Would you give your baby a name in a foreign language?

Question

Just curious :p

If you're American, for instance, would you choose "Yumiko" (Japanese) for a daughter or "Rajiv" (Indian) for a son? Or, at the very least, something European but non-English like "Giovanni" (Italian/boy) or "Tatiana" (Russian/girl)?

Doesn't it get boring after a while with all the English Christian names?

Me? I'm Chinese and I have a Polish name in addition to my Chinese one (yes, the Polish name IS on my birth certificate, passport, etc). It tickled my father's fancy, and I like it too!

Answer 1

I think giving a foreign name is fine if the parents like the idea. The fact is, you can *never* be sure that the name you give your child will be one that she/he will like growing up!! My sister hated the fact that her name was *too* common! In school, she was always referred to by first and last name because there was *always* another kid with the same name. But other kids object because their names are *too* common. So you can't win. Pick names you like, and that's the best you can do. :-)

Answer 2

I Would Choose Giovanni.....I Love Dat Name My Lil Brother Had Jovanni...Sorta Da Same Also Tatiana Is A Beautiful Name.......Well Depends How Da Name Sounds And Look Basicalli Cuz If Its Like Yumiko....Ewww.
Gotta Be Pretty........

Answer 3

Well, my future daughter (I'm only 16, but planning a decade-ish ahead... LOL) will have a Greek name. "Callista" or "Kallista", depending on how I choose to have it spelled. ("Callisto" or "Kallisto" also have the same meaning). They mean "the fairest".
And my future son will have a Welsh name: Tristan.
I guess, in summary, my answer is: yes, I would most definately name my child something other than a boring old English name. Granted, the ones I've chosen aren't as exotic as they could be, but they're something, considering I don't have any Greek or Welsh blood in me. I love exotic/unique names. They make the world much more interesting. :-D

Answer 4

If that country were a part of my heritage (for example, I'm English/Dutch/German) I would. I would never give my baby a Japanese or Cuban or Jamaican name though. That would just be weird. Even though I know all cultures have beautiful names, I'm not any part of that culture. Does that make sense? lol

Answer 5

my daughter is named geneviève (yes, with the accent even). it can be pronounced the english way (jen-ah-veev) if someone has a problem saying it the french way (jhon-vee-ev), but most people do eventually get it right.

I'm all for foreign names. *_* especially since my husband's family tends to reuse the same old christian names (I have a sister-in-law named mary elizabeth, named after her aunt elizabeth mary, and most of the other kids in the family are the same way). bo-ring!

Answer 6

I am European American and my husband is from India. We are naming our little girl a German and Indian name: Amelia Preeti. The best of both worlds! And Amelia isn't that common either.

Answer 7

I will, if it doesn't have any other obscure meaning, like poor Suri! Definitely don't want my child to be teased for having name that places him/ her in the same category as a llama!
But yes, I adore Penelope, Amelie and Athena for girls, and Archea or Rio for boys.

Answer 8

Yeah, I'd definitely give my child a name in a foreign language. Providing I knew what the name meant, lol.

Answer 9

people of colour have been naming their children foreign names in a language not of their origin for 500 years!

Answer 10

If I liked the name. I am actually thinking about giving my kids spanish names. Like Esperanza(It means hope), or Carolina, or Armando, or Alejandro. Something like that.