AIBU or is baby name cultural appropriation a thing?

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I'm ready to be told I'm being silly BUT am I right in thinking there's a level of.. appropriateness? Inappropriateness? In using names from other cultures.
For example.. would it be strange for an English couple with no discernible links to any other countries or heritage to name their child Priya, Otto, Etienne or Niamh, among many other names.
To be honest I flip backwards and forwards between thinking there are so many lovely names in the world, why shouldn't they be used by whoever likes them, and then that it's just a bit strange if no link!
Happy to discuss, I have no strong feeling either way just intrigued to see what opinions there are.

Yeah...I admit when I see baby names on the board people are going with for no reason than it sounds nice I think there is an element of appropriation going on.

I wouldn't call my baby by another culture's name if I had no link to it.

But how far do you take it? My name is a Spanish name as well as an Indian name, but also not an especially unusual name in English speaking countries. Should I have been called something else?

It really doesn’t make sense to use a name from a different culture (especially one that has meaning) if you can’t relate to it at all.

I once met a white couple that had named their son Mohammed. They were English and neither of the parents were Muslims… They said they picked it because they just really liked the name. Very bizzare to me if I’m honest. Definitely appropriation to me

Otto has become a bit mainstream, I know a few baby ottos all white british.

I think it depends on what the name is.

At the end of the day, a name is a name right. However I think some names that have importance to specific religions & cultures shouldn’t be used if you have no connection to it. There’s thousands of other names that can be used

I have one of the most common names in the world, I'm really not trying to police names, I'm just curious!
You're right though, how far do you take it. I suppose every name was 'appropriated' at some point in history. It just jars when it happens within one generation or more like one 'season' of popularity if you see what I mean

That's exactly the type of thing I mean although that's quite an extreme example

it really depends on the name though, I think. For example the name Sarah is Hebrew. It is one of the most common names. I think some of it may be pronunciation, Etienne is a very nice name but it comes with a French pronunciation. Niamh is the opposite, it comes with an easy pronunciation but one that is not obvious from it's spelling. So it may be about that. It is not appropriation though.

YABU. I think you are confusing cultural appropriation with cultural appreciation. One of my kids has the Manx spelling of her Gaelic name. We have no links to the Isle of Man.

It's just the normal way cultural exchange happens when cultures meet. It's nature is to spread itself.

My DD has a name that originated from another European country but is also used in the UK. I went to school in the UK knowing people with this name, but it originates from another country, IYSWIM.

I suppose it could be considered cultural appropriation, but like Otto, people have been using it for a while in the UK. So I genuinely don’t know.

I know what you mean. My ex really liked Noor for our daughter but given we are both white as the snow I thought it seemed inappropriate. Our daughter does now have a French name but I have French ancestry amd speak the language fluently so that didn’t seem weird to me.

A lot of names that are common in western society have links to other cultures it would be impossible to know which ones are inbeded in our culture and which are not. I guess there are some names that are obviously specific to certain cultures due to religious connotations etc.
my name is a Hebrew name but is a popular name from 80's in uk. My dd name is in top ten baby names is also Hebrew.

I agree with this. I think it shows a fondness for the name for the most part and possibly an appreciation for the associated culture/heritage.

I don't really see the issue with the previous poster's example of Mohammed for an 'English' (non-Muslim?) boy. It is, after all, a very popular name.

I've known quite a few Zoës here in the UK that have no ethnic/cultural ties to Greece, but I've never known anyone to consider their name 'bizarre' or 'extreme'.

Yabu. Is there to be no sharing of names, everyone just stay in their lane 🙄

Mixed culture couples ok though? FFS, this is getting ridiculous. Doesn't anyone else think so??

It's a natural consequence of an intermingling of cultures. Some might argue that it should be considered a good thing, not "appropriation". If someone gives their child a name that doesn't seem to suit them, people will probably think it's a bit odd, but then they'll become accustomed to the name and get on with their lives.

I think naming your child as a prophet from a religion you have no links to is really strange, especially as it is a name that has a lot of meaning to some people.

@Savemysoul23 😆

I would say some names are so common now in UK despite coming from another culture- it’s a non issue eg Hebrew names. For Hebrew names it’s hardly surprising due to the names possibly also being in the Bible and Christianity being dominant religion in the UK
There can also be closer link with some cultures eg France and Ireland are close geographically and not too distinct culturally either. Etienne is a beautiful name. So many of us were also taught French at school.
As cultures become more distinct- I do think it seems a bit unusual and potentially smacks of appropriation - but hey, it’s the parents choice and it’s a free country etc. i can’t ever see it becoming a woke issue.
I’m from an Asian background- in the field I work in, “unusual names” - read BME names, have been shown to be linked to discrimination and bias in studies when names are anonymised.
I would not underestimate the impact of using name from an under represented culture that faces discrimination. Unless of course the name becomes so common- I would see that as something very positive.

clealy If you are Muslim- calling your son after the prophet is entirely understandable - there is a clear link to that culture. Import fact to miss out.