We want a unique name and even though we are not Japanese, we love the sound of Japanese names. DH came up with [name]Akira[/name] which is traditionally a boys name but can be used as a girls name too. [name]Just[/name] not sure if its too out there or feminine enough. What do you think? The middle name would be [name]May[/name] so either [name]Akira[/name] [name]May[/name] or [name]Akira[/name] [name]Mae[/name].
The other name we like is [name]Havanah[/name]. But I can’t think of a nice nickname for this. I don’t like Vanah or [name]Ana[/name]… anyone got some other nn ideas? Again I think the middle name would be [name]May[/name] even though I love [name]Rose[/name] with [name]Havanah[/name] ([name]Havanah[/name] [name]Rose[/name]). Unfortunately DH hates [name]Rose[/name].
Any help is muchly appreciated! Oh and please let me know which name you like best
[name]Akira[/name] sounds more African-American to me. It has that made up, random combination of letters that ends with an “a” that you see so much in African-American names ([name]Shakira[/name], [name]Shamika[/name], [name]Anika[/name]). But I adore [name]Mae[/name]! It’s my favorite middle name ever. I like [name]Havanah[/name] but I agree, there aren’t any good nicknames. Maybe, Havie?
Thanks for your reply I was a bit worried about the [name]Shakira[/name] connection at the beginning but got over that. We are Australian so didn’t think of the African/American influence. [name]Glad[/name] you like [name]Mae[/name]. Could probably live with Havie as a nickname…will see how it grows on me. Thanks again.
I first thought [name]Akira[/name] might be a creative way to spell [name]Erica[/name], which looking at it more doesn’t make sense but others might see this too? I prefer [name]Hannah[/name] to [name]Havanah[/name].
I’d suggest these other Japanese names too:
[name]Tamiko[/name]
Mayumi nn [name]Maya[/name]
I don’t think [name]Akira[/name] makes much sense to use unless you have Japanese heritage. It’s a very recognizable Japanese name and I think people would just be confused. Also, I have a hard time picturing it on a girl, as all the [name]Akira[/name]'s I’ve known have been male. [name]Havanah[/name] is just a place name to me. What about [name]Savannah[/name]? Still a place name, but a lot more feminine. You could use [name]Vanna[/name] as a nickname for either (like [name]Vanna[/name] White, whose full name is [name]Savannah[/name]).
I like [name]Akira[/name]! The a ending makes it feminine sounding in [name]America[/name], and I don’t think it sounds “African American” (whatever that means…my favorite singer is Caucasian and named [name]Anika[/name], and I have a distant cousin named [name]Shanika[/name]…).
[name]Havanah[/name] I don’t like as much, but I think it’s still nice. I like the suggestion of [name]Vanna[/name] as a nickname!
[name]Don[/name]'t like [name]Havanah[/name], unless the place has a special significance to you I don’t think it’s a great choice. Makes me think of both [name]Haven[/name] and [name]Savannah[/name] which are not my style and sound a little dated and slightly stripper-ish to me.
[name]Akira[/name] is pretty. I like [name]Kira[/name] and I once knew an Attarah and it reminds me of those names. I don’t think [name]Akira[/name] screams Japanese girl when I see it on paper, just like with [name]Kira[/name] I wouldn’t make any assumptions.
[name]Havanah[/name] just makes me think of cigars! I’m sorry! My sister just named her little girl [name]Havilah[/name], prn HAVE-illa. It’s an extremely obscure Biblical name and pretty “out there” but you don’t get other associations with it either. Of course it sometimes gets mistaken for Havah/[name]Chavah[/name]/Chaveleh, the Hebrew for [name]Eve[/name] which is known in the States as being a name from the musical “The Fiddler on the Roof.” Anyway they call her Havee prn HAVE-ee for short. [name]Just[/name] thought I’d throw it out there for consideration.
I’m not sure I would use [name]Akira[/name] either, I haven’t heard it before but judging by other responses that it’s a fairly well known male name it seems like it might not be a good idea. What about Suzume prn [name]SUE[/name]-zoo-may? There’s a Japanese name and a feminine one, which seems a little bit more usable because of its similarity to [name]Susan[/name]. It was featured in a blog around here a few months back and was fairly popular.
Thanks so much for all your replies! Its great to hear other peoples first opinions. Think we will rule out [name]Havanah[/name] as it hasn’t had a good response at all. [name]Will[/name] take on board the comments about [name]Akira[/name] but its nice to know some of you like the name
My almost 5 year old daughter is named [name]Akira[/name]. My husband actually picked it out, and at first I wasn’t too fond of it. After our oldest (son, [name]Lyric[/name]) was born, we had discussed naming any second child we may have [name]Gravity[/name]. Within the two years between having our children, my husband no longer liked [name]Gravity[/name], but found a name that meant the same thing. In Japan, it’s most commonly used for boys, but in [name]Scotland[/name], it’s the female version for “anchor”. [name]Even[/name] though I didn’t like it at first, it kept growing on me and flowed nicely with [name]Lyric[/name]. Then, I couldn’t get it out of my head or even think of any other girls names. The name’s not common at all where we live. Also, I think it’s feminine enough. We had [name]Akira[/name] picked out for the baby’s name whether it was a girl or boy. Everyone we spoke to, said they liked it better as a girl’s name, saying it sounded too feminine for a boy.
Honestly, I’m not fond of [name]Mae[/name], but completely understand or respect whatever meaning you have for using it. We chose Hindu middle names that had meaning for us for both our children. And any middle name kept to one or two syllables will flow more easily since [name]Akira[/name] is 3 syllables. Our daughter is [name]Akira[/name] Dhayan (different spelling and pronounced [name]Dahy[/name]-yon).
Sorry if I rambled, just wanted to share my experience with the name with you. Good luck and best wishes.
I agree, I wouldn’t use a Japanese name if you aren’t Japanese. I would go with [name]Havanah[/name], although I prefer [name]Savannah[/name] and [name]Hannah[/name].
I prefer [name]Havana[/name] minus the h on the end, you could use [name]Anna[/name] or [name]Van[/name] as a nn or just call her a different one alotogther
I’m not wild about [name]Akira[/name] because when I hear it I immediately think of the anime with the same name. I agree somewhat with some of the other posters that said giving a Japanese name when you aren’t Japanese could be a little confusing, but I think you could temper that by looking at names that are Japanese but are less obviously associated with that culture…
[name]Hana[/name]
[name]Nara[/name] (This is a lovely city in Japan where sacred/tame deer roam free!)
Rie (I love this name, although everyone would pronounce it wrong which would be a bummer…) (Rhee-ay)
Manami (More obviously Japanese, but such a cute name!)
[name]Mari[/name]
Suzu
[name]Sora[/name]
[name]Akira[/name] Kurosawa is a famous Japanese film director. Also, [name]Akira[/name] is pretty commonly used as a Japanese boys’ name, and there is a sizeable Japanese population in Australia.
I wouldn’t give a Caucasian girl child, a name that is more commonly associated with Japanese males, personally. I think there are prettier and more feminine Japanese names out there that would make the transition better, if you like that style.
I was a bit worried about the [name]Shakira[/name] connection at the beginning but got over that. We are Australian so didn’t think of the African/American influence. [name]Glad[/name] you like [name]Mae[/name]. Could probably live with Havie as a nickname…will see how it grows on me. Thanks again.