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Help[Opinions] Juan
I was borned in Mexico and my name, Juan is one of my favorite names. It was a very popular name before the second world war, but then, humble families started to put English names to their sons!. I am not desagree with English names, but I think that it is bad to name your son like a famous person who is not originally from your country. About Juan, it is a popular name too, but i think that people have to stop doing that with their sons. If you like some Spanish names I will try to open a poll with the name: " Spanish or English names in Mexico" where you can vote. Thanks:)
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I think it is also important to consider whether or not you can just tell by looking at someone what their ethnicity is.
For example my daughter is technically Asian American, but she looks Hispanic to most people that live in my area. She has three names, her first name is French, her second name is Tagalog, her third name is Italian.
This is not just because we love the sound of many French names,
But we consider French to be one of the most common languages worldwide, and one of the most sophisticated by association. Therefore we find it to be a universal sound. Since we travel a lot, that is very important to us.
Her second name represents her Asian heritage because of the country my husband is from. Her third name represents my heritage which is Italian. Though I might be American, I'm one of only three people in my family who are.
So you see, just looking at someone you can't judge whether their name is a reflection of their ethnicity or heritage... or confiscated from another culture.
Though, I have to somewhat agree that names which represent specific cultures (like Juan) should be primarily used by people's of those cultures... But only based on linguistics. I don't believe any name should be appropriated for use by one certain group... But some names use phonetic styles that only make sense to certain groups. Like the j in Spanish... or the double ss in German.
For example my daughter is technically Asian American, but she looks Hispanic to most people that live in my area. She has three names, her first name is French, her second name is Tagalog, her third name is Italian.
This is not just because we love the sound of many French names,
But we consider French to be one of the most common languages worldwide, and one of the most sophisticated by association. Therefore we find it to be a universal sound. Since we travel a lot, that is very important to us.
Her second name represents her Asian heritage because of the country my husband is from. Her third name represents my heritage which is Italian. Though I might be American, I'm one of only three people in my family who are.
So you see, just looking at someone you can't judge whether their name is a reflection of their ethnicity or heritage... or confiscated from another culture.
Though, I have to somewhat agree that names which represent specific cultures (like Juan) should be primarily used by people's of those cultures... But only based on linguistics. I don't believe any name should be appropriated for use by one certain group... But some names use phonetic styles that only make sense to certain groups. Like the j in Spanish... or the double ss in German.
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I agree with Mirfak that it can seem awkward to use names outside of one's ethnic/country origins. I especially think it can sound a little strange to have two very country-specific names from different countries put together (not all the time, but sometimes - it depends on the name combinations and even the person themselves).
However, people these days seem to be more globally-minded than in the past. With television, the internet, traveling, and migration, people are using names from other cultures more often.
At the same time, people are also embracing names that are more culturally traditional and using traditional spellings (for example, the upsurge in people using the Gaelic spelling of Irish names instead of Anglicizing them).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
However, people these days seem to be more globally-minded than in the past. With television, the internet, traveling, and migration, people are using names from other cultures more often.
At the same time, people are also embracing names that are more culturally traditional and using traditional spellings (for example, the upsurge in people using the Gaelic spelling of Irish names instead of Anglicizing them).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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I'm not quite sure I completely understand. People choose names for lots of reasons, not just the language they're from. I know some Hondurans with English names, too. If you look at the popularity stats, you can see that some English names are popular in France. In a few years, maybe French or Polish names will be more popular.
What is it you want to stop, the English names or using Juan?
If you have a poll, people will vote if they like a name or not, not if it should be used in Mexico (or any country).
What is it you want to stop, the English names or using Juan?
If you have a poll, people will vote if they like a name or not, not if it should be used in Mexico (or any country).
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My favorite Spanish name is Ramón.
Other Spanish names I like: Pilar, Maricela, Francisco, Rodrigo, Estela, Fernanda, Xiomara. Most of them are probably dated, I guess.
I've seen American kids with no apparent Hispanic heritage (parents had English names and spoke English as their first, maybe only, language) named Diego, Ignacio, and Mateo. So maybe the cross-border naming goes both ways! I could never use Ramón - I'd have to put on an accent to say it right, haha. I'd use Raymond. I guess I feel sort of the same way you do, about naming too obviously outside your language heritage. Although I guess it means something different for a Mexican to use an English-language form of a name, than for a non-Hispanic American to use a Spanish-language form of a name.
You'll need to sign up for an account on this website to post a poll. (There's no spam associated with it - the site is privately owned and doesn't sell your email.) I'll vote, if you do :-)
Other Spanish names I like: Pilar, Maricela, Francisco, Rodrigo, Estela, Fernanda, Xiomara. Most of them are probably dated, I guess.
I've seen American kids with no apparent Hispanic heritage (parents had English names and spoke English as their first, maybe only, language) named Diego, Ignacio, and Mateo. So maybe the cross-border naming goes both ways! I could never use Ramón - I'd have to put on an accent to say it right, haha. I'd use Raymond. I guess I feel sort of the same way you do, about naming too obviously outside your language heritage. Although I guess it means something different for a Mexican to use an English-language form of a name, than for a non-Hispanic American to use a Spanish-language form of a name.
You'll need to sign up for an account on this website to post a poll. (There's no spam associated with it - the site is privately owned and doesn't sell your email.) I'll vote, if you do :-)
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