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HelpRe: using a name from a different culture than your own
in reply to a message by jmp7001
It seems rude to me, like walking into the bedroom of someone you hardly know and trying on her clothes.
Rude, or sometimes pathetic. Back in the bad old days of apartheid South Africa there was a family honourably involved in the liberation movement; they were British and applied for passports in a hurry. Their daughter's name was always given as Amandla, which means Power and was/is a revolutionary slogan; but the folk in the Passports Office said they'd seen the papers and she was actually a very ordinary Amanda whose name they'd later tweaked for political purposes. Even then, there was a genuine connection with the name, even if it was a fraudulent one if you see what I mean. It wasn't a matter of them just liking the sound.
Rude, or sometimes pathetic. Back in the bad old days of apartheid South Africa there was a family honourably involved in the liberation movement; they were British and applied for passports in a hurry. Their daughter's name was always given as Amandla, which means Power and was/is a revolutionary slogan; but the folk in the Passports Office said they'd seen the papers and she was actually a very ordinary Amanda whose name they'd later tweaked for political purposes. Even then, there was a genuine connection with the name, even if it was a fraudulent one if you see what I mean. It wasn't a matter of them just liking the sound.
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Sorry, supposed to be under original message!
I think it depends on the name. I would find it strange to see a non-Muslim child called Mohammed, for example, or Moses on a child whose parents are not Jewish or Christian. Some "political" names sound strange, too, like Mandela or Ho Chi on a Caucasian child.
Otherwise, I think it's just fine, but it may be better not to choose a name the child would have to spell for people all his/her life.
"No, no, not Otto Carl Cooper! Ahtahkakoop! A-H-T...oh, just forget it..." ;)
I think it depends on the name. I would find it strange to see a non-Muslim child called Mohammed, for example, or Moses on a child whose parents are not Jewish or Christian. Some "political" names sound strange, too, like Mandela or Ho Chi on a Caucasian child.
Otherwise, I think it's just fine, but it may be better not to choose a name the child would have to spell for people all his/her life.
"No, no, not Otto Carl Cooper! Ahtahkakoop! A-H-T...oh, just forget it..." ;)
This message was edited 12/7/2014, 7:24 AM
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My husband has a relative named Hobeika (from the Middle East), but in the Canadian province to which he emigrated, he's often thought to be named O'Baker.(no doubt a rarely seen Irish name :-) )
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