Would you use a name from a culture that is not your own?

A good rule would be 'will the child ever end up sighing in frustration and responding for the umpteenth time that no, their parents just liked the name'. If it's a cultural name that has already crossed cultures though, then go for it.

Pretty much. If the name sets the child uo for endless corrections/questions then I wouldnt do it. Its the same rule as spelling names/madeuo sounding names.

My daughter has an Irish name but spelt in a British way.

Her DSD is Irish so it all worked out anyway

Most names commonly used in Britain are from other cultures ultimately. Names as ordinary as John, Mary, Anne (from Hannah), Elizabeth, Susan, Rebecca, Daniel etc are from the bible, so Hebrew (from Israel). Names like George, Katherine, Sophie, Helen are originally Greek. Claire, Lucy, Julia, Victoria etc are from Latin (Italy). In fact I am racking my brains to think if there are actually any names in use that originate from Britain.

So go ahead and import foreign names you like, new names have to come from somewhere!

I have a Greek name, ds has an English name and dd has a Russian name (and according to recent MN threads my dh has a 'chav' name!) and we're all Welsh. I think if you like a name, use it, no matter where it originates from.

No I wouldn't, I like that names match cultures and as I've lived in other countries and traveled a lot I like the way each culture has its own identity, my name is well boring over here but has had positive comments around the world.

I like biblical names. Im Christian but love the old testament names and hebrew origin names.
Ive no connection to judaism but ghe old testament is in my bible.

For some reason I would feel more uncomfortable about using a name specifically from another religion than just from another country. It seems disrespectful somehow - and I'm not at all religious myself. There's a Hindu name I've always loved but unless I'd married a Hindu (which I didn't), I would have seriously considered using it. On the other hand, names that come from other countries/languages have often been fashionable and that doesn't seem as intrusive somehow.

Your kids are going to be growing up as global citizens (theoretically) please don't worry about which 'culture' their name is from , if anyone has a problem with it, it's exactly that: their problem.

Yes, I don't see any problem with it. Many names in common use in Britain do not have Anglo-Saxon origins. It would be misguided virtue signalling to worthily pick out certain places whose names were "disallowed" for use elsewhere, while continuing to use others.

I would ... what are British names anyway - sophie, the most common one, is Greek, many are biblical

My name is of French origin. I'm definitely not French.

To be honest, I think it depends on the name though.

Gwen is Welsh, is that really so wrong on a non-Welsh child, I think not?

However, I do admit, if I met a non-Welsh girl named Merionwen, it might make me raise my eyebrows!

But so many names that are commonplace in Britain now are from other cultures/religions, such as Hannah and Rachael (both Hebrew) and Emma (Germanic origin), so I'm not sure how it's ok for those names to be used, but not others. Surely it's no more bizarre than some of the totally made up names/spellings of names I've encountered.

My first and middle names are of French origin (my middle is the French spelling of a name commonly used in Britain). I'm. It French and it's never been a problem, so I'm a bit meh about it all.

Wasn't you who we meant with tacky somebody else said it.

What about Ptomely (sp) I dont think they will all be little greek boys but it is quite popular

I didn't say tacky.

I was just wondering where you draw the line at what is acceptable. Is it only ok if it sounds English?

I can't imagine getting a positive response if I, a white English woman, said I wanted to name my baby Adebowale.

I can see your point to a degree but the name Tobias/Toby, for example, is very popular at the moment. A lot of the people who have called their DS that have never even set foot in Greece nevermind having Greek ancestory. Are they tacky?

I met a little girl whose mother named her Kuri . It was her way of spelling of Kiri which is a Maori name she liked , only in Maori , Kuri means dog .

So do your research !

Irish or scottish all celtic innit

No, of course not. I'm wondering why someone who has no connection to a place would give their child a name that is very obviously from there.

Worwax are you stating that Scottish people should only give Scottish names to their children then?

Yes my children do so that their names work here in England and in their dad's country of origin. It's not caused them too much difficulty, though they're only young. So many children have unusual or forreign names it's not a big issue.

I just find it weird, like where do you draw the line? I know someone who is from Scotland but gave her children very Irish names. Is that ok because they are kind of close?
It would be seen as really strange for me to give my child an African name as I have 0 connection to Africa.

I have given DD a name not from a background of mine or dhs.

My dad is Iranian, my sisters and I have names that worked in both cultures. I gave DD a Greek goddess name but it links to my (Iranian) surname in meaning and is a shorter version of a historical female figure in Persian culture.

Not sure either MrsJ

Im not sure what is tacky about a name from different cultures/countries