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.

Isn't imitation supposed to be the most sincere form of flattery?

I was named after an American lady who my mum met in a shop.. my mum just thought it was a pretty name. It's also unusual & more commonly used in the Balkans.

Together with my foreign sounding surname my name badge confuses a lot of my patients who ask if I'm 'really English'...

Paris is an Ancient Greek name, eg Paris of Troy who fell in love with Helen of Sparta, Homer’s Iliad.

In Greek it’s pronounced Baris which I think is Barry in English…

Next time you are questioned state that your names show some of the history of the UK. 😀

That's presuming you know the origin of your last name.

I suggest you check the origin of names before being nasty about them.

Yes.

Love the word Namaste!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gLHRL9D60zU

Most people on this thread have absolutely no idea what cultural appropriation is because if they did they wouldn’t be worrying about what to name their child.

Don't worry too much. Children who hate their names can always change them. I did and it upset my parents, but as I pointed out to them, they didn't bother consulting me about their choice, so it cuts both ways.

There are two takeaways near me. One is Namaste, the other is Burger Heaven.
I'd definitely go with Namaste as a preference.

DD is planning to change her name. I am in two minds, on one hand it’s sad that she is not happy with our choice but on the other hand, that’s the whole thing, it’s the parent’s choice, not the child.

She chose a name I would never have chosen, a family member has the name and I never liked her very much and it’s for me a very old fashion name. But, it’s her life and it’s hardly a topic to fall out about in my opinion.

I still have to removed myself how to call her but it’s getting better.

Remove - remember

Appropriation would be doing yoga and saying “namaste” at the end, divorcing the word from its original meaning and use in order to exoticise your whiteness

Well...froth away, as nearly every yoga teacher on the classes I've been to has said 'namaste' at the end 🙄

Also, why do you think white people would desire to exoticise anything? Most are perfectly happy with the way they are. It's offensive to suggest that exotic=good white=bad

Also as to the OP, most people would want to give their children names in line with their own culture, I don't understand why they would want to deviate from this. There are very few exceptions, so you are fretting over a non-issue really

I know a child called ‘Namaste’ 😂

…they are British too. 😳

"in order to exoticise your whiteness"
Most folk I know use extensive tattoos to achieve that.

Could have been worse. 'Biryani', for example.

How would you tell if you're doing yoga to 'exoticise your whiteness' rather than exercise/breathing/posture/well being?

And what are you supposed to do if your yoga teacher says namaste to you? Ignore them?

I read both articles. The first was an opinion piece. I have skin in the game but my opinion differs and the writer and I are both entitled to our opinions. However they are just that, opinions, not facts. I however, don’t feel the need to foist my opinions on others. I’m just glad that people find spiritual or physical benefit in yoga. The 2nd piece starts with a particular attitude in the USA, then makes a universal claim from it. Lazy analysis and conclusion.

Who cares if a name originates elsewhere ? This just shows how much anti multi cultural am and xenophobia is ingrained in Britain !

Does it? I know it’s the done thing to look for racism everywhere, but really?

Xenophobia and racism are different things . Claiming a name can only be used because of their origin is literally xenophobia. Literally everyone has names with origins elsewhere , look the royal family Charlotte , Louis are both french , William itself is German .

The royal family are German.

The Royal family are English, with German ancestry.

Are they french too ?