Wildly different names

We divide our time between the caribbean and england and as such come across a wide variety of names. What could be seen as completely normal in one country would be the opposite in the other. [name_m]How[/name_m] do we combat this? [name_m]How[/name_m] can we merge such different sounding names?

Names we like that would be the norm in caribbean

Boys

Kenjiro
[name_m]Davion[/name_m]
D’andre
[name_m]Jett[/name_m]
[name_m]Levon[/name_m]
[name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_m]Ace[/name_m]
Kydavius
[name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m]
[name_m]Jayvion[/name_m]

Girls

Daylani
[name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f]
Linaya
Levaya
[name_f]Serenity[/name_f]

Names we like which would be considered the norm in england

Boys

[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Dax[/name_m]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]

Girls

[name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Evanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]

Some of those names would be acceptable in either country, for example [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f]. Another way would be to call the child by their nickname, like [name_u]Jay[/name_u] for [name_m]Jayvion[/name_m]. Alternatively get the child used to being called both names, one caribbean and one english and call them different names in different countries, they can choose which one they want to be called more when they grow up.

When your children reach school age do you plan to homeschool or send them to school? If you are sending them to school, I would choose names more familiar to the area you will be living in while they are in school.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you live in one area more than the other or is it actually equal amounts of time in each? If you are in one area more (even if it it slightly), I would consider names more familiar to that area.

What area do you declare as your home country?

As an English person, I think [name_m]Davion[/name_m], D’andre, [name_m]Jett[/name_m], [name_m]Levon[/name_m], [name_m]Ace[/name_m], [name_m]Jayvion[/name_m], Daylani, [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f] and [name_f]Serenity[/name_f] would be fine here. I can’t speak for the Caribbean, but [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_m]Dax[/name_m], [name_f]Evanna[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] seem to be what I call ‘flexible’ names.

[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] [name_m]Ace[/name_m]
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] [name_m]Jett[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_m]Levon[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_m]Davion[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_m]Davion[/name_m]
[name_m]Dax[/name_m] [name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_m]Davion[/name_m]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] [name_m]Levon[/name_m]

[name_f]Serenity[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]/[name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Serenity[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] Linaya
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f] Levoya
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] Daylani

A lot of names are widely recognized everywhere. Names like [name_u]Michael[/name_u] and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f], even if the spellings differ from place to place, work almost anywhere. Names that cross language barriers could work well in both places as long as you can pronounce them easily. [name_f]Serenity[/name_f] may not be common in [name_f]England[/name_f], but at least English people can easily pronounce it. Same with [name_m]Ace[/name_m], [name_u]Justice[/name_u], etc.

Im british and hubby is jamaican but we have dual nationality. We are planning on home schooling but if that were to change i think its more likely our main base will be jamaica and schooling will happen there

I’d probably go with [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] for a boy and [name_f]Serenity[/name_f] for a girl, as if I remember correctly [name_f]Jamaica[/name_f] is quite [name_m]Christian[/name_m], so [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] would be recognisable and fine there. [name_f]Serenity[/name_f] would stick out a bit in [name_f]England[/name_f], but it is a well-known word, so you wouldn’t run into spelling or pronunciation issues. I think these names would probably bridge the gap, and would work well in both countries. From a quick browse through a Jamaican popularity list, I saw lots of more English names, so I think you’d probably be okay using one of those. From personal experience, whenever I’ve been to [name_f]Jamaica[/name_f], the majority of Jamaican people I met had more European names.

For what it’s worth, my favourites from your list are [name_m]Jett[/name_m], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_f]Isadora[/name_f].

Yes many adopt a more mainstream name as tourists cant pronouce or remember their real names. Then theres the nicknames they give each other…

I think some of these should go over fine in either area. I separated them by relative usability for both regions.

Workable:
[name_m]Davion[/name_m] - in [name_f]England[/name_f], could go by a nickname like [name_m]Dave[/name_m]/[name_m]Davey[/name_m] if needed
D’[name_u]Andre[/name_u] - not real complex to say so should be ok
[name_m]Jett[/name_m] - Easy to say and doesn’t seem too foreign
[name_m]Levon[/name_m] - similar to [name_m]Jett[/name_m]
[name_u]Justice[/name_u] - word names are generally a safe bet as both nations are familiar with the English language
[name_m]Ace[/name_m] - similar to [name_u]Justice[/name_u]
[name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m] - would seem bold in [name_f]England[/name_f] perhaps but I still find it workable. Possibly with a nickname if English folks stumble.
[name_m]Jayvion[/name_m] - could go by [name_u]Jay[/name_u] if needed
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] - might be recognizable enough
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] - [name_m]Christian[/name_m] name, should be ok
[name_m]Dax[/name_m] - simple and easy to say

Less Workable:
Kenjiro - seems Japanese? I’m surprised to hear of it from the Caribbean
Kydavius - may be a little out there for UK
[name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] - [name_u]Dash[/name_u] might catch on in Carribean? [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] might seem a little stiff there though on its own
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] - just very traditional

Workable:
[name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f] - this name is pretty well recognized I think, so it should be fine anywhere
Linaya - Is it pronounced similar to [name_f]Linnea[/name_f]? If so then I think it’d be easy enough. Or maybe use [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] itself?
[name_f]Serenity[/name_f] - word name works good
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] - easy to say
[name_f]Evanna[/name_f] - seems to fit in
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] - a very recognizable name anywhere

Less Workable:
Daylani
Levaya
[name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]

I have a similar situation. I am American and my fiancé is Tanzanian. We currently plan on living and raising our kids in Tanzania, but want to keep our options open for the future because you never know what may happen down the road.

I think the situation here is probably fairly similar to in [name_f]Jamaica[/name_f] as far as names go. People have a mix of tribal/local (Swahili), religious ([name_m]Christian[/name_m] or Muslim) and Western type names plus a lot of interesting English word names (Loveness, Happyson, Witness, etc).

When we have discussed names, I look for a few things:

  1. [name_m]Will[/name_m] the name fit in both cultures? (When I say fit I don’t mean common, but just not be too weird)
  2. Can it be pronounced by natives of both places and do I like the way each culture will pronounce it? (I make my fiancé say the names, so I can hear what it sounds like with his accent)
  3. Is the name too popular is either culture? (Both me and my fiancé don’t want a name that’s too popular, for example I love [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and in the US its not too popular for me, but here it is one of the most popular girls names, definitely top 10)

Of your names here are the ones that I think would pass my test (but maybe ask your hubby to say them and see how they sound with his accent):
[name_m]Jett[/name_m]
[name_m]Ace[/name_m]
[name_u]Justice[/name_u] ([name_m]Justus[/name_m])
[name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f] ([name_f]Alleah[/name_f])
[name_f]Serenity[/name_f] ([name_f]Sera[/name_f] if you want when in UK)
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]
[name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_f]Evanna[/name_f]

I think these could work too - maybe with a nickname:
Kenjiro ([name_m]Ken[/name_m], [name_m]Kenny[/name_m], [name_m]Kenji[/name_m])
[name_m]Davion[/name_m] ([name_m]Davy[/name_m])
[name_m]Levon[/name_m] ([name_m]Levy[/name_m]/[name_m]Levi[/name_m])
[name_m]Zephaniah[/name_m] (Zeph - [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u] is getting more popular)
[name_m]Jayvion[/name_m] ([name_u]Jay[/name_u])
Linaya ([name_f]Linnie[/name_f])
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] ([name_u]Isa[/name_u], [name_f]Dora[/name_f], [name_f]Izzie[/name_f])

These names I am not sure about how they might pronounce them:
[name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Dax[/name_m], [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Margot[/name_f] (I think just the t might be confusing), [name_f]Alice[/name_f] (this is one my fiancé wants, but they pronounce it more like ah-lee-see), [name_f]Cosima[/name_f] (I love this!)

D’andre could work, it is a known/common enough name in the US. But I would recommend [name_u]Deandre[/name_u] as spelling as an apostrophe could cause problems with paperwork at time.