Why do so many people object to...

[Skyrg]

giving children names from an ethnic origin which they don't belong to? Genuinely curious here, I've never seen a problem with it, since we're gradually becoming a more and more connected world.
Plus, many names we consider English now have other origins, often French. Is that not considered an issue?

Sorry if this has been posted before, couldn't see it, and have noticed this one coming up a lot in the 'rules' thread and on others.

Well, I suppose names are identity markers, and as such many people think that if a name is going to point towards a certain ethnicity/nationality, it might as well be the child's own. e.g. if I was proud of my Welsh roots I might be especially inclined towards the names that my Welsh family/ancestors might have had, on the other side of the coin I might not go for Alejandro or Ahmed as the child would spend his life explaining that no, he wasn't Spanish/Asian, his mum just liked the sound of the name.

True of course that many names we consider as English have other origins (although depending on how back they were adopted, they may have developed a uniquely English form). I suppose some names fit better into English than others?

I have this rule but when I stop to think about it I realise that my name is French, with no family connection.

I wonder too, I was slated (a little) for suggesting Soleil as I am not French.
Why not just use Sun they said? Because it sounds like a boy I said.
So many popular names are not English in origin - Flora, Freya, Chloe, Phoebe, Ella, I could go on for hours. No one got around to answering that point.

I have no objection...but my DM thinks you should only call a baby Astrid if it's blonde, or Jasmine if it's dark.

I do think it's nice if you can find a little bit of heritage that connects to the babies name, but if not, never mind. There is no Scottish or Russian blood in my DC (although there is just about everything else) and they have Scottish and Russian middles names, just because I liked them.

I suppose it's similar with 'made up' name - but only a few centuries ago 'Edward' was made up and now it's a traditional name. I suppose it depends upon, as morganlebuffay says, how long ago the names were adopted and if they sound like they 'fit' in with our view of 'national' names - but like you say, that's changing all the time.

Having said that, I wouldn't pick anything knowingly Welsh/Italian/Spanish/Asian/Scandinavian because I am none of those and I fear that it would be strange given the names I've already picked for my other children and/or that my child would spend his/her life explaining that no, there was no connection. It is a bit daft, though. But then you have to narrow the choice down somehow, dont you?

I wouldn't. Names are about origins and identity, and I believe should hold significance for the parents. But then, I'm a bit tied by wanting my DCs to have names of the same origin as all the DSCs...

But each to their own. Really, I think it just requires an understanding of the meaning and heritage of the name. For example, don't call your non-Muslim girl Aisha if you're not willing to learn about Mohammed's youngest wife and what she represents for Muslims...

Some interesting answers! I've always sort of assumed that as long as you knew the meaning and origin (and preferably made an effort to view how the name is perceived in its local area, is it common etc), then it wasn't a problem.

I understand your point about origins and identity, but I've always felt that was what the surname was for (and perhaps the middle name if it's a family name).

I expect many people name their child without even realising the origin of the name, like Nicolas which is fairly common here but which has Greek origins.

I would have thought it was ok if it was easily pronounceable in the country the child was born in.
Eg: Sora (Japanese, means Sky)

And what about names like David and Aaron if you're not Christian or Jewish?

i think it depends. I know Irish Reubens, and I know an Olwen, but Abdul or Momoko would be a bit beyond those I believe... that's just my opinion.

DD's name is used in a variety of European countries but is rare in the UK and we have no links to the countries it's popular in. DH and i both have Welsh roots and whilst it's a word in Welsh it's not used as a name. Nobody has suggested it's odd that we used it or ever much commented on it but there are several frequently used girls'names that sound like it so maybe it's more to do with nmaes from other cultures sounding "weird" to British ears?

I think that's a good point Maria, which is why I was wondering about easily pronounceable names being more 'acceptable'!

It's an interesting question op. I just knew I wanted a quite old fashioned British name but with hind sight I'm not sure there is a particular reason why, that said dds name is a fairly common name across Europe albeit with different spelling.

There's such a sliding scale. eg, you see Dieter, and you know it's german for Peter. You might wonder why they chose it, but you might wonder why somebody chose Jack.

We are familiar with names from languages that have the same roots. eg Blanca, Bianca, Blanche we know tha tthey all mean the same thing. Who knows what's Kenyan or Korean or Maoiri for white?

I understand people wanting an 'English' name Bulby, I just don't understand people NOT wanting a 'foreign' name, if you see what I mean..

I wander if some people think that in choosing a foreign name they'll be perceived as trying too hard or if people just don't think to do it, I really do think it's an interesting question though. I quite agree that people with obviously foreign sounding names will probably often have to explain it was just a liked name. (actually even though I knew I wanted Britishthe exception was I liked Liesl which dh vetoed simply because we're not German!)

My children have names which are more typically European than British (though there are plenty of British examples for each) and on the surface you might think it odd as DH and I appear 'British'... however our children have 7 nationalities between their 8 great-grandparents!

The meanings of their names were very important to us, and we gave them middle names that represented (some of) their origins, or were an homage to people who meant a great deal to us.

I think people should just choose names they love- they have to live with their choice for the rest of their lives, it needs to be something you love hearing!

I don't have stron views except for wincing slightly when I hear beautiful french names said in a blunt English accent.

Am - err - lee springs to mind.

Maybe, bulby it's not about being perceived as trying too hard, perhaps it's about not wanting to be perceived as claiming a heritage that doesn't 'belong' to you? My DH's father is Scottish, and my grandfather was Scottish - but when we gave our DS a Scottish middle name - my FIL just couldn't understand it. He actually asked why we had picked a Scottish name when we were English .

And, incidentally, I like Liesl, and I'd be less worried about choosing that than I would be about choosing Guisepina for instance.

Good point Nancy, perhaps people are concerned that others won't be able to pronounce a non English name?

I agree that people should choose names they love, which
is why I wonder why people cut down their options so much by saying they only want traditional English names!

Any thoughts about giving Biblical names if you're not religious?

Ha! That was my main requirement- NO biblical names (staunchly atheist)

Out of interest (nosyness) did you count ALL names of Biblical/Hebrew origin in that?
Eg: David, Aaron, Joseph, Jacob

Or Just the obvious or less popular ones?
Eg: Adam, Moses, Malachai

when I was pregnant with DD2 my ex wanted to call her India. I like the name but am white and british (as is her father) and have never been to India. He has tho it isnt anything of significance to him. We don't have any particular interest in Indian culture and I just thought I would look foolish trying to explain why we had chosen it for no other reason than the word is quite nice. Like antimacassar or peripatic or something equally random.

I think if you choose an unusual or less common name you are often asked what the reasoning behind it is. If you can only shrug and say, 'it just sounds quite nice' many people (me included) would feel a little silly. I also have the slight issue that these sort of names smack a little of trying too hard - to be exotic or different. And that just won't do!

The people in the Bible all had to be called something, didn't they? They're just names that people were called when the Bible was written. It's the people and what they did which are of most importance to Christians, not necessarily what their names were.

All names of biblical origin, yes!

Plus, nothing beginning with R due to pronunciation issues for DH... or G due to surname issues...

DCs do actually have 6 forenames between them... there were some left!

Well, I, my mum and my brother all have Hebrew names, though they're so assimilated into the English language that people forget their origin. None of us are Jewish, though we have Jewish ancestry.

horatia- of course, you're right, but I didn't want any religious overtones (though I love the name Malachi actually)

And of course (Godwin time, sorry) Nazis had to be called something too, but there aren't too many Adolfs around nowadays.