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HelpRe: Naming your kids something that is not your culture
in reply to a message by Anya Mel’nik or Mel’nyk
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.
Don't hesitate to rate my different PNLs: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/246179
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.
Don't hesitate to rate my different PNLs: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/246179
