Does ethnicity affect opinions of names?

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Registered: 01-20-2006
Does ethnicity affect opinions of names?
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Fri, 09-28-2007 - 10:15pm
Just wondering what people thought about this... Would you have a different feeling or opinion about a name choice if you knew the ethnic background of the baby. For example, my children are half caucasian and half african american. So, they have darker skin. I have gotten comments, like, they shouldn't have names like Ben or Joe, because they are "supposed" to have something more out there. No one's exact words here, just my interpretation of what has actually been said... in a nutshell. I happen to like "different" names anyhow, but I wouldn't really think it should matter. Honest opinions would be appreciated. WDYT?? Thanks,
Wendy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Fri, 09-28-2007 - 11:46pm
I think it would surprise me to hear someone w/ an ethnic name that wasn't their own ethnicity or that of the prevailing culture. For example, your children's names wouldn't surprise me but a Chinese child named Sven would. Certain names are coming more into vogue and surprise me less than they once would have (ie. hispanic and irish names). I would never think to say something though! Eeek!

 


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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 09-29-2007 - 12:36am
I don't think I'd have expectations of what they "should" be named...that's just stereotyping. I might be a little startled if I encountered, say, an East Indian girl named Heike or a fair-haired boy named Sandeep, but I'd assume there was a story behind it. There are, though, a bunch of names that I think cross boundaries and wouldn't surprise me on a person of any ethnic background. A lot of them are English, simply because the British Empire had power in so many countries, and Biblical names because missionaries were in so many places. So I don't think I'd look at a little boy of any color and say "oh, he shouldn't be Joe...he should be Kareem." That just seems really presumptuous. (And not just a little smackworthy.)



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Registered: 06-14-2003
Sat, 09-29-2007 - 3:25pm

You are completely right in that it shouldn't matter.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2007
Sat, 09-29-2007 - 8:08pm

both my boys are half white and half black as well, and i feel the same as you, they should be able to have any name no matter what ethnic background. all though i will say that i do have an obsession with unique names, my oldest sons name is Isiah Mikal Lynn , even though it is a common name now for any race of boys, it has a differant spelling. my second sons name is Kyril Xavier ,and though it may sound like a "black name" it is actually Celtic. and i am 9 months pregnant with my daughter whose name will be Whisper , and that name was thought of by her father because it starts with a "W" as does his name. So even though names may be unique i don't think it matters of the childs ethnic background.

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Registered: 03-02-2005
Sun, 09-30-2007 - 12:03am

I agree that it shouldn't matter, but I think some people try too hard to give their kid an ethnic sounding name that is actually made up. My mother showed me the list of kids at her school recently, and you can pick out exactly which children are black, for instance. It's actually broken down more than that, though, because a majority of

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2006
Sun, 09-30-2007 - 4:04pm
I am not offended by anyone's honest opinions, and the comments I have heard in the past were not from this board. This is exactly what I wanted to find out... just how people perceive this. I think people should name their child whatever they like, regardless of what it means, where it originated... whatever. I agree with you to some extent, though, and a PP, that sometimes it is surprising, or maybe a little shocking to hear a certain "type" of name on some ethnic backgrounds. I think the whole issue is sort of complicated, but I don't think it should be. If that makes sense. Thanks for your thoughts.
Wendy
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2006
Sun, 09-30-2007 - 4:14pm
I just wanted to comment on the "black" "white" terms here. I call my own kids half-black, or just half and half. I don't think it matters whether you use the "politically correct" terms or not (even though I did in the original post so as to try not to offend others), as much as how you treat others matters. This is interesting, though, my son (5 years old) calls "black" people, brown. He started this at about age 3. We never discussed color or race with him because to us it doesn't matter, and we're all the same. He came up with that all on his own. It was pretty cute! We don't have any TV channels either, so its not something he picked up. Thanks for your thoughts!
Wendy
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Registered: 03-01-2005
Sun, 09-30-2007 - 4:41pm

Hi Wendy,
It's funny, I think about this stuff, too...as does DH. DH is Jewish and my parents are Christian. When we named Solomon my VERY Catholic grandmother was thrilled that we'd given him 'such a Christian name' whereas my SIL rolls her eyes that my kids 'both have SUCH Jewish names." Solomon is actually Hebrew and I honestly don't know the origin of Max.

Here's what I think: If a person has a name that is very obviously not of their background - little white kid named Mohammed or an Indian child named Seamus...I find it a little weird. But there are a LOT of names that fit children more generally (such as Shawn is not SO Irish because it's been "mainstreamed" for so long). I think if your kids have a mixed background you just have a larger pool to draw from!

But I don't think anyone "has" to choose names of a particular style! Frankly, I'm rather glad not everyone agrees with my taste - Max is not one of 2 or 3 in his class (or 4 or 5 like his father - Mike) and Solomon will probably NEVER have a kid in his class with his name! :o)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Mon, 10-01-2007 - 2:14am

How cute he came up with it all on his own! And cute he actually uses the colour name that's technically more accurate, LOL! Kids are so funny.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Mon, 10-01-2007 - 1:23pm

I might want to match the name with the ethnicity of the last name....


or not...LOL.


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