When I started learning Russian, I fell in love with Russian names, but for some reason I didn’t feel like using them myself, or adding them to my usual list of favourite names. It was more that I fantasised about a Russian alter ego who might use those names, if that makes sense!
This got me wondering - do other Berries think about the names they might use if they lived in a different part of the world? What names do you love from other cultures?
So in this thread, you can imagine that you’re from any spot on the globe, and choose names for your fantasy-family from that culture.
If I were Russian, I would name sons names like Eleferiy, Dmitriy, and Feofan, and daughters names like Anfisa, Agrafena, and [name_f]Feodora[/name_f].
If I were [name_m]German[/name_m], I would name a daughter [name_f]Margarethe[/name_f] “[name_f]Gretchen[/name_f]” and a son [name_m]Friedrich[/name_m] “[name_m]Fritz[/name_m]”.
If I were Chinese, I would choose names with gorgeous meanings like [name_f]Bai[/name_f] [name_f]Yue[/name_f] (白月) and Ai Ling (爱 ”).
If I were Irish, I’d use Fiadhnait, Aoibhnait, [name_m]Faolan[/name_m], and Fionnait.
I was watching a show set in [name_f]Africa[/name_f] with a Nigerian woman named Omowunmi. I think the name is absolutely beautiful but I am the furthest thing from Nigerian. I think a lot of Mongolian names are really pretty too, like Sarangerel and Baljidmaa.
I am of Nigerian descent and my favourite name is of Igbo origin -" Anyaora" which means "Eye of the people’. It’s so beautiful that Godwilling I have a daughter one day, that would be her first or second name.
My favourite boys name is [name_m]Amir[/name_m] which means “prince” in Arabic, native to many arabic-speaking countries. I love how regal yet soft it sounds.
I’m in favour of actually using names from other cultures, so if I love a name so much, I might just use them regardless of the origin.
But anyway, I’m of chinese descent and my name is [name_f]Zhen[/name_f] [name_f]Mei[/name_f] (”美), meaning beautiful pearl or beautiful treasure/precious. I do think of giving my future kids two name combos like I have myself, but haven’t really decided on any of the chinese ones yet. I previously thought of Jiao Ai, meaning loving, but not really sure yet.
Welsh - I’d use [name_m]Llywelyn[/name_m], [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] and [name_f]Myfanwy[/name_f].
[name_m]French[/name_m]… Well, I’ve already got a lot of french names on my list, but I guess I’d add even more with accents. Séraphine, Aurélie, Léon, Frédéric, etc.
Scandinavian - I’d use [name_m]Leif[/name_m] and [name_m]Lars[/name_m], Freyja (this spelling) and Svala.