Why do some Asian people like to be known by an english sounding first name?

Question

My local chip shop proprietor is Paul but he told me he is Indian and I know he was not born Paul.

Answer 1

Lol yea that's very true. I guess they use english-sounding names because they are easier to pronounce. Some youths also think that it's cool to do that. I know many friends and relatives who do that. I'm Chinese Malaysian and I'm happy with my Chinese name.

Answer 2

In some cases, he might very well have been named Paul. A friend of mine from Pakistan had an English last name because her father was half English and half Pakistani. You never can tell.

But I always make the effort to pronounce names. Names are extremely important, and to not do so is seriously disrespectful. It's also absurd to say that "westerners" can't physically pronounce them. Unless the person has a speech impediment, all humans are perfectly capable of making any sound in any language. They just have to actually try it.

Answer 3

Maybe he had problems with people not remembering his name or constantly mispronouncing and misspelling it. Some Asian names can be difficult for Westerners. Maybe he got tired of everyone struggling with his name and just wanted some name that the locals could handle better.

I live in a foreign country and my name is very difficult for the locals and there are endless problems with it being misspelled everywhere and people not remembering my name and mispronouncing it etc. I'm sure it would be a lot simpler to take on an easier name if I was planning to stay here forever.

Answer 4

Yes it appears funny because you see them and their name is ..Sam , Paul or Steve. I asked once being a very curious person and was told because Americans discriminate against them so much that they say < Hi, I am Paul they will be better excepted than if they speak their own language and say Kesa ha I am Saheeb !! I speak some of their language to them and some act like they do not know what the heck I am talking about ??? Everyone should be proud of their heritage and if any one is raciest they are the ignorant ones .

Answer 5

First of all, they do not LIKE to be known by their English sounding names but rather they have no choice. Because if they were to use their real names (indian or chinese), people who are not versed in their language might butcher it. And to avoid any embaressments on both sides, they just adopt a simple English name which most people can pronounce without them wincing or having to furiously correct the person.

Answer 6

Several possibilities
1) easier to pronounce- making it easier for the non-Asian person, and also means dont have to put up with mis-pronunciations

2) some Asians (esp South India) are Christian and do actually have English sounding names

3)avoid racial discrimination, eg when filling in application forms for jobs

Answer 7

i think its mostly to do with the fact that its easily pronouncable. although as you can tell by my name, i for one don't have an english equivalent. besides, i prefer it that way and its not something that people should be ashamed of although there are many asians, especially chinese people who have english names alongside their actual names. i don't have a problem with it. i think its down to choice but i would understand it more if the person who is of asian- descent adopts or has a english/western name due to the fact they don't want other people to have difficulties in pronouncing it.

Answer 8

Its economy. A few centuries back when they (Arabs and Asians) had the education they were rich and strong. They enslaved our men and women, we went there to gain knowledge from them. At that time, we liked to be known by their names. We are now knowledgable, rich and stong. Now they will fry to use our names and follow our traditions for a few centuries. In case they are able to gain more knowlege and become richer than us then we might, once again, find ourselves trying to copy their names. However, it appears many many decades away; definitely beyond the times every living person wil see.

Answer 9

I was born in America and the national language is English, so I get an English name. What's so hard to understand?

Answer 10

He might have been called Paul. Sometimes a British name is fashionable. I remember forma Formula 1 driver Jan Magnessun (Danish) calling his son Kevin!