British Japanese names/spellings

32 replies

Yabbie · 01/05/2015 11:45

DD1 is due in three weeks, we have a shortlist of three names, which work in both English and Japanese, but the spellings don't. What's your preferred spelling for each of these? Or is it better to go with the most common or she'll have put up with wrong spellings for her whole life? I have no idea!

Hannah/ Hana/ Hanah
May/ Mae/ Mai/ Mei
Ema/ Emma

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Yabbie · 01/05/2015 12:02

Thanks, yes in Japanese the names will have a character or two, which is a whole nother problem!
Apparently the authorities used to be very strict about how Japanese names are transliterated in passports for example - but now they let you choose the spelling in latin alphabet, I think.

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SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 01/05/2015 12:00

I used to nanny for an English / Japanese family & one of their girls was a Hana, I thought it was lovely

SevenEleven · 01/05/2015 11:57

If I read the name Mei, though, I wouldn't automatically know it was pronounced as May.

SevenEleven · 01/05/2015 11:55

Hannah, May, Emma. Your DD will.end up saying 'Emma with one m' every time she gives her name with the other spellings.

All lovely names, though

DearTeddyRobinson · 01/05/2015 11:55

I'd go with the normal English spelling (Hannah etc). I'm guessing they will be written in kanji & katakana in Japanese, which would be the same regardless of how you spell the English name.

OrchidFlakes · 01/05/2015 11:53

I know a Mei who has never had a problem, she spells it once and people just accept it. It's a beautiful name whatever the spelling x

SpiritOfTheRitz · 01/05/2015 11:51

I think I might be tempted to go with the most common spellings.

After all, presumably when written in Japanese they will be written as a character, and not using the roman alphabet at all.

Having said that, I think Mei and Hana in particular are lovely, (but Ema looks like it should be pronounced Eema).

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