Okay here’s an example how do you guys feel when non [name_m]German[/name_m] people you [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] as a name does it matter or no. What I mean is names of certain cultures and or countries being used outside of the thing how does that make you guys feel? Does it matter or it does matter?
In my opinion, as long as 1) the name doesn’t have a significance in the origin culture 2) the origin culture isn’t an historically oppressed and assimilated one, it’s fine.
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First of all, thanks for asking this question. It’s always a good topic, and the fact that you’re even asking shows that you care about cultural sensitivity, unlike a lot of people.
This is a biggie!
I have two very different cultures – Māori & Icelandic. The former being a significantly oppressed group who have had land stolen by their oppressors. The latter, as far as I’m personally aware, has not faced any large-scale oppression throughout history. If someone was to come to me and ask if I thought it was alright for them to use an Icelandic name, I would say sure (even though I can’t speak on behalf of all Icelandics haha). However, if someone asked me about using a Māori name, I’d have a slightly longer answer.
Ultimately, I’d be okay with it, but I can’t speak for every single Māori person. That’s why the water is so murky about whether it’s okay to use names from oppressed cultures or not. Everyone has such a different opinion on the topic.
I actually wrote a blog post here on Nameberry that talks a little about this. Here is the link if you’re interested: Maori Names Take the Stage | Nameberry
If you don’t feel like reading through the whole thing, here is the section I wrote about cultural sensitivity:
Open to read!
Before naming your child something on this list, it is crucial to consider the significance these names hold to those of Māori heritage. Although it is acceptable to use a Māori name if you are Pākehā (European), proceed with care and respect.*
A Māori language expert, Tāwhirimātea Williams, says that the usage of Māori names can be a show of affection and respect to the Māori people. However, if a Pākehā wishes to use a Māori name, they must have a deep understanding of the history and the meaning behind those names.
*A brilliant example of this is New Zealand’s very own prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who in 2018 gave birth to a baby girl and named her Neve Te Aroha . She chose the name Te Aroha knowing the importance of the name in Māori culture, despite being Pākehā herself. As Māori language expert Williams explained: “She has shown us that she not only has affection for the Pākehā world but ours as well, hence her giving her baby that name.”
Long story short, it’s… Complicated. I think a lot of the time it comes down to the individual name, how popular it already is, whether it has personal meaning to you, what country you live in, etc. If you are ever unsure, it can be good to seek out someone who perhaps has some connection to the culture of the name you’re considering and get their personal opinion.
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It’s pretty funny to me when people consider [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] and [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] as they really are super dated in [name_u]Germany[/name_u] but I don’t mind at all. I only find it weird when people start using [name_m]German[/name_m] cities as names or random [name_m]German[/name_m] words/occupations as that’s just not done within [name_m]German[/name_m] naming.
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As a Russian, I feel OK when someone is considering or using Russian names. However, I find it funny when people use diminutives (or diminutives with suffices, which we have a great amount of) as full names. I think that we live in the world of globalization and it is OK if we borrow names from other cultures. Like, it is acceptable to use [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] if you are not Jewish or [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] if you are not from Greece, isn’t it?
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Literally Anja, Katja (both prn. with a y sound) & Sascha [m] being some of the most popular names that were used in the 1960s/70s in Germany… but we also don’t have a nickname culture, so if they hadn’t been used as full names they would have never been used!
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Generally speaking, I think it’s fine, though it depends on (1) what culture you’re borrowing from and (2) how the name would be perceived in your own culture/community.
I don’t see a huge issue with [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m], personally, but having a super-German name like Hans-Jürgen or something would probably seem odd if you’re not [name_m]German[/name_m]. There would also be pronunciation issues.
Studies have shown that job applicants who have names that are perceived as “non-white” or “foreign” are less likely to get job interviews… which is shocking and definitely something to be aware of.
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It depends on the culture and the name - I think.
Wolfgang is fine because it’s “just” a German name.
I’m Jewish and if someone used Esther I wouldn’t bat an eye. It’s sweet, familiar, etc. But Queen Esther’s Hebrew name is Hadassah. The reason she didn’t go by this was due to antisemitism and fear. So if someone who wasn’t Jewish used Hadassah because “that’s Esther’s Hebrew name” it wouldn’t feel quite right to me.
Everyone’s feelings about names in their own culture/religion will vary, though.
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You’re forgetting about Denmark 
Not that I’m comparing Danish rule over Iceland with the oppression the Maori people have suffered. But it’s something to keep in mind.
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[name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] doesn’t stick out to me as ‘German’, but then I’m not sure I’d use it for the [name_m]Mozart[/name_m] reference. As for other names, I think it’s OK as long it wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb from the rest of society.
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Some names do strike me as a little silly when they seem out of context. Mostly it just takes some getting used to and then it’s normal though. In my opinion it’s fine to use whatever name you like as long as its not a joke. Some people also have a much more defined cultural identity than others. On the most recent US census I had to come up with something random when asked about my heritage because I’m just American. I’m not anything else and why should I need to be?! (Sorry, random rant 
) I don’t feel like this limits me to “American” names and what names would that be anyway?
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This is such a great question 
Pre-warning, my answer might be a long one!
I attended an international school and I now teach at one. I have seen and heard names from a lot of different cultures. A lot of kids that I have known either growing up or now have had dual or even triple nationalities.
Using your example, if I heard a child with the name [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] and for example their surname was something that clearly wasn’t [name_m]German[/name_m], I would probably just naturally assume that the child had dual nationality even if they didn’t. So basically, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. But that’s due to the culture that I grew up in. I think that if I had lived in the country that I was born in and lived there for all of my life then I might have a different view.
Which leads me to my next point and I might be about to totally contradict what I have just said! [name_f]My[/name_f] mothers family is Welsh. Their first language is Welsh. I remember having a conversation with my Grandfather about Welsh names and the spelling of them. Now, I’m going to use the name [name_f]Bronwen[/name_f] for my example. I’ve noticed a trend where in order to possibly make the name look prettier or unique (correct me if I am wrong), people have been spelling it [name_f]Bronwyn[/name_f]. In Welsh, the wyn ending is masculine. So for me, I look at that spelling and think, 1) that’s not how that name is spelt and 2) why are you trying to change the spelling of a name, that has been spelt that way for centuries, just to make it ‘trendy’ if you have no relation to the Welsh culture?
That is basically me saying that you can change the spelling of a name if you are from the country where your child’s name comes from. Otherwise, I think that it might be seen as slightly disrespectful.
I’m going to stress that I am not hating on anyone, this is just my view on a few specific things. Name you child whatever you would like and spell it however you want but I do think that being aware of certain spellings are important in terms of using a name that might not necessarily be from your own culture.
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What happened with Iceland and [name_m]Denmark[/name_m]? If you are comfortable talking about it, can you PM me? I actually don’t know anything about it 
I know Iceland was Danish territory but not sure about anything else.
I probably shouldn’t speak on behalf of Icelandics now that I think about it — I barely speak the language anymore. 
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I’ve thought about this topic the last few days. I see the oppression argument coming up a lot, and I think people generally refer to cultures such as Maori, Aboriginals, Native Americans, First Nations, Jewish and any others I may have forgotten (if I missused any of these terms I apologize, [name_f]English[/name_f] is kinda hard sometimes). But my country is a tiny nation in southeastern Europe, yet it was also oppressed for so many years. The Habsburgs, Hungary, Venetian Republic, you name it. Our language banned in favor of [name_m]German[/name_m], Hungarian or Italian, people’s names changed to fit other languages, etc. We don’t, however, have many names we consider to be sacred in our culture or faith because we did convert to Christianity way back when. There is old Croatian and Slavic mythology, but I doubt anyone would be mad if you used these names because we use some of them too (namely [name_f]Vesna[/name_f], Morana, [name_f]Lada[/name_f] and Zora).
All this rambling to say that, even though my country was oppressed at certain points during history, I would not be mad if someone liked a Croatian name and used it. The main issue I have is with people taking these names and changing the pronunciation and/or spelling to fit them. Like, ???. I know that these names can be hard to write or say out loud, but they are a reflection of a beautiful culture and a language which fought so hard to be heard.
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