To give my baby a name from another culture.

[BubbleMix]

We are expecting our first DD in October. There is a name I really like, however everyone I have ever met with this name has come from a specific country which myself and OH have no connection to. I love the name but I don’t know if DD will have to keep explaining her name growing up. Should I go with it or pick something else?

I think it depends how 'out there' it is. My ds has a Scottish name and we have no connection to Scotland other than visiting and really loving it. But I really love Spanish names like Diego and Raul, but dp totally vetoed on the grounds that it was just 'too Spanish' and people would assume a Spanish connection and it would be weird because we have none. I think in dp's head the Scottish name was ok because it's still part of the UK so not too out there or unusual but Diego is very strongly Spanish...

Anyway if it was entirely up to me I'd just call them the names I love regardless of culture/nationality! What is the name?

I wouldn't. For example, my friend Niamh... EVERY time she introduces her self somewhere, someone says "Oh, are you / your parents Irish?". Fair enough, her parents are, and that can be a bit of a conversation starter about whereabouts they are from, etc., but it's odd when people ask and the answer is "No, no connection whatsoever with the country / culture".

Everyone saying it’d be weird if they knew a white girl named aishwarya, would you think it weird to meet an Indian girl named Chloe or a black girl named Elizabeth?

You may see an Indian girl named Chloe in the UK but you wouldn't see any Indian girls named Chloe in India, would you?

Not necessarily, but that’s because lots of non-Western parents choose names from their adopted country, where their children were born and will be raised. The opposite (white British parents choosing a Nigerian name, for example) is a bit bizarre, is it not?

That’s fair enough, sometimes you get people from non British countries with western names too and that doesn’t seem to stand out either. I think people assume the names they hear often are the default.

We’ve given our kids (Indian/British living in Britain) British names, but we just picked names we liked.

Balonz?

You may see an Indian girl named Chloe in the UK but you wouldn't see any Indian girls named Chloe in India, would you?

It’s less likely, but you do see some non western folks in non western countries with western names. Less often than in the U.K. though.

I have a friend who has a name like this. Absolutely everyone absolutely believes she is of that culture! Even though her looks are different. It is bizarre.

A black girl named Elizabeth?

What’s weird about that? I know a black woman called Elizabeth. They’re not all called Shaniqua and Khadija, seriously.

It depends on the name if you’re have a white kid called Raj it would always confuse teachers when they do a register.

It depends on the name. Many names originate from other cultures.
I would consider any pronunciation and spelling issues.
You might want to consider any potential prejudice or assumptions
Also consider whether or not the name is very dated in that culture.

I know an English couple with a baby called Seren. I also know a middle-aged Tatiana who has British parents and grandparents. Both are great names.

It depends on the name I think.

I remember seeing some traveler on TV visiting a very little visited community in Borneo or New Guinea. The people were living in long houses in the forest and the children all (well, not all) had names like Cinderella and Rapunzel.

a black girl named Elizabeth?

Why wouldn't a black girl be called Elizabeth?

Whats the name OP its hard to decide without knowing what it is or even which culture its from.

Incidentally I have a cousin who is black and her name is Elizabeth.

My niece is a black girl called Elisabeth! It’s a phonetically spelt name with four letters so I don’t think that would be a problem. Just being asked if she is from that country her whole life (Not that there is anything wrong with that) and then having to explain herself every time

I’m south Asian originally and had one grandparent named Albert and another named Cynthia. They were both born and brought up in South Asia although they have lived all over the world in later life.

I remember hearing a story a while ago about a young girl making a fortune selling a baby name book in China of classic British names, as they were really popular in China.

Does depend on the name and the culture. I would name my child a name from another culture but I probably wouldn’t call my son Muhammad Some names are linked to religion rather than a country or culture.

We need to know the name to decide.

There’s nothing weird about it. My point was, people don't notice traditionally western names on POC but they notice “foreign” names on white people. I just find that interesting.

As long as it doesn't have a negative association in that native culture, why not!

What is the name?

Don't worry my daughter has a hebrew name. Doesn't mean we are from Israel. Lots of names have foreign origins.

@Haworthia I've now met a few white people who were born and spent their initial childhood in India, Nigeria and Kenya. Some even went back as adults. I didn't ask them what their children's names were but I wouldn't be surprised if they were naming them today they would choose names from those areas.

I have a blonde, white as the driven snow, very obviously Northern European looking cousin named Pedro. Not a nickname either.

Nobody bats an eyelid, really.