[name]Hi[/name], my partner and I are starting to talk about names for the baby we are going to start trying for. He’s [name]Indian[/name]/Japanese and would like to use an ethnic name but I don’t think that would fair well in the US (where we are currently residing) and I don’t think it would be complete fair for me either, since my heritage would be left out. I’m a mix of Scandinavian, Greek, Italian, French, Icelandic and Estonian (I think). So we are trying to find a name that would go well and still be pronouncable in the United States. Any suggestions? Thank you.
You could make the point that if the baby is going to have his surname, his heritage would thereby be represented, so it would be more fair if the first name reflected your heritage.
Alternatively, you can search for simple names that are universally known and be prepared to compromise. Boy names such as [name]Ren[/name], [name]Kai[/name], [name]Timo[/name], [name]Jon[/name], etc., and girl names such as Rumi, [name]Rose[/name], [name]Tea[/name], [name]Mira[/name]…
Maybe start a thread with a different title asking for something along the lines of “easy names the world over?”
Suggestions for girls:
[name]Mio[/name] (japanese, means cherry blossom, but it’s also swedish)
[name]Avani[/name], [name]Ila[/name], [name]Kala[/name], Kamini, [name]Lalita[/name], [name]Lila[/name], [name]Lina[/name], [name]Maya[/name], [name]Mira[/name], [name]Nila[/name], [name]Rina[/name], [name]Vena[/name] and [name]Uma[/name] (all indian, but doesn’t scream indian - [name]Lina[/name], [name]Maya[/name], [name]Lila[/name] also scandinavian).
[name]Mina[/name], [name]Alva[/name], Noomi, [name]Ina[/name], [name]Una[/name] and Nami are other suggestions.
Keep to names that are straight forward, short and simple and non-religious.
Thanks, girls! These are really cute.
[name]Hanna[/name] (in that spelling) if I’m not mistaken is [name]Flower[/name] in Japanese and sounds just like [name]Hannah[/name] 
I believe it’s just [name]Hana[/name], but it is pn the same as [name]Hannah[/name].
[name]Hana[/name] is pronounced Haa-na, as in latte, whereas the first ‘a’ in [name]Hannah[/name] rhymes with ant. At least here in the US, maybe not in [name]Britain[/name]/Australia.
I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Hana[/name], but it’s his ([name]Akira[/name]'s) sister’s name.
Maybe [name]Nina[/name]? I think [name]Nina[/name] is a Japanese & Italian & maybe Estonian name so it works for both, works in [name]America[/name], travels well & is really sweet!
There must be other names that overlap?
Also maybe you can give him total control over the middle name & you can pick the first (since he is probably getting the surname too, no?)
Yes, he will be getting the last name.
That is a huge melting pot of cultures!
I think in the US, of all countries in the world, carrying an idiosyncratic ‘ethnic’ name would be the easiest. Your own name, [name]Gia[/name] [name]Michaela[/name], is 100% Italian, yet you are also Greek, French and Nordic. [name]How[/name] do you feel about that?
Is your partner’s surname [name]Indian[/name]? Is he “[name]Akira[/name] Banerjee” or something like that? [name]Just[/name] curious if the surname will be [name]Indian[/name] or Japanese or hyphenated both-- whatever its origin, I think you can safely rule out a first/middle name from that particular culture, as it will obviously be represented.
My favourite Japanese name is Sayuri and its pronounced the way it looks!
[name]Rhea[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Carin[/name]/[name]Karen[/name]/[name]Kareena[/name]/[name]Karina[/name]
[name]Freya[/name]
[name]Caia[/name]/[name]Kaya[/name]
[name]Sasha[/name]
[name]Anya[/name]/[name]Anja[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Neil[/name]/[name]Neel[/name]
[name]Milo[/name]
[name]Ray[/name]