I'm not black, but I find this post really interesting. I know that it's really common in Hong Kong for "less aware" Chinese to take weird names like Apple Chan or (get ready for this) Casino Wong. This isn't just an occurance in children born in the late 80s and beyond, but also in adults who don't have a western name. Usually, those with parents educated in English speaking schools would have "normal" names. Sometimes, even those with normal names only have short, or nicknames. My cousin is Mandy. Just Mandy, not Amanda.

Here's a link of odd names from Hong Kong:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/3175/

Re: Re: Try This One
 

Adia is my daughter's 1st name, although we call her by her middle name (Jade). Had a hard time coming up with another name, although we knew we were gonna go with Jade. Hubby and I had thought about Jasmine, but we knew of too many already, so Jade it was!

She's been called everything from Ada, to Ah-dee-a to A-dee-a and probably a few others I can't remember.

Re: Re: Re: Try This One
 

Soror, how do you pronounce your daughter's name? I've always liked the Ah-dee-a (emphasis on second syllable) pronounciation.
I cringe at the thought of someone mispronouncing my child's name as Ada. No offense to those with the name Ada, but that just isn't how "Adia" is pronounced. Good gracious that "i" is there for a reason. :)

Adia Jade is pretty.
SC

Re: Re: Re: Re: Try This One
 

Thanks, Soror!

And that's how we pronounce it - with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable. Maybe if we had gone with "Hadiya" it would have been easier. At least I don't think anyone would have called her Ada.

Believe it or not, we also have problems with "Jade". We hear "Jay?" "Jane?" So she's gotten to where if someone asks that she says "Jade" (with much emphasis on that "D"!).

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Soror, that is so weird. Some people. Well, at least your daughter corrects them and makes sure that they get it right. :)
SC

LOL
 

What do you all think of these names?

Ka'torra / Ka'torera, Leonor, Aldeya, and Zahara

Re: LOL
 

Um. . . I'm just a plain ol' meat and potatoes kinda gal. . . they seem a little out there to me - but that's just me. The 1st name sounds like a variation of Keturah, which I think is a pretty name. From the Bible, that was Abraham's wife (after Sarah died).

Like the last name.

No comment on the others.

Your post triggered a little brain blip in me -- reminded me of Ms. Waverly Place Jong, one of the characters in the Joy Luck Club. Thanks for the explanation of how such names came about.

LOL
 

Ok, here are some more names: Zakyi, Marshaun, La'Vine, and La'ne. Although, these are some unique (:p) names, I still like the name Leonor, which is pronounced, La-nor :D

It's been over a year...
 

ttt