• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Unusual "English / Latin" names I've come across working retail

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
Working in an all Chinese mall this past year I've come across quite a few unusual chosen English names. Most Chinese living here either choose an English name of their own or more often their parents give them an English name. Common ones are:

Kevin and Kelvin for some reason
David
Scott
Raymond
Simon

You see these names (and others) chosen again and again and again. However I've come to realize that some people like to choose fairly unusual names. I can only remember 4 right now but I'll post more if I remember more.

Algernon
Vulcan
Aphrodite
Apollinaire
 
Last edited:
Just look at the names Hong Kong stars pick for themselves. Not yet porn star names but close. Jesus...
 
AFurryReptile said:
I met somebody named Olubunkanala. No joke. They called her "O".
Click to expand...

Sounds African maybe. May not be unusual at all where she comes from. I'm thinking more of borrowed or chosen names that sound strange in English but ARE English or Latin or something similar as opposed to names from another language that may be common in that language.
 
I just served a Herman and a Marijean a few mins ago, which aren't unusual names but don't seem to fit a Chinese person.
 
There's a guy working here who speaks perfect English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish. He grew up somewhere in South America I believe. It's always interesting to hear him speak perfect Spanish as the guy looks mostly Chinese. His facebook posts are in Spanish a lot of the time too. lol
 
here are some of the ones people at work have chosen as their english names:

Larry
Gina
Rachel (3 women had this one and 2 had the same last name)
Mimi
David

personally, i prefered their chinese names.
 
blackdogdeek said:
here are some of the ones people at work have chosen as their english names:

Larry
Gina
Rachel (3 women had this one and 2 had the same last name)
Mimi
David

personally, i prefered their chinese names.
Click to expand...

Are you Chinese? I'm 1/2 but look about 90% white.
 
Ohh and on the topic .... Gary, Gloria, Nancy, Cathy, Annie, Steven ... Chinese coworkers who took American names

Also worked with a Piotr who changed his name to Peter, and a Leonid who changed his name to just Leo.
 
Common newcomers or their first children:
Albert
Henry
Jason
C/Selina
K/Cathy
Patricia

in my circle and related I've seen some non-usual names. Logo, Hunter, Pablo, Spike. My name itself isn't the typical, it's from roman origin.
 
BurnItDwn said:
Ohh and on the topic .... Gary, Gloria, Nancy, Cathy, Annie, Steven ... Chinese coworkers who took American names

Also worked with a Piotr who changed his name to Peter, and a Leonid who changed his name to just Leo.
Click to expand...

Leonid is kind of cool actually. Though I guess it would get tiring having to explain yourself all the time.
 
Locut0s said:
Leonid is kind of cool actually. Though I guess it would get tiring having to explain yourself all the time.
Click to expand...

Yah, I call him Leonid, its a cool name, but, some people have trouble with it so he just goes by Leo to keep it simple...

Another guy Przemszlaw went by "Percy" .... (I may have misspelled his "proper" name, my apologies to anybody who knows the correct way to spell it.)
 
lxskllr said:
Why do they do that? I think I'd want to anglicize my Chinese name if I came over.
Click to expand...

Names in Chinese culture are very important and take on a different role than in English. In English we usually just want to choose a short name that sounds nice. Names in English tend not to have any secondary meaning, John is just that John. In Chinese names are often chosen for their secondary meaning as well as something that sounds nice. So names that bring to mind peace, beauty, wealth, success, luck, etc are much more common. Which doesn't mean these names sound strange in Chinese, usually they don't. Usually when choosing an English name Chinese people WILL anglicize their names so you get the Davids, Kevins, Simons etc etc... (By this I mean they will chose a common English name that sounds a LITTLE like their Chinese name, not actual Anglicization). But sometimes I think they choose a name with a similar method as they do with their Chinese names. Vulcan sounds strong and masculine for example. A trait they might want to emphasis or wish for.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top