If you had a kid...

[Tiff]

Sailorasteroid

This is their opportunity to have a person in the world representing what they want, so why should it be subject to the restrictions of the culture they live in.

Translation:This is a chance for parents to live through their kids as the person they wanted to be.

So if your mom was a garden freak and named you Pansie because that was her favorite flower you wouldn't mind? What if your families name was Aston? You wouldn't mind being Pansie Aston?

Ex-fucking-actly, Peach.

[LilEva]

I have a boy in my class named Anfernee. AN-FER-NEE. Not Anthony. Why, dear god, why? And I STILL call "Anfernee", "Anthony" on occasion.

I believe if he's African American, that name has some resonance. And there is an NBA basketball player of the same name.

While, I don't totally agree with you, I do see where you are coming from. It would be weird to see a Caucasian person with a hard to pronounce ethnic name.

For my thoughts on the matter, I am Vietnamese with a Vietnamese name. I dread the first day of classes because the teacher inevitably does not pronounce my name right. I've learned to jump in when there is the ominous pause in the middle of the Ns and say my own name. Yet, I love the way my name is pronounced in Vietnamese. I love its meaning. I like the way it sounds with my last name. So, I do sometimes wish my parents would have either given me an American nickname or a Vietnamese name that was easier to pronounce in English. But I am happy with my name and will give my children Vietnamese names as well.

For girls: Tien, Lien, Hong Yen, Huyen, Lanh

For boys: Khoa, Khan, Dat, Kien

[LilEva]

It seems like a lot of you need to pull your heads out of the world of anime and into the REAL world. Just think about it, would you name your kid sung-jin? or kung-mei? (both korean names). They sound pretty WEIRD and FOREIGN, right? It's cause they are. Japanese names are JUST as weird and foreign, as much as our little sub culture on this message board wouldn't like to admit.

If given to a person that is not Asian, it would be strange. But, to me, the names do not sound weird or foreign.

[yoshmaster5]

Yes, kids go under a ton of crap as they are growing up. I thank GOD that grade schoolers don't know about Star Trek. Why?

Adam Joseph PICARD

Even in High School, only a few kids even KNOW about that.

If you have the urge to name your kids after random things, or unique names, that don't seem to fit, or will be mocked in life? MAKE IT A PET'S NAME. Name your kids something common, or something they won't get made fun of for. As quoth SNL: *this is Finnesse Mitchell, he's African-American* "I think that women take their kids, and get revenge from their dads by naming them wierd, or something. Seriously, I once dated a girl named Mistakenisa. Or Comdombustera. This is a good idea to have name restrictions, say, prom night, you are all wasted, and that was where my daughter was concived. Hi Bramisha!" It's not exact, but it's kind of what he said.

But, wierd names = hell for a kid.

[Tiff]

I believe if he's African American, that name has some resonance. And there is an NBA basketball player of the same name.

And do you know WHY that NBA star's name is "Anfernee"?

And I quote, from a website I found:

"Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was born July 18, 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway got the name Anfernee because his mom couldn't say Anthony and the doctor wrote down Anfernee when he asked Anfernee's mother her baby's name. "

I fuond another site that pretty much said the same thing..that his mother had a hard time saying "Anthony", and that's how he got his name "Anfernee"

Please, explain to me why "Anfernee" is an African American name? I honestly don't understand.

For my thoughts on the matter, I am Vietnamese with a Vietnamese name. I dread the first day of classes because the teacher inevitably does not pronounce my name right. I've learned to jump in when there is the ominous pause in the middle of the Ns and say my own name. Yet, I love the way my name is pronounced in Vietnamese. I love its meaning. I like the way it sounds with my last name. So, I do sometimes wish my parents would have either given me an American nickname or a Vietnamese name that was easier to pronounce in English. But I am happy with my name and will give my children Vietnamese names as well.

For girls: Tien, Lien, Hong Yen, Huyen, Lanh

For boys: Khoa, Khan, Dat, Kien

And that's perfectly fine. YOU'RE vietnamese. I'm takling about when someone has ZERO asian blood whatsoever, but want to name their kid an asian name simply because it "sounds cool" or becuase an anime character has that name. There's NO POINT to it. Your name are sentimental to you, becuase they come from your culture.

ADMIN MODE:

Lil Eva, please don't double post.

[SailorJupiter]

My BF and I decided that we want 2 kids, a boy named Romeo and a girl named Asia Marie ^_^ My BF is half chinese/half vietnamese. I think people have the choice to name their kid/s whatever they want. It's their kids so they can pick whatever name they want. It doesn't matter if it's their race or not. It's what they like so let 'em have it. There's no law restricting what we name our kids and it's ridiculous to think that just because someone is of a different race they can't chose a certain name. Even if my BF wasn't chinese/vietnamese I would choose an asian name for my kids because I like asian names.

[peachvampiress]

I'd like to comment on a problem that I come across a lot in regards to names. Please be careful with names that have a "T" in them. I don't know if this just has something to do with the area I live in, but I, and a lot of people around me, pronounce Ts as Ds a lot. An example would be saying Butter as "Budder". I say this because their was this guy in my school named Chris DeShuster. I had never met him, I only knew his name from when they said it over the PA. I always thought they were saying Krista Shuster, so I thought he was a girl.

One year I had him in a class, and when the teacher did the attendance, I thought that "Krista Shuster" was in my class. It was a computer class and we were doing this thing where we had to send e-mails to everyone. I wrote his name as Krista and he kind of went a little spazzy because I thought he was a girl. I explained the whole "Chris De" sounds like "Krista" thing and he understood, but it would have been easier if he had a name that didn't get slurred easily.

[LilEva]

And do you know WHY that NBA star's name is "Anfernee"?

And I quote, from a website I found:

"Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was born July 18, 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway got the name Anfernee because his mom couldn't say Anthony and the doctor wrote down Anfernee when he asked Anfernee's mother her baby's name. "

I fuond another site that pretty much said the same thing..that his mother had a hard time saying "Anthony", and that's how he got his name "Anfernee"

Please, explain to me why "Anfernee" is an African American name? I honestly don't understand.

And that's perfectly fine. YOU'RE vietnamese. I'm takling about when someone has ZERO asian blood whatsoever, but want to name their kid an asian name simply because it "sounds cool" or becuase an anime character has that name. There's NO POINT to it. Your name are sentimental to you, becuase they come from your culture.

ADMIN MODE:

Lil Eva, please don't double post.

Well, I had thought I remembered hearing an interview where he explained his name had some meaning dealing with African heritage, but I guess I was wrong. Thank you for the clarification.

And sorry about the double posting. I am usually good with the rules.

And like I said, I mostly agree with you. It's just my opinion that I think something is lost when a parent names their child John just because it is easy to pronounce and has no other meaning to the family, and they are one of 5 Johns in their class. There is a fine line between uniqueness and excessiveness.

[Tiff]

I think people have the choice to name their kid/s whatever they want. It's their kids so they can pick whatever name they want. It doesn't matter if it's their race or not. It's what they like so let 'em have it. There's no law restricting what we name our kids and it's ridiculous to think that just because someone is of a different race they can't chose a certain name. Even if my BF wasn't chinese/vietnamese I would choose an asian name for my kids because I like asian names.

Again, with the "it's their kid, so they can do what they want" argument. And again..so I can treat my kid how I want? I can slap em around if I want? I can slice off their nipples if I think nipples are evil, becuase they're my kids' nipples?

It's not just about what you want. Names used to be something that had MEANING. They used to be something that had to do with family, with culture, with a certain meaning...it was supposed to portray strength, or beauty, or perhaps signify where the child came from.

It isn't about "OOOH THIS IS OMFG PRETTY SO LET'S NAME OUR KID THIS. YAAAY." This is a HUMAN BEING. Not your My Little Pony doll, or your puppy.

And like I said, I mostly agree with you. It's just my opinion that I think something is lost when a parent names their child John just because it is easy to pronounce and has no other meaning to the family, and they are one of 5 Johns in their class. There is a fine line between uniqueness and excessiveness.

...I haven't seen a single John in the pre-k I work in the entire year I've worked there.

I'm NOT kidding.

These names AREN'T around anymore. That's my point. There are little to no traditional, strong family names left. They're all "unique" and "shiny" and "pretty" and "omfg soooo cool cuz that's what i wanna name my kid".

Something is lost when you put random letters together and go "hey..that sounds cool". Something is lost when you slap an anime character's name on a kid becuase you thought the anime kicked ass.

Something is lost when names just don't have any meaning anymore.

[SailorJupiter]

I think people have the choice to name their kid/s whatever they want. It's their kids so they can pick whatever name they want. It doesn't matter if it's their race or not. It's what they like so let 'em have it. There's no law restricting what we name our kids and it's ridiculous to think that just because someone is of a different race they can't chose a certain name. Even if my BF wasn't chinese/vietnamese I would choose an asian name for my kids because I like asian names.

Again, with the "it's their kid, so they can do what they want" argument. And again..so I can treat my kid how I want? I can slap em around if I want? I can slice off their nipples if I think nipples are evil, becuase they're my kids' nipples?
It's not just about what you want. Names used to be something that had MEANING. They used to be something that had to do with family, with culture, with a certain meaning...it was supposed to portray strength, or beauty, or perhaps signify where the child came from.
It isn't about "OOOH THIS IS OMFG PRETTY SO LET'S NAME OUR KID THIS. YAAAY." This is a HUMAN BEING. Not your My Little Pony doll, or your puppy.

What? Giving your kid a name and doing something as stupid as what you say are two different things.

My real name is Jade, which originated in Spain, and I am 0% spanish. When I talk online, everyone assumes that I am asian and are shocked to find out that I am white. My dad named me Jade just because he liked it. Parents can name their kids whatever they feel like. It's their choice and if what OTHER PEOPLE choose to name THEIR kids bothers you then you need a new hobby. A guy at work is named Bunny. Most would find that odd but if that is what his parents wanted than who cares? It's not affecting you. People like different things and though they may sound weird to others, it's their choice and if they are happy with it then who are anyone else to say otherwise? You're argument is just plain stupid. You're comparing naming a kid to doing violent things to them.

[AnimeGuru0]

ADMIN MODE

SAILOR JUPITER

You REALLY stepped over the boundaries there. You do NOT insult someone else arguments. Tiff did not insult yours, she merely disagreed with you.

And for that matter, you were missing her whole point. Her point was that giving a child a name that they will be MOCKED over for years to come is as emotionally damaging as the things she mentioned are physically damaging.

You need to show MUCH more respect to other users and ESPECIALLY mods. You have officially been warned. Go and read the rules. End of conversation (ie - don't respond to this message).

BACK ON TOPIC.

[peachvampiress]

SailorJupiter

What? Giving your kid a name and doing something as stupid as what you say are two different things.

My real name is Jade, which originated in Spain, and I am 0% spanish. When I talk online, everyone assumes that I am asian and are shocked to find out that I am white. My dad named me Jade just because he liked it. Parents can name their kids whatever they feel like. It's their choice and if what OTHER PEOPLE choose to name THEIR kids bothers you then you need a new hobby. A guy at work is named Bunny. Most would find that odd but if that is what his parents wanted than who cares? It's not affecting you. People like different things and though they may sound weird to others, it's their choice and if they are happy with it then who are anyone else to say otherwise? You're argument is just plain stupid. You're comparing naming a kid to doing violent things to them.

Some people care because children can get beaten up for having a ridiculous name. And just because you give your kids an exotic sounding name, doesn't mean people will call them by it. When I was in grade four their was a girl named Depindar. No one could pronounce her name, so we all called her D.P., even the teacher. She HATED being called D.P., but we did it anyway because we were kids and we thought "Depindar" was a retarded name for a kid and because we couldn't say it.

If you want to name your kids something ridiculous fine. But when they get teased or beaten up at school, remember it's your fault that they're suffering.

[SailorJupiter]

I do know that there are some people that give their kids stupid names but sadly society is rotten. Kids beating up other kids because of a name isn't justified. It's plain dumb and I feel sad that it happens and people shouldn't sink to such a low. A name is a name and parents do have the right to name their kid and eventually when the kid gets old enough and wants to change it then he/she can go right ahead. Some kids have names that might be considered stupid to some people but they like it.
I don't even know what to say about the above. How ridiculous. It doesn't make sense. Oh I get it, because she's a mod she can insult me in various threads but when I insult her comparison it's ok. Ohhhhh. Right. Anyways, I'm tired of arguing because of her and having her bodyguards pop up to her defense so I'll let it be. I'd like to get things back on topic and I apologize to the other members for getting off topic. It shall not happen again.

[AnimeGuru0]

Sailor Jupiter. Consider yourself tempoarily banned for one month. Ban to be lifted April 17th 2005.

You do NOT talk to me NOR any other mod like that, nor do you just IGNORE what a mod says. When i say DO NOT REPLY you DO NOT REPLY. It's that freaking simple.

NOBODY INSULTED YOU. Period. Until you get that through your skull you wont make it very far in life.

back on topic please.

EDIT: After your last little comment, consider yourself permanently banned. Good riddance. I'll be glad to never see you around here again.

[LilEva]

...I haven't seen a single John in the pre-k I work in the entire year I've worked there.

I'm NOT kidding.

These names AREN'T around anymore. That's my point. There are little to no traditional, strong family names left. They're all "unique" and "shiny" and "pretty" and "omfg soooo cool cuz that's what i wanna name my kid".

Something is lost when you put random letters together and go "hey..that sounds cool". Something is lost when you slap an anime character's name on a kid becuase you thought the anime kicked ass.

Something is lost when names just don't have any meaning anymore.

Ah, I see now. My view is from my own perspective, growing up in classes with three or more Johns, and currently in classes with 2 Jons. You have a more up to date perspective, since you are currently teaching. I know it must have been hard for my teachers to pronounce my name and I don't blame them for mispronouncing them. That's why I developed my way of pronouncing my own name when I heard the pause. I hoped that it saved them the trouble of trying to say my name, although it might have been rude to interrupt them.

[Akarui Kibuno]

This thread took an interesting turn

I would have loved to give my children some names, but they are already in my family. Example for girls: my mother is named Annette, my first sister Laure, my second sister Héloïse, my third sister Delphine (almost sounds like dolphin, yup ) and my fourth sister Camille. I love those names can't think of Sandrine, of course, cause that would be me XD .

For now, we have chosen the name Raphaël(le) for our first child, cause as you can see, it can be used for both genders. After that, we can't really agree. . I wanted a girl named Aurèle (I had derived that name from an existing one, Aurélie, when I found out it actually existed!) but my fiancé doesn't like it at all. Other than that, we don't really know.

As for the stupid names issue, well, in France, there actually ARE laws to protect the children from being given really stupid names.

There was a story a few years ago with the name "Renault". As some of you may know, this is a famous car brand in France. Well, a couple with that name had a girl and wanted to call her Mégane (which is actually a perfectly fine name by itself) . Problem is: a model of said car brand had the same name at the time @_@ . I thin the car brand had a lawsuit because of that or something, and I was sorry for the parents cause "Mégane" is a lovely name T_T

Other than that, I think you can actually start off with whatever name you want, and then there are some people from the social services or something that check for the "accuracy" of the name you have chosen. While it sometimes prevents you from giving a bit of a more exotic (though not over-exotic as proven by Tiff) name, it sure as heck prevents you from being overly stupid.

There's even a part of the law that says that names not authorized are (translation) : "names with a ridiculous spelling/pronounciation, offensive, hard to bear because of their complexity (spelling ^^;; ? ) or linked to a "bad" historical character". They give, as an example, the fact that a Hitler wouldn't be accepted, but a DeGaulle would. (Though that would still sound very weird as a first name o.O ...)

I wouldn't mind having been called with an anime character's name provided there's something close in my culture. For example, dub names, when they're not too weird (like, does the name Lita exist ?) can be great, like Amy, for example . Other than that, I completely agree with the fact that you can't name your child Sakura if you're not Asian, because uniqueness and all is very good, but as you said, names were made in certain places, times and cultures for a reason .

EDIT: Forgot something weird I found out while in vacation... I have a cousin who had two girls. And... the first one is named Amy and the second, Louna (take off the o and...) ...

[Umino]

Do you really think a little boy wants to go around being called "Fiore", when a) he doesn' t know WTF it even means (flower. you're naming your BOY "FLOWER". Very masculine), and b) when he DOES find out what it means, in high school, he's going to want to kick your ass? Do you think he's going to have a fun time EXPLAINING to people where the hell he got the name Fiore when his parents aren't Italian? (I'm under the assumption that the person who posted this name is not Italian, as Fiore is an Italian name that means flower).

Personally, I've always liked the name from a family friend of mine. He's Italian, and his name is Fiore. (I am too Italian)

But I agree with alot of points you bring up. I really wouldn't like to name a child after an anime character. Yes, I know I put down 'Honey' as one of the names I liked. But would 'Honey' be as bad as naming your son 'Goku' or 'Gourry'? or your AMERICAN DAUGHTER 'Usagi' or 'Bulma'?

[Sailorasteroid]

So here's my question to all the supporters of normal names only: exactly what *can* I name as I see fit? Is it permissible to change my own name to, say, Takeshi or Makoto? If I buy a building can I call it the Anime Centre?

My point is this: at some point, if not with kids, then with something, what the person wants should be the only thing that matters. In some way, a person should be able to say to the world "I'm an anime fan and that defines me as a person!" I think naming a kid after a character is a great way to do it. In any case I'm undeterred in my intent, and for the rest of you who are naming kids after characters, I hope you'll stick to your guns as well.

[Tiff]

Ah, I see now. My view is from my own perspective, growing up in classes with three or more Johns, and currently in classes with 2 Jons. You have a more up to date perspective, since you are currently teaching. I know it must have been hard for my teachers to pronounce my name and I don't blame them for mispronouncing them. That's why I developed my way of pronouncing my own name when I heard the pause. I hoped that it saved them the trouble of trying to say my name, although it might have been rude to interrupt them.

Exactly! Thank you, LilEva, for understanding part of my point.

My point is this: at some point, if not with kids, then with something, what the person wants should be the only thing that matters. In some way, a person should be able to say to the world "I'm an anime fan and that defines me as a person!" I think naming a kid after a character is a great way to do it. In any case I'm undeterred in my intent, and for the rest of you who are naming kids after characters, I hope you'll stick to your guns as well.

.....Becuase anime is A HOBBY, not a way of life! It's as much a hobby as cross-stitching, or collecting stamps, or fly fishing. Should a fisherman name his son "Large-mouthed bass" or "Trout" becuase he wants to say "I'M A FISHERMAN AND THAT DEFINES ME AS A PERSON"? THINK about that.

Anime is NOT something one should live their life around. It's a hobby, something that entertains you as you go through life. So I completely disgaree that naming your kid after an anime character "is a great way to do it".

Personally, I've always liked the name from a family friend of mine. He's Italian, and his name is Fiore. (I am too Italian)

But I agree with alot of points you bring up. I really wouldn't like to name a child after an anime character. Yes, I know I put down 'Honey' as one of the names I liked. But would 'Honey' be as bad as naming your son 'Goku' or 'Gourry'? or your AMERICAN DAUGHTER 'Usagi' or 'Bulma'?

YOu do have my sincere apologies for the "Fiore" thing, then. I was working under the assumption (as I stated in my very first post) that you were not Italian, and that you had gotten the name solely from Sailor moon.

And thank you for understanding my points. No, "Honey" wouldn't be quite as bad as "Goku" or "Gourry", being that "Honey" is actually a legitimate, older name. It's simply that I pity your child for the sheer and utter teasing she'll probably go through.

[Sailorasteroid]

My point is this: at some point, if not with kids, then with something, what the person wants should be the only thing that matters. In some way, a person should be able to say to the world "I'm an anime fan and that defines me as a person!" I think naming a kid after a character is a great way to do it. In any case I'm undeterred in my intent, and for the rest of you who are naming kids after characters, I hope you'll stick to your guns as well.

.....Becuase anime is A HOBBY, not a way of life! It's as much a hobby as cross-stitching, or collecting stamps, or fly fishing. Should a fisherman name his son "Large-mouthed bass" or "Trout" becuase he wants to say "I'M A FISHERMAN AND THAT DEFINES ME AS A PERSON"? THINK about that.

Anime is NOT something one should live their life around. It's a hobby, something that entertains you as you go through life. So I completely disgaree that naming your kid after an anime character "is a great way to do it".

Then what do you think one should live their life around, if it's not the things a person likes? Is it equally wrong for a Friends fan to name their child Joey or Monica? For a baseball fan to name their son George Herman? For a devout Christian to name their daughter Mary? If the objection is whether the name will be so unusual that it will give the child problems, then I see your point, I just think it doesn't outweigh the parent's desire to express themselves.

If, OTOH, your objection is that people shouldn't be that dedicated as to want to express themselves that way, then I vehemently disagree. Personally, I respect much more a person who dedicates their life to enjoying themselves through entertainment and hobby than a person who spends it all on raising a family, working, or "helping the world." It's the latter group I think needs to "get a life." But in actuality, it's no one's place to tell others how they should live. So if a job and family is your life goal, then I say more power to you, but it's not mine.