To not understand how this is cultural appropriation?

[NewUsername18382828]

Namechanged for this.
DH and I decided to give DD (who is now 6) a name which is originally from another country. Neither of us have relatives or any connection there, we just liked the name. There is an English variant of the name but we didn't like the sound of it as much so went with the one we liked most. Didn't think it would be a problem, a name is a name.

Well anyway, a mum of a girl in DD's class at school was born in that country. She heard me call DD at the gates and started talking to me about her name. She was asking what our ties were to the country, and so on. When I said there weren't any and we just liked the name, she muttered something about cultural appropriation and left with her child. Fast forward another couple of weeks and I've just been informed by another parent that she's been badmouthing us, saying we shouldn't use a foreign name when we have no ties to the country, it's cultural appropriation.

AIBU to have no clue how this is cultural appropriation? I always thought a name was just a name.

what options are there for truly "english" names?

My daughter has one, only came along in the Victorian era, originated in England.

We are not English.

As for the question you can choose whatever name you wish for your child, it isn't this other woman's damn business.

The woman sounds like a complete crank and I'd be doing my very best to avoid her at all costs.

What country is the name from?

Well if we aren't allowed to give names from other cultures I'm as guilty as the next person with Alex (Greek) and James (from Hebrew Jacob).
Æthelred anyone?

I'd find your decision a little odd, admittedly. She was rude though.

Doesn’t it rather depend what the name is? Fatima or Mohammed might be a bit strange for non Muslims- either religious or cultural. There are some Irish names that have “transitioned” but I might raise my eyebrows a bit at a completely non Irish Sadhbh, for example.

If someone has a kid called Chantelle, or Siobhan, 'I don't think well THEY are not French/Irish, how massively racist!

Exactly. My name is French but my family heritage is as British as they come (English/Welsh/Irish). Are my parents guilty of racism? I don't think so.

What did the other parent, who 'informed' you, say exactly?

I'm in the other camp. .

I don't think you should use names which 'the (wo)man on the street' would automatically associate with a particular country or culture unless you have some link to that country.

Sorry.

I have a Hebrew name, considered quintessentially English. My children have Latin, Greek, French and Hebrew names- all very much considered English names. We are Welsh.

She is very rude. And stupid.

Depends on the name really, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it cultural appropriation probably though.

Hmm, if culture is a social construct then anyone from any culture should be free to take on outward characteristics from any other culture without comment. It’s transculturism. And anyone who says you can’t is being transphobic.

We've got a French name for my eldest DS, no connection to France (we like skiing there and cheese). So I guess we are appropriating as well! It does sound a bit ridiculous as our last name is VERY english. Oh well we liked the name!

Im eating spaghetti tonight. Ask her if thats cultural appropriation

What's her child's name? Something 'English' or from her culture.

DS has a Welsh name but no welsh connections other than we spend all our holidays there and I don't care what anyone says - I love Wales and I love the name.

This woman is bonkers.

Same as people saying white people cant have dreads.

I know it’s easy to laugh and talk about eating spaghetti- but it is an interesting question....

Having said I disregard the concept I’m persuaded by the power unbalance argument.
But that’s not to say the woman in question isn’t a nasty gossip!

My name is French, DHs is Italian, DDs is Greek (actually thinking a out it BOTH her names are Greek) DSs is Hebrew.

DH and I are actually of Irish ancestry!

What name is it? I’d be really interested to know.

Well I am Danish and my dh is British

I have a English name
DH a greek name (very traditional in the Uk too)

Our children has
Greek, French, German and Irish names

Because we loved them.

I still do 16-21 years later.

As you have namechanged you can tell us the name

I've always felt that if it's a country we've fucked over, then probably best not to take any more from them. Remember that white man who changed his name to Soweto? He didn't even know what it stood for.

What is the name OP, we cannot possibly advise you otherwise.

I am Welsh and find it ridiculous and a bit funny when people with no connection give their kids Welsh names. They so so often get them wrong- even easy names like Rhys, Siân, Seren.

Culturally, if you are from the UK, I think it's inappropriate to name your child something that's from a country oppressed by the British Empire. It's like an American white settler giving their child a Cherokee name- it's offensive.

Massively depends on what the name is. Friend of a friend (white British couple) living in NZ briefly wanted to give their totally white kid a Maori name. Which would be a bit strange given the history and so on. And would probably get a few “yeah but what is your Māori connection?” But you said there’s a uk variant so I assume it’s a European name. Like picking Ageliki rather than Angelica. Which is a bit strange if you aren’t Greek at all/struggle with the correct pronunciation but not Appropriation. .

My son has a Greek name. Me and his dad aren't Greek. We just liked it. I wouldn't have given a shit what anyone else thought about it.