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Chinese using "American" names

kranky

kranky

Elite Member
We have quite a few people at work from different countries, but some of the ones from China adopt an "American" name. On an office it will have the Chinese name, and underneath that it might say "Anna Green" or "Dennis Rose".

Why do they do this and how do they decide on the American name?
 
I'm sure they just choose it and just stick with it. I don't know why they do it. Perhaps they want to feel like an American citizen like you and I.
 
My girlfriends original name was Tsu Yee.. or something.. I think she was given the american name Julie because they sound alike.

I could be completely wrong though.. maybe she will post later.

As for why they do it.. because us stupid white people cant pronounce names with lots of z's and x's..
 
Originally posted by: kranky
We have quite a few people at work from different countries, but some of the ones from China adopt an "American" name. On an office it will have the Chinese name, and underneath that it might say "Anna Green" or "Dennis Rose".

Why do they do this and how do they decide on the American name?
Click to expand...

hm i've never seen this. I've seen people choosing a first western name, but never a last... that's odd.
 
I've noticed that pretty much all of the waitstaff and chefs at Benihana have "American" names, even if it's clear that English is their second language. I always wonder if this is company policy.
 
We deal with the Russian and Indian names, and we could manage the Chinese ones also. I'm certain no one is asking them to adopt American names.
 
My parents are from China and both my brother and I were born in North America so they gave us "Americanized" names... which I prefer. I'd rather not have a name made from throwing pots and pans down the stairs.. 😛
 
interesting, never seen such a thing.

i think the chinese in general value their surname greatly, and i find it odd that they would change to a western one
 
I can understand the first name change, but the last name? hmmm....interesting.
The reason why I changed my first name was because in Korean tradition, sibling will have the same first name and differnt middle names...don't ask me why.
When we moved to the states, we kept getting mistaken for each other, because of the same first names....I got it changed legally when I got my citizenship.
Also another reason is that some people just don't get it...

ie. 1
Me: "Hi, my name is Chong."
People: "Nice to meet you Charles."
ie. 2
My Cousin: "My name is Min and I'll be your waiter today..."
People: "Hey, Ben can you get me some more tea?.."

That Ben thing always get me laughing....muuhahahahahhaaha
 
A guy i worked with before had both an american first name and a chinese name...he said his grandfather decided what their american name would be and he was the one that gave them american names.
 
I worked with a guy from China who changed his name to Joel. He named his son Kenneth. His last name was a short 2 letter name andhe explained how we wanted his sons first name to be longer sounding than the last name. Thats why is was chosen.
 
Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
My parents are from China and both my brother and I were born in North America so they gave us "Americanized" names... which I prefer. I'd rather not have a name made from throwing pots and pans down the stairs.. 😛
Click to expand...

LOL - I thought it was eating utensils, but so be it.
 
It makes it easier... for you and themselves... simple as that.

I do notice Chinese/Japanese/Koreans do take these common names moreso than people of Indian descent (sp?)... we have a lot of Indian names at work and I'd much rather they choose common names if they don't mind. Some of them are rather long and there's no way we can remember everyone... since we team a lot.

My English name was given to me by my great grandfather before I was born here in the states. I think he had some sort of sense of humor... naming my brother similarly, but not quite.
 
Why do people do this? Because it's hard to speak Chinese. Imagine your name was hard to say and EVERY FRICKEN day people would butcher your name. I'd change my name, too.
 
i'm half chinese/vietnamese and have always kept my name, van. never thought about changing it but people still have a hard time pronouncing it. some people say "von" like i'm dutch or something but its pronounced just like the automobile. maybe the 23+ years i've been here have killed my accent and plus i'm trying to learn an irish accent.
 
Originally posted by: kranky
We have quite a few people at work from different countries, but some of the ones from China adopt an "American" name. On an office it will have the Chinese name, and underneath that it might say "Anna Green" or "Dennis Rose".

Why do they do this and how do they decide on the American name?
Click to expand...

because it's a lot easier for the co-worker to pronounce their name in English
 
I've never seen changing of the family surname, but changing the first name is not uncommon. Why they do it I don't know, I wouldn't change my first name for anyone or anything.
 
My wife and I are friends with a Chinese couple. They go by Wilson and Jane for their first names, and they shortened their last name to Fong. They said it was easier for Americans to pronounce correctly than their birth names. Jane once told us her full name, and it was rather long.
 
This isn't just common in China. It's every Asian country. I went to Taiwan and Hong Kong last year on vacation and just about EVERYONE had an American name. What I find strange is that they choose names that are either too common or not common at all. I heard of this one guy who named himself "Hey-yo-n**ga" but I assure you he didn't know what that meant when he named himself that. :disgust:
 
I can understand if someone wants to change their name - but once they do, isn't that their name? Why use both?
 
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