[name_m]Hi[/name_m]. So my husband and I are TTC, and have decided on [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] for a boy. I was out to lunch with some friends of mine, and when they asked what names we liked, and I mentioned [name_m]Cedric[/name_m], they all looked horrified and told me that’s a black name, and I can’t use it because I’m white. I have never heard anything like that before in my life. These three girls are ranging in ages 21-32, and are from [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_u]Dakota[/name_u], [name_f]Virginia[/name_f], and Minnesota, so I know it’s not just one areas weird outlook on a name.
Now that three different people have said something, I wonder if we have a son if people are going to constantly be shocked at this “black” name on a white person?
Can I use [name_m]Cedric[/name_m]?
Has any one else ever heard of this exclusively one ethnicity name rule?
Thanks in advanced for answering my super weird question.
I think that the main association with [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] when that age group was younger would have been [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] the Entertainer, so that may be the reason for their thinking that it belongs to a specific culture. The main association for those 10-15 years younger is probably [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] Diggory, so I feel like it’s pretty split in terms of exposure. It’s definitely fair game as a name for a baby of any background, and is no more “black” than [name_m]Otis[/name_m], [name_m]Miles[/name_m], [name_m]Louis[/name_m], [name_m]Samuel[/name_m], or any other well established name with an uber-famous black bearer. [name_f]IMO[/name_f], those associations only lend an added cool factor to the name, and I would seriously question my friendships with people who would be “horrified” that your white child might be mistaken for a black child on paper.
I don’t think there is such a thing as a “black” or “white” name. That’s name-based prejudice and it’s very disturbing. There are some names that are chosen by members of the African-American community. These can be divided into roughtly the categories below:
African names - [name_u]Omari[/name_u], [name_f]Ashanti[/name_f] and Dakarai
Biblical names - [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] and [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]
Muslim names - [name_m]Malik[/name_m], [name_m]Omar[/name_m] and [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f]
[name_m]French[/name_m] and Italian names - Domininque, [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_f]Desiree[/name_f], [name_m]Dante[/name_m], [name_f]Chantal[/name_f], [name_u]Simone[/name_u], [name_u]Antoine[/name_u], [name_u]Maurice[/name_u], [name_u]Andre[/name_u]
[name_u]Hero[/name_u] names from African-American history - [name_m]Marcus[/name_m], [name_m]Luther[/name_m], [name_m]Booker[/name_m], [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m], [name_f]Zora[/name_f]
Combination names that are usually a mix of the two parents (eg. [name_m]Brevin[/name_m] - taken from [name_f]Brenda[/name_f] and [name_m]Melvin[/name_m])
Meaning names - [name_f]Destiny[/name_f], [name_f]Nevaeh[/name_f], [name_f]Diamond[/name_f], [name_f]Miracle[/name_f], [name_f]Ebony[/name_f]
Created names - Often beginning with La, Sha or Da (eg, [name_m]Shaquille[/name_m])
Ok, so [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] is chosen by African-Americans. Does that make this name (invented for [name_m]Ivanhoe[/name_m] by Sir [name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_m]Scott[/name_m]) a “black” name? No, it doesn’t. If the answer was yes, then white people therefore shouldn’t choose any name from any of these broad categories and I can see that idea going down well. My advice to you: always choose a name you love.
Have never heard of such nonsense before (at least there’s no such thing as an ethnicity name rule in Denmark - I have a Christian acquaintance who named her daughter Farida because she loves the meaning of it and no one cares that it is an Arabic name, in fact she has only gotten positive feedback from her Muslim friends). Sounds like a big bunch of prejudice, racism and bigotry to me. And I most certainly agree with @tk. I think you may need to reevaluate your friendship with someone who are “horrified” by the thought of you giving your child a so-called “black name”, they don’t seem like particularly nice people.
I’m not trying to start trouble, but this is honestly an inherently racist question and every time it comes up (as it does, all too frequently, on Nameberry) I cringe.
My immediate association with the name [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] is [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] Diggory, and I think he’s awesome. I’m a Hufflepuff myself, so I highly approve. Haha. If I met a boy named [name_m]Cedric[/name_m], I’d probably find it adorable. I know a white kid named DaChone, (da-shown), so don’t worry! [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it was predominantly “black”, I don’t think it would matter. It’d be refreshing to see it on a white kid haha. Although personally, I don’t think there’s really a such thing as a name being “off-limits” to a certain race. It’s really up to the parents’ preferences.
I’m 26, so right in that age range, and I live in the Midwest. The strongest association I have with the name is [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] Diggory (the first [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] book came out when I was 10, so it’s definitely this generation that first grew up with them). The only [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] I know in real life is around my age and he’s half-white/half-Korean.
In all honesty, I think your friends probably just don’t like the name and said that to talk you out of it, but they made themselves sound racist. For what it’s worth, I think [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] is a fine name, and you can and should use it if it’s the name you love. They’ll get over it.
That definitely would NOT be my first reaction to the name. Actually I think [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] is a really handsome name, and would love to meet a little [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] of any ethnicity
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] makes me think of the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] character. And then it makes me think of a rich, party boy from the 20s. And then I think of [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] the Entertainer (who is [name_m]Black[/name_m]). In short, I don’t think its a “black name”. I think its a name that can fit anyone.
I disagree with your friends reactions, I do not have any strong reaction to [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] as far as race goes.
I do think of [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] Diggory from [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], which is not a bad thing because HP is awesome.
Certain races and ethnicity’s do have some names more common within that culture; so I don’t think this is a super offensive question. It’s part of society and the name game!
Thank you to everyone who responded.
I feel less weird about it now that I know it’s not a thing, and I wouldn’t be crossing any kind of insane social boundary by naming our potential son [name_m]Cedric[/name_m].
Also, there is absolutely no racism intended in this post. It’s like how I wouldn’t want to name a daughter [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] because I absolutely have no Gaelic roots. I just didn’t want to pick a name that would be deemed weirdly out of place on our baby.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] to clarify, OP, I didn’t think you were being racist. I thought you were just trying to be conscientious and make sure you wouldn’t be pulling something along the lines of cultural appropriation. Your friends’ horrified responses are what threw up a racist flag for me.
Well I would say no as I immediately thought of [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] Diggory. I also think of [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] the entertainer, however within the context of the question Mr. Diggory first came to mind.
[name_m]Robert[/name_m] Pattinson ie Mr. Twilight is quite a handsome namesake to have.
In terms of the context of the question I agree with this:
I agree with everyone who said it sounds British and medieval. Actually I thought up until I just Googled that there was a [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] in the Arthurian legends. (It’s been awhile since I read them…) It’s a beautiful name and I hope you don’t let your friends’ reactions turn you off using it!
