I’m trying to decide on a name for our daughter we’re adopting from [name_f]China[/name_f]. I can’t find a Chinese name that I like. So I’m trying to find a name that fits well for a Chinese girl but helps her fit into American culture. I’m trying to decide between the following names:
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Paige[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] ?
[name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Paige[/name_f]
Livi [name_f]Collette[/name_f]
I like [name_f]Ava[/name_f] the best, but not with [name_f]Paige[/name_f].
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Blossom[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_u]Min[/name_u]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] Saren
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u]
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] has my vote, I love [name_f]Ella[/name_f].
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you know her given name and the one she goes by? It depends on how old she is but if she knows her name I think it is best to either keep it or choose a name that sounds very similar.
I love [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Paige[/name_f], or [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Blossom[/name_f] (as suggested by halfkoreangirl) and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] [name_f]Paige[/name_f] 
[name_f]Ellia/name_f,Indiasa(indy-ace-a),[name_f]Mia[/name_f],[name_f]Meeka[/name_f], [name_f]Cala/name_f[name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f], Nayvia(navy-a),[name_f]Tilly[/name_f], [name_f]Heather[/name_f], Ohonna,Loreli(lor-e-lye),[name_f]Joy[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Willow[/name_f], [name_f]Winnie[/name_f], [name_f]Odessa[/name_f], Lehanna, [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Cannie[/name_f],[name_f]Vala/name_f,Malerie
We’ve put a lot of thought into changing her name. We also attend hours of education on the best way to handle situations like name changes. If she was old enough, we would let her decide.
[name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f] are definitely at the top. I love [name_f]Lola[/name_f] but there seems to be a negative stigma attached to it. [name_f]Ella[/name_f] is a family name but it is very popular. I haven’t seen an [name_f]Ava[/name_f] but it’s in top 10! I’m so confused.
Personally, I agree with whitegardenia, if she has a name I would keep it. It’s good for adopted kids have something that 1. connect them to their own culture and 2. connects them to their previous life. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if they don’t talk, kids do know their name (or even a nickname), so change their name I personally think just confuses them and they can grow up thinking you just wanted to erease who they are and where they came from. At least, I would consider keeping their own name as a middle name. I hope you don’t take this in the wrong way, but raising an adopted kid is a challenge and it’s not like raising your own kid. This kids come with a really big baggage in their backs (just put yourself in their shoes, the people who are supposed to be in their lives forever abandoned them, even if they had a reason, it’s not easy growing up knowing that, even with a loving and caring adopted family) and their culture must be managed properly. Personally I would give her a chinese name, but it’s up to you. From your list I like [name_f]Ava[/name_f] the best. It’s sweet, short and elegant.
My favorite is [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. Not a fan of [name_f]Ava[/name_f], it’s so overused. In my 8-year-old sister’s school of religion class, there are 5 [name_f]Ava[/name_f]'s out of about 60 kids (so about 30 girls) plus 3 others named [name_u]Avery[/name_u].
I do agree somewhat with what previous posters have said about keeping some part of her given name. Maybe as a middle name at least to connect her to where she came from.
Congratulations on your growing family! [name_m]How[/name_m] exciting
I like all the names you’ve listed. It sounds like you like short, spunky names that end in A. I wonder if you’d consider something like [name_f]Isla[/name_f] or [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] (pronounced eye-la). Ai (pronounced like eye) means love in Mandarin. It might be fun to incorporate a Chinese word into her name to pay tribute to her heritage. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought!
We seriously have a social worker and other experienced professionals that guide us through the adoption process. Chinese orphans are not named by their birth parents. Most often times their given names are derogatory because being an orphan in [name_f]China[/name_f] is bad luck even when you age out of the system at 13. It follows you forever and makes it difficult to marry and find employment. We are well aware of how to transition to the new name. I’m not asking for parenting advice especially from people who are not raising adopted children. The majority of adult transracial adopted kids talk about how they just wanted to fit in. Xiang isn’t a name that is easily pronounced. Not that that is her name just an example. I’m not sure how else to explain that adoption is a long process with many professionals guiding you. It’s not like we decided to adopt yesterday and gave no thought to her name and erasing all signs of her heritage country. We are involved loving experienced parents who are not looking for parenting advice. [name_m]Just[/name_m] light hearted conversations about our name choices. I appreciate the feedback about name choices but not our decision to change her name. It’s our family our choice.
Yes Lieghmiller! Ru is a Mandarin name that means knowledge and I love it! It almost matches every name for a middle name.
My sister was adopted from [name_f]China[/name_f], so I might be able to help. My parents gave her a very “American” first name, but used her Chinese name as her middle name. From your list I like [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u], but I agree wtih @whitegardenia that it definitely depends on the age of the child as to whether you should keep/change her name.
While quite common, I do like Ava a lot, and it would be my pick of your lot. I’m not as big on Paige though, but do love Rue so Ava Rue gets my vote for combo (for you & your daughter though, I think using Ru would be much more fitting - Ava Ru would be lovely).
Also, now that I think about it, Lola Ru has a pretty great sound to it too - most of the negativity surrounding Lola I assume come from the Lolita association, but really, it’s quite a lovely name and I’ve seen a few girls who all wear it very well.
I love [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u], but I also love [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. I also think [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Paige[/name_f] or [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] are nice choices.
I ultimately prefer [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] over [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. I am biased and usually opt for longer more formal sounding first names as a personal preference. [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is also a great nickname which fits in/stands out in the current trend of [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], etc.
Congratulations!
Well said!
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] and Livi [name_f]Collette[/name_f] are wonderful. I have a soft spot for [name_f]Ava[/name_f], I love the look and sound of it. Sadly the popularity throws me off. I know a future daughter wouldn’t mind being 1 of 5 [name_f]Ava[/name_f]'s in her class, but it just bugs me.
I also adore [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Paige[/name_f]!
I too see [name_f]Lola[/name_f] as an absolutely adorable name! We’ve called her [name_f]Lola[/name_f] Ru for a few weeks. [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I mention it in public everyone says that the first thought they think of when hearing [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is trannies and hookers. ”. Not quite what we’re going for. I completely adore [name_f]Ava[/name_f] as well. I just wish it wasn’t top 10. I’ve fantasized about [name_f]Lola[/name_f] for years. I’ve tossed around [name_f]Ava[/name_f] LiRu as well but of course my husband hates it.
I like [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_u]Rue[/name_u] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f] Li. [name_f]Lola[/name_f], Evelyn and Livi are gorgeous too though, but I too am not keen on [name_f]Paige[/name_f]. Eve is a nice short and sweet middle which you might like. Lola Eve is lovely.