My name is John...or is it Jian

[scuzbud]

Being spawned from a predominately caucasian town, I've always been around folks with names the likes of Peter, Andrew or Mike, anglo christian names that are understandbly inherently "white". As I have moved into the big city, I am much more exposed to a more broad cross-section of asians. The one thing I tend to notice though is that many of them go by "english" names" for whatever reasons (work, school, easier to pronounce etc) but this is especially the case for those of the east asian background (CJK). You don't see this as much from people of the south, southeast and middle east persuasion.

Does this mean that they are more proud of ancestoral titles than other asians? Have a better sense of retaining culture and roots? Reluctant to assimilate to the dominant masses? Just cool going by Mohammad than by "Mo"? Whatever the case, I would like hear your takes on this trivial rant including from parents or would-be parents what their stances are taking into consideration the bearing a name would have a child and how they are treated (potential name calling, feeling foreign, etc) in their futures.

[SunWuKong]

the English names that Chinese people have are not their "real" names. they have Chinese names that are given to them at birth. the English names are just used for convenience sake.

although in HK, English names are often used like nicknames.

[nameless]

Don't forget that a lot more East Asians have been in America longer than Middle Eastern and South Asians. Most of the time, it's 1st and 1.5 gens who are born abroad that have the ethnic names. The exceptions I've seen are 3rd+ gen JAs (mostly female) and SE Asians who immigrated poor and never got out of their ethnic ghetto.

I doubt future parents will give their 2nd+ gen kids ethnic names, either because they've become more American and/or they know it's easier to transition in America with an English name.

[kimpossible]

Parent here. Kid has two names. Birth certificate has English name and middle name as per the norm in the US. Chinese name on his gold birth pendant. Most Chinese use his Chinese name. All non-Chinese use his English name.

I don't think English name usage is across the board. It's rare that a Japanese person adopts a Western name at a later time but it seems pretty standard for Chinese, whether because of school or just easier to use because of pronunciation issues.

[kyopojin]

It's rare that a Japanese person adopts a Western name at a later time



This is true,my Americanized Japanese Skype language exchange chat-pal keeps his Japanese given name & citizenship to this day.He came to US at the age of 10 & lived here for 15 years.

I think pronunciation of romanized Japanese names sound more natural than the Chinese & Korean ones ( ching-chong-ching ).Also,issue of ethnic pride has to take into account.

[inthesky]

in my family, chinese name becomes middle name. except i have no middle name because of weird mixup, but my kids will def have chinese names as well as engl name

[tripostrophe]

This is true,my Americanized Japanese Skype language exchange chat-pal keeps his Japanese given name & citizenship to this day.He came to US at the age of 10 & lived here for 15 years.

I think pronunciation of romanized Japanese names sound more natural than the Chinese & Korean ones ( ching-chong-ching ).Also,issue of ethnic pride has to take into account.

OMG WTF HAHAHA.

[tripostrophe]

But uh maybe a reluctance to assimilate, because if you're coming as rich people who can afford to immigrate to America, you're more likely to view everything in rosy way -- and wanting to become more "American," you choose English names for your children. Maybe.

[kimpossible]

In some Asian public school systems, if not most, for English classes the kids pick English names. Most of them end in some sort of -y, -ie, -e fashion like Andy, Jenny, Phoebe, etc. or they're really uncommon by modern standards like Wilson, Winston, etc.

What cracks me up are the trailer trash names that are creeping in. I was asked to give a baby an English name, came up with a few that I thought were a nice balance of classic and modern only to have them turned down in favor of "Kaeden".

[scuzbud]

Interesting points made here. My impression is that most asians will carry both their english & asian names and often relegate their asian name to being used at home and/or ethnic bubble while using their anglicized name during their climb up the corporate ladder. I still feel it's unfortunate that some people need to clean up their asian names just so American Joe can address you properly or not view you as a foreign spy. I have a friend who goes by William but in actuality is Wu Lin. Are you telling me you can't say "Wu"??

I don't buy Nameless' view on southasians and middle easterns not having been here longer. I know plenty 2nd and 3rd gens that still carry ethnic names proudly. East asians have always be more lenient to adopting western ideals (i.e. religion, media, standard of beauty,etc) so its no stretch to take up their names either. I believe that its important that we not let ourselves infuse into the white norm too much. I mean we already dress like they them, speak like them, consume media like them, worship the same God as them. We need to be aware that some aspects of our heritage needs to be preserved.

Hopefully I don't see the day when our surnames become exploited as well......:frown:

[AngryABCGirl]

There's also the:

Wouldn't I fucking want to shoot myself if I heard my name pronounced wrong 100 times ever day factor, god that would piss me off.

[SunWuKong]

i can't speak for other Asian cultures, but i think what you need to understand about Chinese culture, and maybe some 2nd+ generation kids don't understand this, is that a person's full or real name is rarely used in conversation. this has been a cultural habit with Chinese people for a long long time. there're even superstitious beliefs that you can tell a person's fortune by his/her real name and the time and day that he is born, so in the past some people don't even like to reveal their real names.

most people will go by nicknames, and a lot of times that may be a shortened version of their Chinese names. but these days, English is also being used for the same purpose.

there's also a linguistics matter. unlike Korean and Japanese, the Chinese written language is not phonetic. so while it might be intuitive to just romanise your name with English as opposed to Korean and Japanese, a lot of Chinese people just figure they'd use English names for English-language functions. but you can see that as pinyin is becoming more used in mainland China, a lot of new immigrants from mainland China just use their pinyin'ed name instead of giving themselves English names.

[kimpossible]

I have a friend who goes by William but in actuality is Wu Lin. Are you telling me you can't say "Wu"??


Actually, yes. If you're neither getting the tones right or understand (or appreciate) the guy's name you might be butchering it and it becomes grating like AngryABC said. I think your buddy just doesn't want to hear his name mangled a bazillion times over.

I know you mentioned "East Asians" but through your specific examples you seem to be directing this at Chinese because of their naming conventions whereas as far as adopting Western religions or culture I'd point more towards the Japanese. Japanese aren't averse to importing words or concepts but it's hardly been restricted to Western cultures.

Whether or not someone has an English name isn't a really accurate way to measure Asianness.

[nameless]

In some Asian public school systems, if not most, for English classes the kids pick English names. Most of them end in some sort of -y, -ie, -e fashion like Andy, Jenny, Phoebe, etc. or they're really uncommon by modern standards like Wilson, Winston, etc.

LOL seriously, Chinese pick the oldest and/or funkiest English names. I think because everyone is named after a grandfather or uncle lol. I've met so many Kelvins, Melvins, Arthur, Stanley, etc. Err...no offense if those are any of your kid's name :redface:

[nameless]

I don't buy Nameless' view on southasians and middle easterns not having been here longer. I know plenty 2nd and 3rd gens that still carry ethnic names proudly.

Well, historically, Asians have been here (as in the US) longer, but I guess that wouldn't apply to the new wave of immigrants naming their children (which I'm guessing is your main concern). If you were talking about Canada, then I have no idea what their immigration history is like. Maybe there are plenty of 3rd gen up there, but not down here (maybe some desis on the east coast?).

East asians have always be more lenient to adopting western ideals (i.e. religion, media, standard of beauty,etc) so its no stretch to take up their names either. I believe that its important that we not let ourselves infuse into the white norm too much. I mean we already dress like they them, speak like them, consume media like them, worship the same God as them. We need to be aware that some aspects of our heritage needs to be preserved.

So you think we should look and act like we just stepped off the boat?

[scuzbud]

Well, historically, Asians have been here (as in the US) longer, but I guess that wouldn't apply to the new wave of immigrants naming their children (which I'm guessing is your main concern). If you were talking about Canada, then I have no idea what their immigration history is like. Maybe there are plenty of 3rd gen up there, but not down here (maybe some desis on the east coast?).



So you think we should look and act like we just stepped off the boat?

I agree...taking a Canadian perspective here I don't want to generalize on the american demographic but mainly 1.5 and 2nd gens south asians are those I meet (some 3rd gen) and rarely do I recall any going by anglo names. I guess one could use "Harold & Kumar" as a media reference to the point I'm making. Come on...Harold?? Could they not have picked a better name?

Yessssss!! The iconic FOB to further promote the image of asian american/canadian identity. This is not my place to advise anyone how to dress or behave. Also, being referred by an asian name doesn't make you any more "asian" than if you didn't in my opinion.

I know it may seem that I am making a fuss over something as trivial as a name and some of you say its more or less a nickname, it is still a part of how you are perceived. When some guy named Pablo answers the phone, you make the association Pablo=hispanic, or if someone mentions a girl named Madison you first think caucasian. Let me stress that I am obviously using generalizations but you get the picture. I feel that because the rest of society feels that using our "real" names is too hard to pronounce or what not that we should pander to them without making the effort in saying look, my name is "_____", and if they can't say it, LEARN. My mother when she first arrived from Laos had her coworkers constantly refer to her as "Sandy" because her name resembled it and it was easier to say. You know she did? Ignore them until they learned to properly address her. Gutsy.

[kimpossible]

Asians do it in Asia as well. There are Koreans in Japan with Japanese names and Chinese with Thai names in Thailand.

[eos]

i actually pondered changing my name to my chinese middle name because people mess up my english name a lot. but then i would have to change all my stuff and i'm a lazy person so i was like "meh".