Naming your kids something that is not your culture
How do you feel about this?
I personally think it is ok if name has become popular in region where you are with locals (e.g. anglosphere kid called Layla) but if it is not (e.g. anglosphere kid named Yuki) I think it is weird and maybe culture appropriation?
But there is also something of I would want to name a daughter Irena, which is Polish, Slovak, Czech, etc but I am Ukrainian. I think it would be fine even though it not popular in Ukraine because it is similar to ours (Iryna) and it is familiar. Thoughts?
I personally think it is ok if name has become popular in region where you are with locals (e.g. anglosphere kid called Layla) but if it is not (e.g. anglosphere kid named Yuki) I think it is weird and maybe culture appropriation?
But there is also something of I would want to name a daughter Irena, which is Polish, Slovak, Czech, etc but I am Ukrainian. I think it would be fine even though it not popular in Ukraine because it is similar to ours (Iryna) and it is familiar. Thoughts?
This message was edited 6/13/2025, 12:26 PM
Replies
I agree with people who said it depends on the name. I think most of the time it is done with the intent of honoring a culture. I agree with those who said culture is meant to be shared. A lot of names are also internationally well known throughout the world. For example, even though Dimitri is not of my culture, it feels ''international'' enough.
But I'd still refrain in certain cases. For example, names of important religious figures like Mohammed or Jesus can have an importance to believers and I would feel like I was not respecting their beliefs if I chose the name ''just 'cause''.
I also would not name my kid the name of a cultural group that have been oppressed for centuries. I'm thinking mainly of Indigenous peoples of America. Considering their culture has almost been erased by colonization, it doesn't feel right to use a name from that culture. It's actually well known that people of the First nations communities were forced to use Christian names for centuries. In those cases, it would feel wrong to me. First Nations have the right to reclaim their own customs and culture and heal. It's a question of historical power dynamics, when a group has been repressed and held in a lower place in society purposefully.
But I'd still refrain in certain cases. For example, names of important religious figures like Mohammed or Jesus can have an importance to believers and I would feel like I was not respecting their beliefs if I chose the name ''just 'cause''.
I also would not name my kid the name of a cultural group that have been oppressed for centuries. I'm thinking mainly of Indigenous peoples of America. Considering their culture has almost been erased by colonization, it doesn't feel right to use a name from that culture. It's actually well known that people of the First nations communities were forced to use Christian names for centuries. In those cases, it would feel wrong to me. First Nations have the right to reclaim their own customs and culture and heal. It's a question of historical power dynamics, when a group has been repressed and held in a lower place in society purposefully.
It is the same with natives of Russia, sadly.
I think it is fine. Always. Nobody names a kid something they don't think is cool. To use a name is to give it high praise and if it represents another culture, that's like praising that culture, showing that one thinks its artifacts are worthy - whether one means to praise it, or not. There's no appropriation involved. Appropriation means profiting at someone else's expense. I don't think naming a child ever does that. Maybe if it were a celebrity pseudonym.
At worst the parents might be ignorant about what the name signifies to people who are familiar with its original context. I still don't think it's unethical or disrespectful. Even if they never take an interest in the source culture otherwise.
I think for each individual, there are different comfort zones about cross-cultural naming, depending on the specific name and our experiences. There are a lot of usages I personally would not do. People should follow their own feelings, when naming their own children. And probably not project their comfort zones onto others as moral or ethical rules.
I think it's pretty normal, and appropriate, for people to feel pleased when encountering a foreign person with an unusual name from their own culture. I think if they feel like it's diluting their own culture, that's probably because they are aware of their own culture being diluted in other ways already. The naming of children isn't a cause of that, though, imo.
At worst the parents might be ignorant about what the name signifies to people who are familiar with its original context. I still don't think it's unethical or disrespectful. Even if they never take an interest in the source culture otherwise.
I think for each individual, there are different comfort zones about cross-cultural naming, depending on the specific name and our experiences. There are a lot of usages I personally would not do. People should follow their own feelings, when naming their own children. And probably not project their comfort zones onto others as moral or ethical rules.
I think it's pretty normal, and appropriate, for people to feel pleased when encountering a foreign person with an unusual name from their own culture. I think if they feel like it's diluting their own culture, that's probably because they are aware of their own culture being diluted in other ways already. The naming of children isn't a cause of that, though, imo.
This message was edited today, 2:27 AM
I think this is why people end up making up their own names. If you're someone like me with no distinct cultural heritage, having every grandparent from one, sometimes two different cultures / ethnicities, it's like, where do you draw the line? Leaning too far into any of my cultural inheritances feels false because I know none of them well, and nothing was handed down to me. For a real name (not just for fun), I would feel more inclined to draw inspiration from the region where I live which has a direct influence on my current life, and where my children would live out at least part of their lives. Adding...where I live is not my culture, but it has become my culture, and if my children were to live here for several more generations, it would become more deeply embedded as my family's culture over time.
This message was edited yesterday, 8:55 AM
Using names of where you live is fine, because it fits there and will be the kid's culture... I knew many Armenians in my home town with Russian names and I think it is fine. I also knew many with Armenian names.
I think it depends on the name. I happen to love the name Andrei or Andriy and would gladly use it even though I’m not Russian or Ukrainian.
I think the problem arises when a name is almost completely associated with a particular ethnicity or religion. I don’t think you should name a child Krishna (Hindu) Jesus (Christian) or Muhammad (Muslim) unless you are of those religions.
Also you should be aware that if a name is “too foreign “ sounding a child might have to deal with some teasing in school.
I think the problem arises when a name is almost completely associated with a particular ethnicity or religion. I don’t think you should name a child Krishna (Hindu) Jesus (Christian) or Muhammad (Muslim) unless you are of those religions.
Also you should be aware that if a name is “too foreign “ sounding a child might have to deal with some teasing in school.
I've never been particularly opposed to it. I tend to believe that culture is meant to be shared, and if you hoard it, it dies. However, I think it's wise to consider that your child may potentially have to answer questions and correct people who might assume heritage based on name. I don't mean as in people would ask it maliciously, but it may come up as a conversational curiosity. Your 100% Irish daughter with the Chinese name might get tired of explaining the story behind it, just like kids with kre8tive names must correct spelling for the rest of their lives, so I would say have some foresight and name within reason.
I once came across a video showing a black man in the American South with the name Dimitri. It suited him quite nicely! I've always considered it a very handsome name and it fit him to a tee.
I once came across a video showing a black man in the American South with the name Dimitri. It suited him quite nicely! I've always considered it a very handsome name and it fit him to a tee.
Go for it, it's fine, not like you took name from f.e Italy.
In other cases - it depends and as example myself - people should sometimes limit themselves with romanticising xyz culture,
especially if it's too foreign and kid can be mocked by peers or later treated badly by fellow adults who are racist.
In other cases - it depends and as example myself - people should sometimes limit themselves with romanticising xyz culture,
especially if it's too foreign and kid can be mocked by peers or later treated badly by fellow adults who are racist.
This message was edited 6/13/2025, 7:56 PM
It depends on the name, the region and the family heritage. For example husband and I have agreed on Morwenna and Tesni as middle names for a potential daughter. Outwardly neither us or our parents have any Cornish or Welsh connection but I have traced my Cornish family back a few hundred years to the 1600s. My great grandmother, my great great grandmother and their families were also born in South Wales. Equally if it is a name like Layla that has become universally popular in an area I don’t see a problem with it.
Middle names I assume are different than given names by some amount from what I have seen here.
(My culture does not use them like this, we have patronymic)
Wales is very near anglosphere countries so it makes more sense I guess (especially than example of anglosphere kid called Yuki)
(My culture does not use them like this, we have patronymic)
Wales is very near anglosphere countries so it makes more sense I guess (especially than example of anglosphere kid called Yuki)
I gave my daughters what I call "international names." They're not in common use in my culture today, but I drew on my heritage and lineage to find them. People will be able to read and say their names intuitively where they will be growing up and if they travel across borders, their names will still be familiar. I have French, Dutch, German, Basque and Frisian heritage in my family and I don't have to go very far back to trace it. I considered names from all those cultures. Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a Polish name for a child raised in Ukraine, but I also don't know the cultural norms. I do agree that choosing a name from, for example, Japanese culture when a child's family has 0 ties to it is weird. It reminds me of a wedding I attended years ago where the men whore kilts despite 0 connection to Scotland or anything Scottish. It's awkward.
International names are fine. My short name (Anya) I believe is international enough.
> Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a Polish name for a child raised in Ukraine
There is not really, but I just wonder if people would think wrong about me because these people would be from West Ukraine (probably Lviv) and I am from Donbass where you would find kids with Russian names...
> I do agree that choosing a name from, for example, Japanese culture when a child's family has 0 ties to it is weird.
Yes, I agree. It would be like if I called my kid Luknė or Étienne.
When I see non Slavic people with Slavic names (American friend knows not at all Slavic kid called Nikolai) it is very very... weird. Same feeling when I see western "USSR kid" stereotype (13-15 year old who romantisise USSR and Russia and communism, try to seem "slavic" doing accent or following stereotypes like squatting wearing ushanka listening to hardbass)
> Personally, I see absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a Polish name for a child raised in Ukraine
There is not really, but I just wonder if people would think wrong about me because these people would be from West Ukraine (probably Lviv) and I am from Donbass where you would find kids with Russian names...
> I do agree that choosing a name from, for example, Japanese culture when a child's family has 0 ties to it is weird.
Yes, I agree. It would be like if I called my kid Luknė or Étienne.
When I see non Slavic people with Slavic names (American friend knows not at all Slavic kid called Nikolai) it is very very... weird. Same feeling when I see western "USSR kid" stereotype (13-15 year old who romantisise USSR and Russia and communism, try to seem "slavic" doing accent or following stereotypes like squatting wearing ushanka listening to hardbass)
Here there are many people who choose popular English names for their children, but they can't even speak English. It makes me cringe. I have seen the romanticizing of the USSR in America for many years. I don't know where it comes from, but it's very ignorant to say the least. I think also, with the war in Ukraine, western youth don't understand the difference between being supportive and appropriating other people's suffering. They see it as a way get attention. It's very disrespectful, but social media encourages it.
I have seen people who call their kids English things in Ukraine too, and yes it is weird and cringe.
> I think also, with the war in Ukraine, western youth don't understand the difference between being supportive and appropriating other people's suffering.
I see this too. It makes me feel disgusted when people use our suffering for likes.
> I think also, with the war in Ukraine, western youth don't understand the difference between being supportive and appropriating other people's suffering.
I see this too. It makes me feel disgusted when people use our suffering for likes.
I think it depends on the name and the culture.
I know an American family who named their son Maksim.
I think both parents are 100 americans.
I just wonder still because I have met Canadians, who are very Canadian and multiple generations of child down, but have Ukrainian heritage and still are following the culture...