kwame, kaynard, keandre or kadema?

[user1472837754]

which is your favourite? thank you

I like kwame and kadema the best

Hmm. If a name sounds made up, that's often because it has some of the characteristics of names that have been made up, such as beginning with a k or an apostrophe in the middle of it (as Ke'andre has on the second Google result for it). There is, obviously, a difference between sounding made up and being made up. If anyone wants to invent a name for their child, be my guest, but I thought the point of baby name threads such as these was to find out what the random person in the street would think when parents say "This is our baby Petunia/Ptolemy/Fred/Enid". If it's likely that many people would think "What? Did you make that up?" it seems reasonable to say so. It doesn't mean parents shouldn't go ahead. Many of us name our children things that others might dislike. Googling tells me that Kaynard means a lazy person, but if the parents like it, of course they should go ahead.

It only sounds made up to Anglo ears. Surely we all know that not everyone is from an Anglo background? If I hear a name I've never heard of, I'm not going to think "Well that's not English (or French, because those are acceptable), so it must be made up."

People in other parts of the UK also think names they don't recognise sound made up - as, I'm sure, do people in other countries. Don't worry - it's not limited to England

I don't think it's about MN approval as such, but it's going to sound weird if you use a Nigerian name when you and your forefathers were born and bred in Possilpark.

Sort of Muffy. People who live in multicultural areas and whose children go to diverse schools have a pretty good, but not infallible, ear for names that are venerable parts of other cultures and those that have been invented. It's because they're not infallible that some names sound made up when they're not. As I said, none of it matters, least of all the opinions of strangers on the Internet. My own name is appropriated from another culture, btw.

Many names evolve over time - they're taken from other languages, they have meanings. Names that are made up by sticking random capital letters and accents in the middle or by varying the spellings are very different beasts.

The thought of people making judgements about my children because I dared to give them a name that's not English (and they don't have the common sense to realise that not everyone is English) makes me so angry. (And no I will not call them Jack and Jill to avoid this. People should stop being so damn ignorant.)

As for accents, capital letters and apostrophes in the middle of names, these are all very common in lots of non-European cultures.

I once tried to make up some names, in response to a thread like this - things like Marelda or Lotwin.

Pretty much anything I could come up with that sounded even vaguely like a name had been used as a name. It is difficult to actually make up a name.

In addition, since spelling was not standardised historically, and since changing a name from one writing system to another often does not have a single formal system, yooneek spellings are often not so unique.

And yes, I do read a lot of fantasy novels.

Kadema

Never heard any of these names before, they all are weird in my ears but if I had to pick one it would be Kaynard.

Kwame. It's a great name.
I'm not sure of the meanings or particular heritage of the other names, but I just don't like them. (FWIW I am multi-heritage & originate from a very multicultural area of the country- so I'm not particular averse to/unfamiliar with non English names)

Well if they are from your heritage they're all nice. But otherwise I wouldn't be keen on any of them.

Can you tell me how to pronounce them?

From looking at them and guessing kaynard is my favourite bit I've not heard any of these names before and I think that probably sounds most like a name I recognise which is why itd be my preference.

I don't actually like k names in general (no idea why!!) But that's totally a personal weirdness :)

I think it's lovely to add some of your own heritage to a name but I think you'll be asled for spelling/ pronunciation a lot.