any suggestions for a vietnamese/american baby name?

Question

my wife and i are having our first child together in august and she wants a western name for the baby. i would like a vietnamese name that sounds western. i plan to semi-retire to vietnam in about five years meaning our child will be spending more time in vietnam than america. FYI i am american of irish descent

Answer 1

For Girls:

The best one is Kim. It's a favorite Vietnamese girl's name that means Gold (In Europe and among Jews, the equivalent name is Golda or Gilda). It's one of a few if not the only name that's spelled the same in Vietnam as it is in America.

Another one is Tam which means heart in Vietnamese and it can be spelled and pronounced Tammy when used in America.

My Lan (pronounced Mee Lahn) which means beautiful orchid which can be spelled Melanie when in America.

For Boys:

-Dat which means to accomplish or to achieve is easy enough to pronounced in both Vietnamese and English. There's a former linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys named Dat Nguyen.
-Ben is a western name that's very easy for the Vietnamese to pronounce.
-Chad has an equivalent sounding (almost)
name in Vietnamese called Chat.
- Lee likewise has Ly in Vietnamese.
-Dan is perfect in both languages as long as it's not in the long form Daniel.

Another way is to have two names as one posting have suggested. A western first name and a Vietnamese middle name. When in America, use the first. When in Vietnam, use the second. If you explain to your child since his/her young age that the two names are equally good and nice and they make him/her more versatile and not strange; he/she will accept them. I know Vietnamese-American couples who have done so for their children and it has worked out great for them and the kids.

Answer 2

Consider combining the two: a western middle name and eastern first name. It's not uncommon for a child to go by their middle name in the states and when you return to Asia the child can then decide how they want to be known - with a built in option suitable for either area.

Answer 3

how about Siagon ... instantly recognisable, will be easily pronounced in both cultures, and is not such a common name...

I also like the idea of using two names, one Western and one Vietnamese

If I had daughters I'd like to name them Pela (after the Pelagians) or Siena, but that's another story from Italy...

Answer 4

Throw a bunch of forks and knives in the air and name the child the sound they make when they hit the ground

Answer 5

Angus Mcloud

Answer 6

Check out babynames.com

Answer 7

hi why not have ouble barrel name like LILLY-BETH or make a name out of your & your wifes

Answer 8

Wang!