Help! Can you give her an English name?

[RDecember]

Hi! I’m looking for an English name for one of my friend’s daughter. I’ll write down a description of her below, and if any names pop into your mind then feel free to tell me! :)

She’s Asian, very pale with black hair and black eyes. Extremely pretty with a small, elfin face shape. Looks a bit cold, but she’s a friendly type of person once you get to know her, and she's not the gossipy sort (just likes to mind her own business).
Overall she has a very elegant and calm demeanor, and we agreed that her name should probably be longer than one syllable. I think she looks like an “Olivia”, and some people say that she looks like an “Iris”, but we’re looking for a name that’ll suit her better.

If you guys have any recommendations, please let us know! We'd really appreciate it

She sounds like an anna or Imogen to me.

Ti know this a really common is Asia but honestly I have a lot of Chinese friends and can pronounce almost all of their names. I always think it’s a bit sad to eliminate their identity - it’s not like westerners in Hong King or Shanghai ever adopt Chinese names!

If she’s determined to change i’d Choose something with the same meaning as her Chinese name or something that sounds similar. E.g. if the name is Liu then Lily or Lisa

If you can post her actual name that would help

She sounds like a Carmen

Ellen
Eleanor

Ebony?

I think Ida has good advice about picking a top 50 name from her age group.

I know a Chinese girl who calls herself Eileen, which sounds slightly odd for a twenty year-old.

Sounds like you are naming a puppy or something!
Surely its her choice to change her name and what it may be if she does? Im not sure its quite right you telling her what her name should be.
People will learn to pronounce her actual name, it or she could maybe Anglicize her own name if she fancies.
Its all a bit strange deciding on a name for a teenager who already has her own name.

Why doesn't she pick a name herself that she likes? asking randomers on the internet to name her is a bit odd.

Can't go wrong with plain Jane

Can I just say, I have worked with loads of people, from a variety of countries in Asia, and many (not all) have an Anglicised name.

I made point of learning their correct name, as I thought it was shameful on the westerns that they could not pronounce the names.

But then I had along conversation with a South Korea couple about it. They explained that for them how they are addressed carries a huge weight in terms of manners/politeness/respect. So, if the person was older than me, I would use their name alone, I would say 'older sister Mei-Lee' or 'younger brother Hyun Ju'
This is true for everyone, there is no-one who you would address without a title in there. When people use their name without any title it really grates, feels rude. This is magnified enormously if it is a young person or worse a child, to an older person or adult.

So, they had found anglicised names similar to their Korean names, using same initial sound. Another familt chose another Korean word that they liked the meaning of, and which was easy to say.
They used those names in any context outside a South Korean speaking one. They don't feel offended if someone calls them Mary, instead of Older Sister Mary, where they would be offended if they said Mei- Lee without the older sister part.

So before you rush in with outrage that she should keep her name, she may not want to, for reasons, that you may not get.

This makes total sense to me, I have a lot of Asian friends from different backgrounds and all prefer to have the option of a "Western" name for simplicity's sake. When I've asked them whether they mind using a different name they have told me they identify as much with one as with the other, and consider them interchangeable. Can I suggest Megan, Lara, Mia or Freya?

To me she sounds like a Lucie.

Strongly suggest going for a similar first sound, and maybe final sound, if possible.
Taking the initial sound, and looking thoughts baby names lists around the year she was born sounds like a good starting point.

I knew a Chinese-heritage girl who grew up here who was called Kitty. I thought it was a cool name as it's not common, but everyone knows it and can spell/pronounce it

Emma or Anna, easy to say, easy to spell and can take you anywhere in life.

Ciara/Keira also mean dark or you could have Kira which makes it really easy to spell.

I second Jasmine.

Give her a name book and let her choose her own name. In the US let her play on Name Voyager too :)

My friend used to work in a boarding school with lots of Asian students and they all chose their own Western names.

Nina
Eleanor
Nancy
Cora

Tell us what she picks if you are allowed OP!

Mila

Let her have fun choosing her own name! I know a lovely Chinese man named Laura!

There's a British teenage girl who set up a website to do this, having been asked by her father's Chinese friends to help them choose a western name for his baby. Article about it here: www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/37255033/a-16-year-old-british-girl-earns-48000-helping-chinese-people-name-their-babies. It's all about finding characteristics that you want your baby to have.

their baby

I live the name iris. Also dahila.

WTF

WTAF