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Help[Opinions] Can you use "Erin" for an Arab American girl?
Back to the short story, I am really fond on the name Erin and was considering naming one of the characters (who is from Egyptian descent) it. The problem is "Erin" means "Ireland". Do you think it can pass?
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Of course.
Plenty of Americans use names that aren't part of their heritage. Besides, people in Ireland don't normally name their daughters Erin. That's more of a name used by people of Irish descent living abroad.
That being said, it would probably make more sense if her parents were living there for a while than if they were recent immigrants.
Plenty of Americans use names that aren't part of their heritage. Besides, people in Ireland don't normally name their daughters Erin. That's more of a name used by people of Irish descent living abroad.
That being said, it would probably make more sense if her parents were living there for a while than if they were recent immigrants.
This message was edited 5/3/2014, 6:21 AM
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Sure. I might add in a backstory that can get mentioned somewhere-- maybe her parents knew someone named Erin and named their kid after her, or something. (If her parents are recent immigrants. If they've been living in America for a while, it wouldn't be weird for them to just decide to name their kid Erin.)
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Since your character is growing up, and was presumably born, in America, I think it could work. Maybe her parents just liked the name. Maybe they wanted her to fit in. People choose names for lots of reasons, and I feel that there's no reason for Erin not to work on your character. :)
Long story short: Yes, I think it would be fine.
Long story short: Yes, I think it would be fine.
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Whyever not? It gets much more use outside Ireland than inside!
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I think it would be a bit of an odd choice tbh.
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Sure, Erin is a perfectly reasonable "we wanted something American" name. Or I can imagine the parents just liking it. Especially if the character is in her late teens or twenties.
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In real life, sure. As others have said, people have all kinds of names now.
In a story, I wouldn't do it unless you can write up some nice backstory reason. I personally would probably be very distracted reading a story about a Arab American girl named Erin with no explanation at all. In my writing, I either give characters names that are "usual" for who they are and therefore need no explanation, or I give a good reason as to why they have that name. Names should be meaningful in fiction, imo.
In a story, I wouldn't do it unless you can write up some nice backstory reason. I personally would probably be very distracted reading a story about a Arab American girl named Erin with no explanation at all. In my writing, I either give characters names that are "usual" for who they are and therefore need no explanation, or I give a good reason as to why they have that name. Names should be meaningful in fiction, imo.
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agree, well said
;)
;)
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Very well put.
Sure, in a story as in life,you can use any name you like.But I wouldn't. As R.S. suggests, you could write a back-story explaining Erin's name.And I've seen this done, in books.But it doesn't work well, IMO. You can see the author coming through the story, and that destroys the illusion that he/she has worked to create.
I would prefer to see this girl bear a name that's usual for her age and place-even perhaps overused, given that the parents may not realize how common a name may be, in their new country.
Or else, she could have an Arabic name-Noor, Farah, Jamila...
There'll be other stories you'll write, about Erin. :-).
Sure, in a story as in life,you can use any name you like.But I wouldn't. As R.S. suggests, you could write a back-story explaining Erin's name.And I've seen this done, in books.But it doesn't work well, IMO. You can see the author coming through the story, and that destroys the illusion that he/she has worked to create.
I would prefer to see this girl bear a name that's usual for her age and place-even perhaps overused, given that the parents may not realize how common a name may be, in their new country.
Or else, she could have an Arabic name-Noor, Farah, Jamila...
There'll be other stories you'll write, about Erin. :-).
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People have lots of different names these days. Maybe her parents just liked the name...it could happen.
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Yeah, I actually went to school with a Pakistani immigrant named Erin. Apparently some of her family had already visited America by the time she was born, which was how she got her name. I realize that Pakistani does not equal Arab, but a girl from either background would probably be Muslim...yeah, it's totally plausible for your character to be named Erin. Unusual, but plausible.
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Sure, you can use it. I know Japanese and Chinese Americans named Erin, Shannon, and Caitlin. Just be prepared for people asking why, especially if the character has siblings and family members who all have Arab names. Also, take into consideration how recently the family has been in America. Is it a really traditional, fresh off the boat type of family? If so, the chances that they'd give their daughter a non-traditional name is slim.
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