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HelpAnswer and tangent...
in reply to a message by erb816
I have far too many to list. Name a usage and its probably likely I have a name on my PNL that I like from that usage.
Its not that I don't like eastern names, as there are a few I would actually consider using, I just think a lot of them I am unlikely to use on a real child of my own unless I married someone else with a different ethnic or cultural background from my own, therefore I don't discuss them much here, despite liking them.
I cannot decide if using a name from a culture not your own is flattering or kind of rude (not quite the word I am looking for). I know for sure it bothers me when its cultural misappropriation, but I'm not sure how I feel about "abnormally placed" names.
Would you be confused by a white girl named Shalondra?
Would you be confused by a black girl named Xiong?
Would you be confused by an asian girl named Tzipporah?
Would you be confused by a hispanic girl named Fatima?
Would you think it strange for an atheist to be named Moses?
Would you think it strange for a Christian to be named Mohammed?
Thoughts?
Its not that I don't like eastern names, as there are a few I would actually consider using, I just think a lot of them I am unlikely to use on a real child of my own unless I married someone else with a different ethnic or cultural background from my own, therefore I don't discuss them much here, despite liking them.
I cannot decide if using a name from a culture not your own is flattering or kind of rude (not quite the word I am looking for). I know for sure it bothers me when its cultural misappropriation, but I'm not sure how I feel about "abnormally placed" names.
Would you be confused by a white girl named Shalondra?
Would you be confused by a black girl named Xiong?
Would you be confused by an asian girl named Tzipporah?
Would you be confused by a hispanic girl named Fatima?
Would you think it strange for an atheist to be named Moses?
Would you think it strange for a Christian to be named Mohammed?
Thoughts?
This message was edited 9/23/2016, 3:59 AM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Probably yes to all of them except for Moses on an atheist or Fatima on a Hispanic girl. Fatima is used a lot in Spanish-speaking countries due to Our Lady of Fatima. Moses I could see on an atheist who was probably not raised atheist.
I've never heard of any Christians named Mohammed. Arabic names are sometimes used by non-Muslim African-Americans, and even then I've never heard of one with Mohammed as their birth name.
I've never heard of any Christians named Mohammed. Arabic names are sometimes used by non-Muslim African-Americans, and even then I've never heard of one with Mohammed as their birth name.
This message was edited 9/23/2016, 1:08 PM
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Would you be confused by a white girl named Shalondra?
- No.
Would you be confused by a black girl named Xiong?
- Surprised is a better word. I would tend to assume she had Chinese ancestry, because the pronunciation of that name wouldn't usually be known to entire families of American black people.
Would you be confused by an asian girl named Tzipporah?
- I might wonder if it was not her birth name.
Would you be confused by a hispanic girl named Fatima?
- I would notice that it seemed odd.
Would you think it strange for an atheist to be named Moses?
- I would think it was funny.
Would you think it strange for a Christian to be named Mohammed?
- Strange, yeah - interesting, though.
- No.
Would you be confused by a black girl named Xiong?
- Surprised is a better word. I would tend to assume she had Chinese ancestry, because the pronunciation of that name wouldn't usually be known to entire families of American black people.
Would you be confused by an asian girl named Tzipporah?
- I might wonder if it was not her birth name.
Would you be confused by a hispanic girl named Fatima?
- I would notice that it seemed odd.
Would you think it strange for an atheist to be named Moses?
- I would think it was funny.
Would you think it strange for a Christian to be named Mohammed?
- Strange, yeah - interesting, though.
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I'd be surprised by a white girl named Shalondra but I know that it does happen that whites are given African-American names, though rarely.
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One of my name orgins is African-American, being LaKendra which shorts to my name of Lakin with a minor change in the spelling!
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I suppose this might be geographical... but in rural NY I think what many people consider "African American" naming is what we see as "low-socioeconomic-class" names.
It's unfortunate, but true. I would not be surprised to meet a white girl named Shalondra, Sha'miah or De'Shawn from smaller villages/trailer parks near where I grew up.
I would be surprised to meet one where I live now in Ohio.
It's unfortunate, but true. I would not be surprised to meet a white girl named Shalondra, Sha'miah or De'Shawn from smaller villages/trailer parks near where I grew up.
I would be surprised to meet one where I live now in Ohio.
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Man....I'm sorry to hear that, because one of the things I fight against is the perception that African American name necessarily = low-socioeconomic class. That perception is what really causes people to deny that there even is such a thing as an African-American name, because they think that to identify it as such is the same thing as assuming low-socioeconomic class and thus they think it's racist to say, "This is an African-American name." I've always said that what is racist is to deny that there is such a class of names, because the wish to do so springs from racist assumptions.
Anyway, I live in a state where there is a high percentage of African-Americans, my SO is African-American (although he personally hates being called that, preferring to be called black), my workplace employs many African-Americans, so I know darn well that there are African-American names.
Anyway, I live in a state where there is a high percentage of African-Americans, my SO is African-American (although he personally hates being called that, preferring to be called black), my workplace employs many African-Americans, so I know darn well that there are African-American names.
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I don't usually consider naming cultural appropriation unless the name has very specific value to that culture.
I'll add that I would assume the family had some connection to whatever culture was represented in the kid's name.
It's not necessary though. I know a blue-eyed German girl named Maya-Yuki. I know a white woman named Ebony. I know a Hispanic girl named Lisa. I don't think we should have to be confined to "our" culture when naming because the world is getting smaller and smaller.
For that reason, I would not be confused by any of the names you listed... saving the last choice (Mohammed). That said, I think you meant "would it be strange for Christian parents to name their kid Mohammed?" Answer: yes.
There are actually tons of Christians named Mohammed as it is a very popular name outside of the States.
EX - both my girls have a French first, Filipino middle and Italian second middle name. We have zero connection to French culture (other than appreciation).
I'll add that I would assume the family had some connection to whatever culture was represented in the kid's name.
It's not necessary though. I know a blue-eyed German girl named Maya-Yuki. I know a white woman named Ebony. I know a Hispanic girl named Lisa. I don't think we should have to be confined to "our" culture when naming because the world is getting smaller and smaller.
For that reason, I would not be confused by any of the names you listed... saving the last choice (Mohammed). That said, I think you meant "would it be strange for Christian parents to name their kid Mohammed?" Answer: yes.
There are actually tons of Christians named Mohammed as it is a very popular name outside of the States.
EX - both my girls have a French first, Filipino middle and Italian second middle name. We have zero connection to French culture (other than appreciation).
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