Mixed race children Names (Indian+Black)

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Hi, I am a North Indian Brit (Punjabi) and my DP is British-Nigerian (born here). I recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy (two weeks ago) and I couldn't ask for more as I've never been happier. He must have the largest eyes and longest lashes that have ever existed! We agreed on a fairly racially ambitious name that would would be "pronouncable" for English speakers but also hinted at his culture...Taran. I think the name suits him but DP has recently expressed regret that his first name is "too Indian", resulting in feelings of dettachment. I'm truly confused as I love the name and think it suits my beautiful son. DP is now reqiesting we give him an "English" name as we are "both basically English and that's only fair". This just doesn't sit well for some reason. Don't get me wrong, I'm a proud British bird but I just want a name that reflects my son's ethnic heritage. Aibu to say to my (very lovely) husband that we can't change his name and what is done is done.

Also, I'm curious to know what mothers (And fathers) have named their mixed racial children. Which ethnicity have you "favoured" re names. One person is always going to be left out regardless of what middle names you choose. We agreed our next child will have a more Nigerian first name. (However we also agreed we want our kids' names to be "cohesive").

Hope that post makes sense as it was quickly typed on a broken IPhone :)

Taran is lovely. As a teacher, I wouldn't presume anything seeing that name on a class list - it is neutral and unusual enough to be the only one in the class. Tons of Harrys

According to google Taran is Gaelic in origin and means Thunder so I think your DH is overthinking this.

My DS is mixed, as am I. DH is white British. Our sons name is English, well, hebrew actually, but he has a 'black' middle name.

However, my DH loves it. I do feel a bit for your DH. Must be hard to have a name you dont like. Did he like it before he was born?

but names have stopped being cultural really, so go with what you like.

LokiBear 😂 tell that to the many people with ‘black sounding’ or ‘Asian sounding’ names who experience discrimination due to their names. Names absolutely are culturally coded and I cannot fathom how or where you got the simple minded idea that names have ‘stopped being cultural’. Can you explain?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_561697a5e4b0dbb8000d687f/amp

Just for the record my friends of mixed race all love their English names and never moan about no one being able to say it/spell it/pronounce it. Or know if they are talking to male or female etc.
They have described themselves as feeling very British and at home with their names and felt it is much easier for CVs and such like. I get this totally as a long winded name (I have one) is an absolute curse later in life.

My friends (now in their 40s) have only been back to India once or twice in their life time and are not too bothered about going again, they tended to celebrate their heritage in different ways when they were younger through food and special dates and traditions (and this was encouraged by family) but not so much now they are older - too busy.

Maybe this matters more to you than it will your son Op.

Of course they are cultural! He sounds like a cute little baby though. (Broody)

I think the point is that some names have lost their cultural specificity.
My friend and I both wanted Arya. She has one, I had a boy. She's Sri Lankan born Sri Lankan, I'm White British.
Taran was picked by OP as linking to her heritage but is also Welsh.
Apparently Isla is very popular in the Dom Rep but is Scottish(?)

Where as Kwame, Sharonjit and Aoibheann tend to be more obviously culturally linked

Going for something like John might be a bit more straight forward. I appreciate I am the only person saying so but I think the boy will thank you later for having an English name.

I was born in an African country but moved over here as a small child. My parents decided I should go by my middle (English) name and I honestly wish they'd stuck with my first name. It's hard to pronounce but much nicer.

Taran is a beautiful name and if he has a Nigerian middle and surname I’d say it’s more than fair/equal to have a first name that reflects his Indian heritage.

I suppose DH wants his first name to be more Nigerian, becasue no one will call him by his surname maybe? Taran is a loveky name - but it is more Indian than Nigerian. Did he like the name to start with?

I am mixed (asian) and husband is English - both our children have English names and double barrelled surnames.

To me the name Taran brings to mind the (white) actor from the kingsman films and the Eddie the Eagle biopic

Yes - first person I also thought of when I read the OP.

It's a lovely name.

Going for something like John might be a bit more straight forward
Taran is easy to spell and pronounce and as clearly illustrated doesn't say much about his cultural origins. I don't see how it's going to complicate his life

Taran is a nice name but if it was the other way round, and you had decided you didn’t like it and wanted to change it, I wonder how many people would be saying “suck it up and stick with it”?

I think if he feels really strongly then you have to consider trying to agree on something else (not just automatically going for his choice of Harry though).

How about Aran?!

I don't think people are unsympathetic because it's the Dad but because the kid has a Nigerian middle and surname and Dad appears to be sulking that his first is too Indian so wants an English choice. So English Nigerian Nigerian.

I think Taran is a lovely name. Welsh for thunder though I've heard it a lot amongst the surfing community in Cornwall. Congratulations Op

Huge overlaps between Indian and Swahili names. Eg Ashur / Ashoor, Issa, Jahi, Josh / Joshi,

I assume your child takes his father's surname which I presume is Nigerian? In that case that's a fair balance and I wouldn't agree to naming the second with a Nigerian first name either. I'm Nigerian and my DS has a white British/ half Greek father. My DH wanted DS to have an English first name or Greek...I said fine, DS can have my surname then for the Nigerian heritage. He backed down after that. My DS has a neutral first name (not British but traditional bible) and a Nigerian middle name. I imagine our second will have the same sort of names (neutral first name, Nigerian middle and English surname). Congratulations btw, and I think Taran is a gorgeous name.

Another vote here for sticking with Taran. Lovely name.

Your DS already HAS a Nigerian name - his surname. And middle name. So, 2 Nigerian names already. Only fair for him to have an Indian first name. Your DP sounds quite dominating and unreasonable.

Plus: you're the one who pushed DS out of your vagina. To my mind that gives you an extra vote.

I would stick to my guns on the basis that he already has two Nigerian names.

If however I did compromise I would drop the Nigerian middle name, replacing it with Taran and then have an English first name.

Mixed white & Sri Lankan kids, both DH & me are British born.
Sri Lankan last name & British first & middle names for kids, both boys (one here, one due soon). I think if we’d had girls we may have gone with 1 Sri Lankan middle name as well as last name as they’re more likely than boys to change their last name when older.

I am white british and dh is indian..... we all have dh's surname. When ds was born i actually wanted him to have an indian name that he could shorten to a british name if he wanted to when he was older..... think Nikhil he could shorten to nick. He has my dad's name as his middle name.

I’m white, my husband is a Indian Muslim. Our DDs have names that are used in India or in Arabic, but also in England to make it easier for everyone. It did take a lot of thought though and we couldn’t come up with a good male alternative (there were quite a few for girls though)

What's swahili got to do with it?

Anyway I think he will be better off with an easy name to spell/pronounce. Taran seems fine from that point of view.

I’m biased- as I have one-but I’d go for Harri (with two ‘r’s - the Welsh way). However, Taran is a lovely name too (not so much Tarzan, which is what auto-correct wanted me to say!!).

Stick with Taran - it’s a really lovely name. Harri is boring.