<p>THis is hilarious.
Actually- an ethnic/religious/hippie/Victorian/etc name is appropriate in* America*
and more so every day.</p>
<p>Ok to only name your infant an ethnic name if you are going to live for the rest of your life in the country of origin?
ha ha.
I guess that would explain why Barack Obama, who was named after his father a man of Luo ethnicity born in Kenya, Africa- has had such difficulty getting those living in USA, North America, to accept him.
:rolleyes:</p>
<p>^^ And have you noticed that the media hardly ever refers to him as Barack Hussein Obama? They seem to want to pretend that he doesn’t have a middle name (especially THAT one).</p>
<p>Non-traditional spellings don’t bother me (Katherine, Kathryn, Caitlin, Caitlyn, Katelyn, etc etc,). If the parents love it and it doesn’t harm the child, I think it’s OK.</p>
<p>Whenever you give someone your name you’re usually spelling it out for them anyway-- either in writing or by phone. I have a one-syllable, four-letter name, yet I’m still always asked to spell it.</p>
<p>Having a four-letter last name that rhymes with my first name exactly is the annoying part…</p>
<p>I don’t come from a part of the country that typically uses middle names.
My mothers family who are from the midwest, * do* use middle names- or what seems to be two * first* names.
Bobbie Sue, Kellie Jean and so on.
However- that practice has been dying out, and sounds vaguely " hick" or at least old fashioned.Northerners didn’t pronounce the names the same anyway.
It woudn’t be Bobbie Sue, it would have been pronounced Bobbasu.</p>
<p>dontno - I have a friend with a Chinese name who recently changed it, so I get where you’re coming from. I also understand immigrants varying their surnames or shortening them. </p>
<p>But most names easy to pronounce/spell are mainsteam “white” names. I’m brown, and everyone in my family has an ethnic name (My name is easy to say/spell, but people often try to say it with an accent, when it’s pronounced just like it’s spelled). i’ve come to realize that if I want to give my kids “easy” names, they’re gonna have to be mainstream, and therefore white names…What you’re basically saying to brown/yellow/black immigrants is, give your kids white names, it’s practical for America. Now, dontcha think that’s a little unfair to say?</p>
<p>Everyone in my family has had a muslim name since, well…centuries, and it’s a tradition I think i’d like to continue - would you really say that’s simply not “practical?”</p>
<p>(btw, both Lilah and Alaina are examples of muslim names which aren’t too unusual, as they’re european names as well…or at least alaina is close enough to elena (but elena is pronounced more like E-layna, not Alayna). as for katelyn and madeline, well, I just like those :)).</p>
<p>Funny that’s the example you give. He’s constantly made fun of his name throughout the campaign. Even better: he went by “Barry” until he reached Occidental College where most his friends were immigrants. He only felt comfortable using his given name at that point.</p>
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<p>I agree. It is unfair. But that’s the way it is. You can give your child a Muslim name, follow tradition, and everything. But that kid will most likely be mocked on a constant basis at school, strangers will have difficulty pronouncing his name, people will easily forget his name and while this forgetting might not sound like much, it can have grave repercussions in the job market and in forming new relationships.</p>
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<p>I’m sorry it’s not “practical” in America. It’s like me moving to the Middle East and naming my child William. People are going to have trouble using it and, as stated by the OP, it may give people an initially negative impression. Ethnic parents have a choice. Either follow a tradition that has no real merit besides simply being tradition and cause undue harm to your child or pick a regular ol’ American name.</p>
<p>I know someone with a granddaughter named not Cheyenne but ShyAnne. Or maybe Shyanne. Once I heard the spelling, I didn’t ask about the capitalization.
Spelling variations.
Allison, Alison doesn’t bother me but Cheyenne, ShyAnne seems like it will be a challenge.</p>
<p>Have YOU noticed that Ronald Reagan was never referred to as Ronald Wilson Reagan? Clinton was rarely referred to as William Jefferson Clinton. Sarah Palin was never referred to as Sarah Louie Palin. John McCain was never referred to as John Sidney McCain III. (I didn’t know he was the third!) Joe Biden was never referred to as Joe Robinette Biden, Jr. </p>
<p>The only one of those names that is spelled in the “normal” way is Victoria. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t classify them as weird, although “Alaina” seems like a made-up variant of either Alanna or Elena. If I were you I would avoid the dreaded substitution of Y for other letters. Read the web site mentioned above for an idea of why that is.</p>
<p>BTW, I don’t think people would have a problem pronouncing Alaina and Lilah. I like Lilah a lot. :)</p>
D1 has always planned to name her daughters “Madeline” pronounced Mad-uh-LINE, like the children’s book character, and Genevieve, like Madeline’s dog. Needless to say, I’m in no position to cast stones.</p>
<p>Zoosermom - yep I’ve heard both line and lin at the end, which is why I want to spell it with lyn. Plus it looks prettier :)</p>
<p>dontno - it’s part of my religion that muslims are expected to have traditional muslim names - this is why Muhammad Ali changed his name. Regardless, I had an “ethnic” name and was never teased for it, let alone “mocked on a constant basis”. It is very easy to pronounce, and as far as I know, I haven’t had difficulty forming relationships. You’re making it sound like only the Jane’s and John’s of the world can be successful!
Regardless, I understand your point and this is why I want to avoid naming my kid TreeStar or FruitLoop or other sketchy names :D</p>
<p>Consolation - Alaina is pronounced differently than Alanna…it’s kind of like Elena. It’s not made-up, or at least not by me (all names are made up I guess). And it’s a traditional name in my family. It’s not exactly hard to say, I think…and not ugly like some more mainstream names like Gertrude, Doris, Mildred, and Francis <em>throws up</em> I want the “y” so people pronounce it correctly. </p>
<p>For some reason, I dislike Caitlin, but I’m fine with Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Katelyn, or Katelin…I like K names
Who cares how it’s spelled, it’s pronounced the same…only Caitlin looks ugly and reminds me of someone I hate.</p>
<p>Good point, mathmom (post 108).
And as for Robinette, I remember hearing it on inauguration day, and wondering what exactly it was they’d said. Guess it’s a family name, but the “ette” on the end could be somewhat disconcerting for a boy.</p>
<p>I don’t think those qualify as mainstream names these days. Well, at least not the first three. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone would have a problem pronouncing Alaina, but she would have to spell it every time. It sounds like a nice name to me.</p>
<p>As it happens, my favorite female name is Welsh, and very unusual unless you live in Wales. It’s the name of the oldest sister in the book/movie How Green Was My Valley: Angharad. It’s quite beautiful if pronounced correctly (rent the movie some time), but horrible if mispronounced (as in the book on tape version of Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword). Luckily, some would say, my only child is a boy! :D</p>
