names from languages/ethnicities that aren't your own? any thoughts?

[BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte]

Well, obviously there's not a law against it, but it an OK thing to do IYKWIM? Or is it weird, confusing etc?

DH has DCs from a previous relationship, all of whom have names from his language and ethnic group (don't want to specify which as it's very rare in the UK). We have given DD a first name from his ethnic group and middle names from mine and then our surname, also from his ethnic group.

We don't want to stick with his language for first names as we don't want to distinguish between his children and our children by their names (though they will inevitably look very different!)

But I have found two middle namea that I would love for DCs. However, one is sub-Sahan African and the other is Eygptian Coptic, and neither of us are African or Coptic. Does that matter, or will it cause endless confusion for a children who already has a complicated and unusual ethnic mix?

I'm not pregnant, BTW. Just being hypothetical...

Personally, I think it would add to the uniquness and fun!

Assumeing the names dont cause every friend/teacher to squint and stumble when reading a register, of course.

I don't think it matters. If you like a name, use it. As long as you don't mind explaining it and bear in mind that your children will have to as well.
I have a name that is spelt differently from the norm because it's Norwegian, I get asked a lot about it but I'm used to that.

if you like the name i think it would be okay, especially if this is only consideration for the mn!

but for the fn are there any names you like which work in both languages (his and whatever yours is, or english speaking?) because then it kind of ties all the dc together, not making a difference between either his previous or your previous dc, but working well with everyone... obviously only works if you find a name which you like that fits those criterea.

I think it is interesting myself, and adds to the fun as Vermdum says.
However I was recently told not to use Soleil unless I am French myself - so others see it differently.

I think it depends. I think any English,Irish,Scottish,Welsh person can use any of those names without too much analyses. People will just wonder (or not wonder at all) if you had a grandparent from that country, which I think is very common anyway.

There are some French, Spanish, Italian names which are either used here anyway, or are so close to our own versions that I wouldn't fall over backwards is somebody said, here are my children Arnaud and Fabienne.

But there are limits. I wouldn't use a Japanese name or an African name or an Indian name. NOt with no link. Those languages bear no similarity to English whatsoever, it's another continent and it would be obvious from looking at the child that there was no link.

But this would be my own personal benchmark, for what I'd consider usable or unusable. Different for everybody.

ValiumSingleton, it wouldn't always be obvious from looking at the child that there was no link. For example, if you looked at me I present as white British. But my family have lived in Africa for 200 years.

I said it was just my own personal bench mark. You do what feels right for you.

Don't worry too much about middle names. I think it will be fine.

I fretted about middle names but when filling out form or joining DCs upto docs/dentists/clubs etc the response is 'we don't need those' to middle names! If your DCs ever had issues with the names (which I doubt they will) then they are easily to drop!

It's tough, isn't it? I feel a kid of mine could pull off Rhys or something like that, and we're not Welsh. But Alejandro or Mateo (which, btw, are both names I love) would seem a little odd. But at the same time, if you really love a name, go for it eh?