Ethnic or Americanized names???

So our last name is VERY Italian and 4 syllables. I was talking with my godmom and telling her the names we vetoed already. I am not telling family or friends the names we like b/c I don't want the aggravation!

So she saids to be "you dont want an ethnic name since you do live in America afterall. besides that last name of yours is ethnic enough!"

I got offended, justifiably so I think, but I started to worry b/c the names we do like a lot are some-what italian.
Salvatore Michael OR Nicholas Anthony
Gabrielle Donna OR Francesca Lynn

In this day and age can your name really be too ethnic? I went my entire life with a Greek first name, a very "normal" but Italian middle name and one of the most popular Spanish last names on earth. I'm semi-normal.

I'm I just being overly sensitive or does she had a point?

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

i love the names you picked and dont think they are too "ethnic" at all.

i wouldnt take what she says to heart.. people give their "opinions" all the time.. and if i ever told you what my dad thinks of opinions you prob. pee your pants!

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

This is why we stopped telling people names we like...I was the opposite, I picked more American names and our parents would sometimes make comments about how they're so blah

so instead we stopped sharing names we like.....if you just tell them the baby's name when baby is BORN, they'll have to just deal with it, otherwise they make a face/comment and you don't want to think about that after baby is born, KWIM?

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

We are going with an ethnic name. I don't see anything wrong with it at all. This is your child, are YOU are naming them, not your godmother. I think the names you picked are lovely

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

i struggle with this as well., but in a different way as my child's name will be from two cultures. the first name and middle names will be from my culture (and half of DH's) and the last name will be DH's other half.

my parents are immigrants, but gave me and siblings very Americanized names because they worried about the ethnic names from their country being mispronounced, etc. Now, I want to name my baby names from their country as does my husband.... I think my parents would love it too as they didn't do it with us and they think ethnic names are more "accepted" now in the States.

I am a little worried about this only because the first names we want are SO irish, but our last name is SO italian....and they just don't go!!!! at least your names are reflective of the one culture so it's not too confusing! i say go for it !!!!

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

I love the names you picked out.

We choose names we like but made them more ethic by the spelling of them. People always butcher DD's name and some people think *I* spelt it wrong while other people love the way I spelled it.

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

I am using a fairly ethnic name for . I think in this day and age where we live (tristate area) there are so many children with all kinds of different ethnic names that it really doesn;t matter. I would go for it!

Message edited 5/17/2009 9:13:14 AM.

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

my dh and I both have Israeli names and although we hated them growing up we think it had a part in making us more interested in our culture and just learning where we come from which is important to us. Hopefully our kids won't hate us too much for giving them one. lol. Its tough though to pick an ethnic name that people won't make fun of and won't have a hard time pronouncing... but all that really matters is that you and your dh like the name. After way too many opinions from people we decided to keep the boys name to ourselves.
I think the names you have are really nice and not too ethnic at all btw!!

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

DH is Israeli and I want to recognize this baby's heritage, so we've chosen very ethnic names (Yael for a girl, Yotam for a boy). Has anyone ever told your godmom that America is a salad bowl, not a melting pot? It's about rejoicing in your heritage, not letting it fall by the wayside.

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We will be using fairly ethnic names. I like these names because not alot of people use them

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

Not pregnant, but thought I would give my two sense. My husband and I decided that one child would have a biblical name (in honor of my Jewish heritage) and our next child would have a more tradititional ye olde worlde British type name in honor of his. He is from viking stock, but Helga is definitely out.

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

I personally have no problem with it. However, to offer a different perspective, my DH has a very Italian (although fairly common on LI) first name and a very long Italian last name. He is half Italian and half Irish. DH absolutely HATES his name. He feels it is not an adequate representation of his background, he feels pigeon-holed because of it etc. etc. I think he overreacts to it but he wishes he could change it.

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

DH originally wanted Seamus but after people hearing his choice, they all flipped out saying he's gonna get his @$$ kicked, it's horrible, etc i told DH i just couldn't do that to him even though I do like the name. we ended up going with Declan which is still pretty ethnic but I think it's becoming more well known. I've heard some crap for that name too but for the most part everyone likes it. I wish I could just say "who gives a sh!t" and name him Seamus, but I just can't. :( the names you picked out are yes, ethnic, but not something that I haven't heard alot! they're gorgeous names. go for it, screw everyone else

Re: Ethnic or Americanized names???

do what YOU want to do.

for me personally, i don't like ethnic names. it's my personal preference. i have a very ethnic last name, and i don't share that heritage. when DH told me he wanted an ethnic first name to match the last name, i absolutely vetoed it because it doesn't represent who i am. i want an american/traditional name for my children. do what you're comfortable with.