Unfamiliar Name

[Marilyn. 340]

who is the moron?

don't you mean maroon??

[Scott & Lai 12]

I'm always caught off guard when I meet someone who is obviously from another culture (Asian, Mexican, Nigerian, whatever) and they say their name is "Tom" or "Charlie" or "Scott". Why do people want to replace a name like "Bao-yu" with "Betty"? Why not at least "Jade"? I prefer the traditional names...it links the person to their culture.

Lai adopted the name "Lily" when she was in Hong Kong, and that was the first name I knew her by. I've used her Chinese name ever since I learned it, because that was the name she was born with; it's part of who she is. Funny thing, her family and friends in Hong Kong all call her "Lily", but my family and our friends here all call her "Lai"

[GabiandVi 34]

Is it possible he could simply have liked your name and really had not heard it before? I know personal comments to strangers are not considered polite, but not everyone realizes this. There are some people who comment about names the way they might comment about a cool car, and they mean no disrespect. Of course, I don't know the context, just thought it was possible that the comment was actually meant as a compliment.

It's very offensive to the person who have that name. Sure, it's understandable to not know it. But to make a comment like they never heard that name before means that the name is weird or something.

A name is a name. No inquiries. If it has meaning to the person, don't make ridiculous comments.

I find it very offensive when I'm the minority and people would always say, "i never heard of a name before." Step into my shoes. Then, you need to explain that " I'm Asian " all the time. Doesn't my skin color or physique show that I'm Asian.

You were there and perhaps there was something in his tone or body language that offended you, but where I come from, it is considered a compliment to say that your name is not common. My name wasn't common where I live when I was growing up. It is much more common now, and that disappoints me.

[GabiandVi 34]

I'm always caught off guard when I meet someone who is obviously from another culture (Asian, Mexican, Nigerian, whatever) and they say their name is "Tom" or "Charlie" or "Scott". Why do people want to replace a name like "Bao-yu" with "Betty"? Why not at least "Jade"? I prefer the traditional names...it links the person to their culture.

I know what you mean.I used to know this girl named Candida,she actually paid to have her name legally changed to Candy.What a nut.

I have to say I don't blame her. I would probably be pretty stressed about that name. It's the scientific word for yeast and is the medical diagnosis for a yeast infection.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Is it possible he could simply have liked your name and really had not heard it before? I know personal comments to strangers are not considered polite, but not everyone realizes this. There are some people who comment about names the way they might comment about a cool car, and they mean no disrespect. Of course, I don't know the context, just thought it was possible that the comment was actually meant as a compliment.

It's very offensive to the person who have that name. Sure, it's understandable to not know it. But to make a comment like they never heard that name before means that the name is weird or something.

A name is a name. No inquiries. If it has meaning to the person, don't make ridiculous comments.

I find it very offensive when I'm the minority and people would always say, "i never heard of a name before." Step into my shoes. Then, you need to explain that " I'm Asian " all the time. Doesn't my skin color or physique show that I'm Asian.

You were there and perhaps there was something in his tone or body language that offended you, but where I come from, it is considered a compliment to say that your name is not common. My name wasn't common where I live when I was growing up. It is much more common now, and that disappoints me.

Not that my name is unusual, but I have had friends whose names were, and they loved it when someone would say, 'oh! What a delightful name you have, so unusual!'

[PinayAko 0]

My real name is Ivory. Everytime people ask my name, I told them its Ivory, and i already expecting people to say " is that your real name?" (it seems like they cant beleieve thats my name) or they will sing the song " Ebony and Ivory"... sometimes it offends me but sometimes i just take it as a compliment and laugh at them. I know i dont look like Ivory with light skin, iam actually more like Ebony....LOL

[DeadPoolX 9]

My wife's name is somewhat unusual and people tend to both spell and pronounce it incorrectly. It's really not a difficult name, so I don't see what the problem is, either. I'm not saying this because I know how to spell and pronounce it. When I first met her, I didn't think her name was hard to deal with, yet it seems to be for a lot of people.

[PlatyPius 5]

No one here can pronounce Mags' name properly; and in NO way can they spell it.

[tom&tata 2]

I can understand people who change to/take Western name esp for first name. I have Indonesian name, and lost count of how many times people butcher my name trying to pronounce it, especially the last name. I laugh it off but I imagine there are people who do not like it.

Edited May 1, 2008 by tom&tata

[almaty 19]

my real name is dickhead.......i changed it to Dean in the 8th grade,,,,

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

No one here can pronounce Mags' name properly; and in NO way can they spell it.

"mags" don't seem too hard to spell or say

[MissStacey 1]

No one here can pronounce Mags' name properly; and in NO way can they spell it.

I have seen her name on here "Sian" if I remember correctly. I'm not sure myself how to pronounce it. Is it pronounced "Shaun" or "See-an"? Or something else entirely?

[churipu 4]

What exactly is offensive in saying that your name is not common and that the person never heard of it? As a matter of fact if you have an Asian name it is probably indeed uncommon in the US and the person might really have never heard about it. It's not like they called you names or said that it sucked, is it? Or am I missing something to the story?

Edited May 1, 2008 by churipu

[Nizzy 1]

I wish I had a common name. My name gets warped so much it makes me wanna scream. Even after I tell people my name they mispronounce it. It really isn't that hard but it gets butchered. Well let me tell you what I do, I mispronounce their name. In highschool I purposely mispronounced my art teachers name because he couldn't get my name right.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

No one here can pronounce Mags' name properly; and in NO way can they spell it.

I have seen her name on here "Sian" if I remember correctly. I'm not sure myself how to pronounce it. Is it pronounced "Shaun" or "See-an"? Or something else entirely?

It's more like Shaan/Shahn, and it's a Welsh name.