Using a name from another culture / cultural appropriation

[Anonymous]

This is an offshoot of a thread that's currently in the "expectant moms" forum about the name Khalil. There's a small debate going on over there about white/european people using names of other cultures and whether or not this is ok or disrespectful. In this case the name is not just any Arabic name but is the name of a famous poet, Khalil Gibran. The child would be named after the poet but would not have any family or ethnic connection to the poet.

So I wanted to open up the discussion here, not specifically around the name Khalil but about naming children names that are from cultures that are not the parents' cultures. Is this cultural appropriation and/or is it "bad"?

I guess this isn't exactly "political" but I figured people looking at the "political" board might have interesting perspective about culture.

[Anonymous]

I think it's definitely weird and borderline cultural appropriation, particularly for those who have absolutely no ties to the culture in question.

[Anonymous]

There is so much cultural crossover with names that how can you definitievley "claim" a name? Katherine/Ekaterina/Katya/Catalina...Mary/Maria/Marie...
John/Yohann/Juan/Jean...

[Anonymous]

I'm a black woman who responded to that post with "Gorgeous name!!!" and have no problem whatsoever with any male child being given this name.

Isn't this a case though, where only those from the originating culture (Arab/Muslim) have anything meaningful to say?

I mean, what does it matter that it doesn't bother me?

[Anonymous]

it's being a culture vulture aka cultural appropriation.

It's like if i were to name my kid Akira after one of the greatest film makers of all time.

I'm not japanese and no one in my family is.

That said, I think you have more leeway of naming a daughter with a name outside of your culture. Especially if she turns out to be cute, fun, and a free spirit. She can get away with it.

A boy can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a black woman who responded to that post with "Gorgeous name!!!" and have no problem whatsoever with any male child being given this name.

Isn't this a case though, where only those from the originating culture (Arab/Muslim) have anything meaningful to say?

I mean, what does it matter that it doesn't bother me?

Interesting, I feel similarly but I am also not from that culture. How would you feel if the poet's name was a name that was predominantly used in a culture that you do identify with?

[Anonymous]

Let's never use math. Or listen to jazz. Or read "One Thousand and One Nights." Or send another person to the moon. Or stage a production of "La Traviata." Or eat sushi. Or dance the polka. Or bake spanikopita. Or watch "Downton Abby." Or celebrate the Mass. Or use Latin medical terms.

Because that would be cultural appropriation.

[Anonymous]

My children have one name for each of their direct ethnic origins. They look like they belong to just one ethnicity in particular, so most people probably wonder a bit when they give out the first name they use, which doesn't visibly correspond to their face!

I could not care less. Go right ahead and use a name you love.

[Anonymous]

As a person of Irish descent, I would have no problem with a person naming their child any Gaelic name they want. I would even enjoy that they found the name and language beautiful enough to name their child something Gaelic or traditionally Irish.

I see nothing wrong with this practice at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's never use math. Or listen to jazz. Or read "One Thousand and One Nights." Or send another person to the moon. Or stage a production of "La Traviata." Or eat sushi. Or dance the polka. Or bake spanikopita. Or watch "Downton Abby." Or celebrate the Mass. Or use Latin medical terms.

Because that would be cultural appropriation.

This.

[Anonymous]

Naming a child after a favorite poet constitutes a personal connection. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Naming a child after a favorite poet constitutes a personal connection. It's fine.

Must there be a personal connection? Why can't they just simply like the name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's never use math. Or listen to jazz. Or read "One Thousand and One Nights." Or send another person to the moon. Or stage a production of "La Traviata." Or eat sushi. Or dance the polka. Or bake spanikopita. Or watch "Downton Abby." Or celebrate the Mass. Or use Latin medical terms.

Because that would be cultural appropriation.

This.

This. We are beyond ridiculous with "cultural appropriation"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Naming a child after a favorite poet constitutes a personal connection. It's fine.

Must there be a personal connection? Why can't they just simply like the name?

Right. No one bats an eye when a couple names their kid Mary or Grace, even if the couple is neither white nor Christian (which these names imply). Why is that ok but naming your white, black, or Asian kid Khalil is not? I might think it's a little odd or silly but I think it's really reaching for anyone to be offended in any way. I am Jewish and I don't get offended at the recent trend of non-Jews naming their kids Asher and Levi. I wonder at it, but only for about 5 seconds.

[Anonymous]

What about an American Indian name? Say, if I named my son Geronimo or Pochahantas or Tisquantum? Ok, now what if I got a bulldog and named him Sitting Bull?

Once -- true story -- I met a black pug who went by Marty, and whose actual name was Martin Luther King.

I'm just trying to understand where the line is here, I honestly don't have an answer or an agenda. I do sense, though, that an Asian atheist naming her daughter "Grace" is going to be received differently than a white woman naming her son Geronimo.