Is this 'baby names' section a bit racist?

[Boulders]

On this board I've noticed quite a negative vibe against any name that is more typically used in Afro/Caribbean communities than white ones. The same goes for opinions on names originating from Asia. Islamic names are discredited too. Why is this?

I think it helps to say, I like this name because [delete as applicable] it's quite popular as part of my culture/a relative was called it/I heard it for the first time yesterday and think it's cool

If you don't, people will judge the name on whatever it first brings to mind. What it brings to their mind will be totally dependent on their taste and cultural slant. So I don't think it's racist that ethnic cultural names get more slack when it is not revealed that that's what they are! I have never seen a thread where somebody started at the OP and specifically said 'I want a persian name' and then had posters reject them all because nobody would be able to spell/say them, because it's a different kind of assessment being made by the respondents to assessment just by gut reaction. IYSWIM.

Oh God.
Is it so complicated. Really?
Arn't you just supposed to click on the thread and say if we like the name or not?
And isn'tthe person posting just asking a random group of mums of whatever class, race and background happen to be on line , what they think?

I am guessing most people posting have some braod concept of their audience? If I posted 'do you like the name Wayne' on the Man unted website I would probably get more yes than if I posted that here?

And honestly does anyone really CHOOSE their babys name based on what a bunch or people they have never met think? Really?

CodeDAzur

That is interesting. So if Bibi, Begum etc are not names, which of there names is on their certificate?

At least with Mrs P White, it is simple. P is the christian name and white the surname. Mrs tells us she is married.

Mrs A S Bibi, Why do I call her Mrs Bibi then. Should I csll her Mrs S.

Someone send me on another cultural awareness couse. Ive been on 2 obviously didnt tell me what I needed to know

not racist, just judgey. there are some names from the black community that i do dislike, and some names from every other section of society.theres probably more reaction to "chavvy" names on here , not ethnic.

Some names are associated with a specific culture, that doesn't make the issue racist.

If I called my son Rain, I would expect my share of and when I introduced his name.

If I was a Phillipino woman, I would not.

Begum can be a name, but it is also a honorific. If you hear it very often, most probably, all those women are not named 'Begum' but it is the title you hear.

Same with Bibi. It would be very unusual to have 'Bibi' as one's first name. However, it is a very common way to address one's daughter, girlfriend, mother, aunt etc in some parts of the world. (Never read "A Thousand Splendid Suns", I see).

Interesting thread. I've always lived in rural areas with a high percentage of white people, studied and work in an occupation that is overwhelmingly white (ecology). I wouldn't have the foggiest about names being common in black communities and I've learnt a lot reading this thread.

Surely everyone commenting on a name has so much baggage behind that opinion. Even if its just ignorance baggage. I don't like Gail because there was a girl at school who wasn't nice to me when I was about 5. But it is an alternative shortening of my name!

And it used to be in this country, that Mrs P White - P was the husbands first name. Hardly ever see that nowadays tho.

My daughter has a welsh name, it was partly naming her after a midwife, it was partly because I liked it. Spend a lot of time in Wales, brought up near the border. But not welsh, no welsh heritage mine or dps side.

Not v coherent post!, dd has a plate on her head.

CotDAzur
Never read the book. Always pleased to get a suggestion. Just googled it. not really my type of thing, Sounds a bit depressing. but I wont judge a book by the cover. If I get a chance to read it, I will let you know what I think. I might have to really force myself though.

In what way does it relate to the discussion?

When do we parents get a chance to read. My only reading time would be on my 1 1/2 hr journey to work, at home I am too knackered.

I have 100 splendid suns, not read it yet, but read the first one..the kite runner and it blew me away.One of the best books I've ever read.

I don't think it's racist to say that some names are better suited to people from certain cultures (where they are often more common). I quite like the name Zephaniah, but I am white/ British and my dh is Asian/ Sri Lankan and it's just not a name from either of our cultures, whereas it is much more common in African communities where the minor prophets are frequently used as names. What's weird about that? It's just true, not racist.

Racist and classist imo.
ANYTHING BAR OLD LADIES NAMES OR jACK AND eMILY IS LABELLED CHAV

Thinking about racism and naming threads, reminded me some years ago dh told a racist bigot at SIL's BBQ that he was surprised he'd given his son an Afro-Caribbean name Poetic justice really and an indication that he & his wife were really thick in more ways than one.

My dh wouldn't even let me use a Cornish name because he's not Cornish, even though I am! He's ultra conservative about names, and I think that this board is generally pretty conservative too. I think racist is going too far though.

Just have to add [though coming to this very late, I do realise - my 'Dante radar' was temporary turned off] that I am confused as to how Dante can be anything other than Italian. Also like the idea that the name of a poet who died in 1321 is 'modern'. Nothing to say about Donte except . OK, as you were... I'm obsessed, I know.

PS I used to know a Bibi and it was deffo her 'real name'.

The thing with objecting to names 'from certain cultures' is that so many names with their roots in other cultures have become 'normal' names in other cultures. My name is (apparently) from the hebrew but is a very usual, now quite common name. No one's ever assumed I'm Jewish.

bandie - I read it for my book club and totally hated it. It is written in English, by a so-called Afghan who has emigrated to US as a child. Some women get beaten up, and we are all very sad for them. The end.

CoteDAzur-

Just as predicted, not my cup of tea.

I work in a really deprived part of london and see this sort of thing daily. Id prefer not to have to read about it in spare time too. My job has already made me more cynical and cold, so I need fluff.

Acutally, off topic, but I dont quite get this whole trend lately of 'trauma lit' or whatever it is called. it is a bit sick. I wonder if there is some sort of rule in publishing now. if someone got abused they know they will sell loads of books. "sorry you were not abused quite badly enough for us to shift any copies..."

I dont enjoy reading about other people's trauma. The odd bid of hardship is okay but not abuse and neglect.