My husband and I are both caucasian American, but have spent considerable time living overseas – he in Mexico and I in Japan – and we are both bilingual. We would love to use either a Japanese or Mexican name but a lot of people are surprised we would consider a name from another culture.
So, what do you think nameberries? [name]How[/name] would you feel meeting a blonde child with a Japanese name or a Spanish/Mexican first name with a very English last name?
I actually know a Latin American person with a Japanese name so I know you weren’t asking about that intersection, but by all means, please choose names from other cultures. European names make the transition all the time even though people aren’t actually Irish or Swedish. I like the names [name]Soren[/name] and [name]Genevieve[/name] even though I’m not French or Scandinavian. I would simply recommend using a name that is phonetic or easy for English speakers to pronounce. [name]Aaron[/name], [name]Adrian[/name], and [name]Marisol[/name] are some of my favorite Spanish names.
I would feel uncomfortable using names from other cultures, but I think the fact that you have ties to those cultures changes things quite a bit. For most Americans using a Japanese or Mexican name, it might be considered disrespectful because it would be just choosing a name because it sounds nice without understanding whatever cultural significance it might have. Yes, you will probably get some weird reactions, but I feel like because you have a personal connection, it should be acceptable.
I think since you have that connection it could work as long as the name makes sense to the American mind.and is reasonably easy to spell.
Names like [name]Hana[/name], [name]Emi[/name], Rei, [name]Mai[/name]/[name]Mei[/name], [name]Rina[/name], [name]Akira[/name]–I could see working.
Also from Spanish names like [name]Anabel[/name], [name]Catalina[/name], [name]Dalia[/name], [name]Gracia[/name], [name]Lucia[/name], [name]Maribel[/name], [name]Marisol[/name], [name]Noelia[/name], [name]Reina[/name], [name]Sofia[/name], [name]Veronica[/name], [name]Celia[/name], [name]Claudia[/name], [name]Isabela[/name], and [name]Ramona[/name] could be beautiful
It just depends if you really want it to sound extremely ethnic. A girl name [name]Veronica[/name] Rei I can see the influences, but it doesn’t seem like it’s screaming ethnic. Whereas a name like [name]Guadalupe[/name] Tsubaki would be a bit jarring.
That is a really good point, kala – something very Mexican or very Japanese is sure to turn many more heads. And we definitely want something that English speakers will be able to pronounce and (hopefully!) read.
It is also interesting how people [name]DO[/name] switch around with names from different European cultures but seem so surprised when we want to use something non-European.
It depends. I’m not a fan of anything overly ethnic on people from different cultures (including overly European). But like others have said…something too over the top is just odd. Like [name]Maria[/name] wouldn’t bother me, but Xochitl would. Or I don’t really see [name]Jesus[/name] working on anyone without a clearly hispanic appearance!
I think you can very easily pick a name with Mexican or Japanese origins. Practically every name is from another culture initially. Except for made-up American names of course. For instance, [name]Sophia[/name], which is super popular in [name]America[/name], is an international name. [name]Do[/name] you have any ideas of names that you like? I’m sure everyone would love to hear them. Then we can give you even better advice.
I say ‘go for it’! Living abroad changes a person and I think it’s normal for people to want to reflect and honour that experience. Anything unpronounceable in English would not be a fantastic choice, in my opinion, but anything goes as a middle name.
I’ve lived in Spain and the Basque Country (I’m Canadian, grew up bilingual French & English) so my favourites are all over the place. I have an international name myself, and I [name]LOVE[/name] that it works in many countries and languages. I definitely appreciate that.
Oh yeah, just to add to the “as a middle name, anything goes” comment, I know of someone named [name]John[/name] Quetzalcoatl Lastname (the son of a co-worker of one of my professors), no joke. His mom is an archaeologist and does her field work in Mexico, so it makes sense, but Quetzalcoatl is definitely the most intense name I’ve ever seen in practice.
I think it’s important to pick something that will be pronounced & read easily enough in the country your child will likely grow up in.
I agree with pp that as long as you are picking a name with knowledge & respect of a culture that you feel a part of it’s a great choice. So much diversity in names today & it’s a great way to honor a place you have ties to! Plus there are so many ways for a South American or a Japanese person to look I doubt anyone will question the child!
My mom is trilingual and it was really important to her that I had a name that sounded nice in all three languages. I think giving your kid a Japanese or Spanish name isn’t really an issue if it sounds pleasing in all accents. I always figure that if a name is easy to read and pronounce in three languages you are probably ahead of the game.
[name]Just[/name] a comment about a “clearly Hispanic appearance” - there are Latinos with blond hair and blue eyes. Latin [name]America[/name], some countries more than others, had just as much European immigration as the US did. In Spain as well, fair skin and bue eyes are not uncommon. My children are Hispanic as their father is from Latin [name]America[/name], they have Spanish names, and their eyes are blue like mine and my husband’s.
There are also quite sizable [name]Asian[/name] communities living in many countries in South [name]America[/name]. Think of [name]Alberto[/name] Fujimori, ex-president of [name]Peru[/name].
Japanese might be more tricky, but Hispanic names probably wouldn’t make people bat an idea. Most names from Latin languages are similar, so Mexican/Spanish might just sound “European”, which is quite common.
Good point, rosamonte! I don’t think appearance makes as much of a difference with the Latin names – plus they are reasonably familiar names with the general American population. Japanese is a little more tricky, of course.
Sooo much good feedback from everyone! Now I’m going to need to put up some specific names. 
I agree with all of the above. If you have a connection to those cultures, it’s certainly appropriate to choose a name from them. I have a former co-worker who is French Canadian with a British wife; however, since they met in [name]Russia[/name], they chose Russian names for their daughters. They were careful to choose names that didn’t look too strange and were easily pronounceable in English and French (e.g., [name]Larissa[/name] but not Lyubov), and in the end, both their girls have lovely names that give a nod to their parents deep love of Russian culture. All that to say, totally go for it!
I would do it [this actually applies to a personal favorite name, so it may actually find myself doing it someday] - pick a name that you love and forget “the rules”.
There are plenty of Spanish and Japanese names that are easy for Americans to pronounce.
I [name]LOVE[/name] the names [name]Rafael[/name] and [name]Raul[/name], for example. I think if you choose carefully, it could work very well!
I think it would depend on how you feel about your child being asked questions about their name all the time. I have a very ethnic name because I’m half-Japanese. However, I don’t look very Japanese (apparently). I spent years being asked questions by almost every new person who met me. It usually started off innocuously enough. Your name is so pretty. What does it mean? That would progress through to questions about why my last name is not ethnic. Then from there, they’d be curious how my parents met, do I have siblings, do they look like me, which of my parents is Japanese, what was the family reaction when they married, are my parents still together, etc. And at this point, I may still only know the other person’s name is [name]Jennifer[/name]! And the sharing of information would feel very one-sided, yet I would feel it inappropriate to ask those same questions about the other person! In my late 20s, I ended up choosing a nickname modified from my first name, that was less ethnic, and now I’m not asked these questions by strangers anymore. This allows me to share my personal information in my own time as the relationship develops naturally. I much prefer this