Racism and naming baby

28 replies

Quinandthem · 11/12/2012 17:11

Need the help of MN or a slap

My husband is British but his parents are both from 2 different continents. Our surname is actually Bangladeshi but many people mistake it for Spanish from the sound and spelling of it.

We are now 11 wks pregnant and obviously thinking about names. My husband has a ?foreign? first and last name and although he says he hasn?t experienced any racism with it (in the workplace ? getting interviews etc) it does make me concerned when we are choosing a name for the baby as a ?typical English? name just wouldn?t fit with the surname.

This has been brought more to my attention as it was in the news this week about people with ?foreign? names not getting shortlisted for jobs and even having to change their names just to get a job.

Obviously in an ideal world racism wouldn?t exist ? but it does.

We have found a really nice girl?s name, Sophia that would go really nicely with the surname. But we?re generally struggling with boy?s names that we both like and that go with the surname.

So do we choose a name that we like and works well with the surname or do we choose something that is a bit more ?normal? to the average ear?

Or am I just over thinking it?

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CheungFun · 11/12/2012 17:23

I do kind of get where you're coming from, but my DH has a foreign surname and has never ever had any problems getting a job and has been head hunted a couple of times via LinkedIn.

The world is changing, think how much has changed in the last 20 years and how much it will change in the next 20 years.

This is an interesting article I read the other day about mixed race Britain www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/whether-she-wins-sports-personality-of-the-year-or-not-jessica-ennis-represents-the-best-of-britain-8397346.html?origin=internalSearch

Go with a name your and your DH love and don't worry what anyone else may or may not think :)

badtime · 11/12/2012 17:19

There are plenty of names which would go with a Bangladeshi surname but sound less 'foreign' (I think that is what you are asking for?)
Names like Har(r)is or Far(r)is, or even Adam or Noah etc would probably work.

SaintNiChaolas · 11/12/2012 17:15

I think the world is getting smaller and names are now more widely used, less restricted to only country of origin, iyswim?

Ho for what you like but please don't say we are pregnant again.

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