greta
Henning
Johanna
Liv
Lotte (although Lotta is more common)
Märta (note: It's NOT a version of Martha, but of Margareta)
Oscar
Sarah (although the most common spelling is Sara)
Sebastian
Sixten
Sofia
Tova
Tua
Vega
I also like the Icelandic Ástrós, the Norwegian Ingvild and the Finnish Lumi.
The other favorites on my list are from the following cultures:
Yoruba, English, Latin, French, Acadian/Creole French, Greek, Scottish, Bosnian, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Welsh, Italian, Nahuatl, Romanian, Basque, Cornish, Hungarian, Irish, Yiddish, Dutch, Hebrew, Armenian, Czech, Mapuche, Occitan, Japanese, Tupí, Zapotec, Breton, Hindi and Lithuanian!
This message was edited 7/29/2015, 1:05 PM
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I think you've posted Lumi before, and I looked it up then. It's simply adorable.
I always thought Lumi and Indra would make a sweet sibset (snow and raindrop).
Anyway... Loving that your taste fits your area. I envy that tbh. Greta, Lotte, Marta, Sixten, Tova, Frida and Johanna are swoonable. Nice choices.
I always thought Lumi and Indra would make a sweet sibset (snow and raindrop).
Anyway... Loving that your taste fits your area. I envy that tbh. Greta, Lotte, Marta, Sixten, Tova, Frida and Johanna are swoonable. Nice choices.
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Thanks! :)
Greta was my granny's nickname (her real name was Margareta). Lotte is from "Little Lotte" in Phantom of the Opera. Märta was a great-grandmother's name. Zixten is the name of my cat (Z is pr. like S in Swedish). Frida is really from Frida Kahlo, but it's a common name in Sweden. Tova and Johanna are just names I like.
Greta was my granny's nickname (her real name was Margareta). Lotte is from "Little Lotte" in Phantom of the Opera. Märta was a great-grandmother's name. Zixten is the name of my cat (Z is pr. like S in Swedish). Frida is really from Frida Kahlo, but it's a common name in Sweden. Tova and Johanna are just names I like.
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There is only one name that I like that is from outside my culture and would seem too off-the-wall to Americans: Solange. Generally, I don't even judge foreign names unless they have become very assimilated into my culture.
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Solange is a pretty name,quite common where I live, but probably not on anyone under 60.
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I like Solange, but been crushing on it's sister Solene lately.
I can't decide if French is foreign to me or not.
I have to cop out and admit that most of the names I love from other cultures are pretty assimilated as well. With the exception of Ludovica and Melisande. Those have only hopped and skipped to a bordering country or so. None have arrived in North America yet.
I can't decide if French is foreign to me or not.
I have to cop out and admit that most of the names I love from other cultures are pretty assimilated as well. With the exception of Ludovica and Melisande. Those have only hopped and skipped to a bordering country or so. None have arrived in North America yet.
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I love Hebrew names. Yael is such an elegant beauty.
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I'm gonna define "my culture" as basically anything British Isles, since that's the origin at least 90% of my genetics.
British Isles female names I love:
Arwen (originally Welsh, but Tolkien himself was also British)
Branwen (Welsh)
Eowyn (Old English)
Grace (English)
Moira (Irish)
Rhona (Scottish)
British Isles male names I love:
Brand (English/Old Norse)
Douglas (Scottish)
Edwin (Old English)
Grant (English/Scottish)
Godric (Anglo-Saxon/Old English)
Gwaine (Welsh)
"Cultural Clash" female names I love (assuming most of these count):
Ariadne (Greek)
Hoshi (Japanese)
Natalya (Russian/Latin)
Odette (French/Germanic)
Raina (Bulgarian/Latin)
Tzipporah (Hebrew)
"Cultural Clash" male names I love:
Elam (Hebrew)
Erik (Scandinavian/Old Norse)
Gaspar (Spanish/Portuguese/Persian)
Orion (Greek)
Pietro (Italian/Greek)
Tadashi (Japanese)
British Isles female names I love:
Arwen (originally Welsh, but Tolkien himself was also British)
Branwen (Welsh)
Eowyn (Old English)
Grace (English)
Moira (Irish)
Rhona (Scottish)
British Isles male names I love:
Brand (English/Old Norse)
Douglas (Scottish)
Edwin (Old English)
Grant (English/Scottish)
Godric (Anglo-Saxon/Old English)
Gwaine (Welsh)
"Cultural Clash" female names I love (assuming most of these count):
Ariadne (Greek)
Hoshi (Japanese)
Natalya (Russian/Latin)
Odette (French/Germanic)
Raina (Bulgarian/Latin)
Tzipporah (Hebrew)
"Cultural Clash" male names I love:
Elam (Hebrew)
Erik (Scandinavian/Old Norse)
Gaspar (Spanish/Portuguese/Persian)
Orion (Greek)
Pietro (Italian/Greek)
Tadashi (Japanese)
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I met an Arwen last week! It was pretty exciting for me.
Grant is so solid, I love it. I am a huge fan of your "clashing" list. Raina is a fave of mine too, but I prefer the Filipina version of Reyna. Tzipporah is a GP of mine.
Gaspare is on our list! and I also know an Orion!
Tadashi is just all sorts of cool.
Grant is so solid, I love it. I am a huge fan of your "clashing" list. Raina is a fave of mine too, but I prefer the Filipina version of Reyna. Tzipporah is a GP of mine.
Gaspare is on our list! and I also know an Orion!
Tadashi is just all sorts of cool.
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Half of my name list is the flotilla of foreign names too exotic for Michigan.
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And, Michigan I would consider foreign to me!
Haha. Actually I have never felt more out of place anywhere in the world than when I lived in Minnesota for a while, and when I visited Michigan.
Great people though.
I am curious what named you think won't fly there. Fun fact though, I know at LEAST 8 people from Michigan named Allison.
Haha. Actually I have never felt more out of place anywhere in the world than when I lived in Minnesota for a while, and when I visited Michigan.
Great people though.
I am curious what named you think won't fly there. Fun fact though, I know at LEAST 8 people from Michigan named Allison.
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I doubt my field of work will take me overseas to the point Iowa sounds exotic.
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Honestly, most names that I love seem to be outside my culture. I have a particular fondness for Polish and German names, but to my knowledge, I have nothing Polish or German in my family. Let's see...
Spanish girl names that I love: Esperanza, Guadalupe "Lupita", and Estrella.
Spanish boy names that I love: Ramón, César, and Timoteo. (although, despite our Spanish background, I have a feeling these names might also seem too "out there" by my family. sigh).
English girl names that I love: Cassandra, Hope, and Georgina.
English boy's names that I love: Micah, Wesley, and David.
Cultural Clash girl names that I love: Anetka (Polish), Janica (Hebrew), and Nefertari (Egyptian).
Cultural Clash boy names that I love: Engel (German [Ancient Germanic]), Ibrahim (Arabic), and Piotr (Polish).
Spanish girl names that I love: Esperanza, Guadalupe "Lupita", and Estrella.
Spanish boy names that I love: Ramón, César, and Timoteo. (although, despite our Spanish background, I have a feeling these names might also seem too "out there" by my family. sigh).
English girl names that I love: Cassandra, Hope, and Georgina.
English boy's names that I love: Micah, Wesley, and David.
Cultural Clash girl names that I love: Anetka (Polish), Janica (Hebrew), and Nefertari (Egyptian).
Cultural Clash boy names that I love: Engel (German [Ancient Germanic]), Ibrahim (Arabic), and Piotr (Polish).
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Kizuna is quite pretty. I have a fond-ness for Japanese names as well. They all have a dainty feel to them I think.
Kinga is interesting, I don't think I have actually heard of that before.
Is it king-ah or kin-gah?
Kinga is interesting, I don't think I have actually heard of that before.
Is it king-ah or kin-gah?
This message was edited 7/29/2015, 1:04 PM
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With regards to the pronunciation of Kinga, I'm sure you're aware that it's not pronouced like the word 'king' with an extra A added. Anyway, I pronounce Kinga keen-gah.
With regards to Kizuna, I have a personal reason for choosing this name. The kanji used for Kizuna (絆) means "bonds, fetters" and the word, which uses the same kanji, refers to a bond, emotional tie or link between people. That is something I don't really have. I had ties broken up between my friends from time to time. In most cases, I put the blame on myself since I acted terribly and made a lot of really stupid decisions. Since then, whenever I think of anything, it always transpires to something bad happening to me and it makes me feel depressed and ashamed of myself for even existing with autism and Asperger's. Now I don't have anyone to talk to at home or outside (excluding school) except my mother and my friend, Isabella (if I had bought a phone and got her to exchange numbers before she left high school).
If I had a baby with any type of a Japanese woman, I would persuade her to give the name Kizuna to that baby, regardless of gender, so that he/she can do what I cannot do, which is to create long-lasting bonds with people without inflicting damage.
With regards to Kizuna, I have a personal reason for choosing this name. The kanji used for Kizuna (絆) means "bonds, fetters" and the word, which uses the same kanji, refers to a bond, emotional tie or link between people. That is something I don't really have. I had ties broken up between my friends from time to time. In most cases, I put the blame on myself since I acted terribly and made a lot of really stupid decisions. Since then, whenever I think of anything, it always transpires to something bad happening to me and it makes me feel depressed and ashamed of myself for even existing with autism and Asperger's. Now I don't have anyone to talk to at home or outside (excluding school) except my mother and my friend, Isabella (if I had bought a phone and got her to exchange numbers before she left high school).
If I had a baby with any type of a Japanese woman, I would persuade her to give the name Kizuna to that baby, regardless of gender, so that he/she can do what I cannot do, which is to create long-lasting bonds with people without inflicting damage.
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Actually, I wasn't aware. As I mentioned, I have never heard the name Kinga before. However, I do find it appealing, especially the way you pronounce it.
To be a bit off topic - I hope you realize that beyond the significance of a name... there is always time to create bonds with people free from damage. Autism or not, the world is full of loving and understanding people that treasure relationship even if one party acts "terribly". ;)
To be a bit off topic - I hope you realize that beyond the significance of a name... there is always time to create bonds with people free from damage. Autism or not, the world is full of loving and understanding people that treasure relationship even if one party acts "terribly". ;)
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