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Post by pandaroo on Dec 19, 2008 9:36:43 GMT -5
Usually it's the other way around (ie. more Asians have western names than vice-versa), but can you think of any westerners / caucasians with Asian (and I mean east Asian) first names?
The only famous person I can think of at the moment is Uma Thurman. Apparently the actress was given the name of a Hindu goddess by her Buddhist father, Robert Thurman, who was the first westerner to be a Buddhist monk. But that's a very unusual circumstance.
There is a Greek Australian girl who goes to my school and her name is 'Tashi' which is apparently Tibetan.
So, can you think of anyone (either someone you know or a famous person) who has an Asian first name?
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Shock
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Post by Shock on Dec 19, 2008 9:41:26 GMT -5
Is lee an asian name?
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Post by pandaroo on Dec 19, 2008 9:44:56 GMT -5
^ Actually, "Lee" probably is, but "Lea" isn't. I know a German woman called Lea in fact, but I don't think it's the same as the Asian version. I think there are two versions of the name and it's probably just a coincidence that the two cultures happened to invent the two names, both very similar-sounding.
Also, Ken is both a Japanese name and a Western name. However, "Ken" in English is short for "Kennith" - not a Japanese name. Whereas often "Ken" in Japanese is a shortened form of "Kenji" I think...
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Shock
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Post by Shock on Dec 19, 2008 10:32:44 GMT -5
If i remember well ken means blade/sword, doesn't it?
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Post by Paddy on Dec 19, 2008 11:52:35 GMT -5
Slightly off topic, but on the theme of names; when I was an English teacher back in the day, I used to help all my kids with English names if they didn't already have one. I had a baby book (full of names) and one of the girls wanted something different, so she chose Jaswinder from the book. Not gonna find many (mainland) Chinese with Indian names.
And I remember when i was hanging out with a French buddy called Damian. This was in China too. We met this random fella on the train, and he asked our names.
Damian introduced himself as, 'Damian.'
Fella replied, 'Is that your English name?'
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Post by pandaroo on Dec 19, 2008 17:11:44 GMT -5
What about Kim? There are lots of Western Kims...Kim Cattrall, Kim Alexis, Kim Wilde, Kim Kardashian, my ex-classmate, the book Kim(I think it's a Eurasian story too). Wow all the Kims I mentioned are very pretty ladies.  I don't know if Kim is an Asian 1st name. Anyone? Kim is a Korean surname, but I think that it's short for Kimberly if it's a first name. |
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Post by nemesisgalofdoom on Dec 19, 2008 19:07:24 GMT -5
Uma means horse in Japanese although its not a name in Japan. Ben is one of the terms for s*** in Japan haha have to laugh when I hear that someones called Ben ;D Hm ok, I know several German first name which are also Japanese: Rita, Hanna, Erika, Alf. These names are not really common - but are existing japanese. There are some freaky names in Japan nowadays which can be written in Kanji like "Etude", "Tigers", "Harmony", Rhythm" or "Atom"  ;D |
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Post by nemesisgalofdoom on Dec 19, 2008 21:02:36 GMT -5
Hm, I don't know about May, but there's a japanese first name called "Mai". Mai is also the term for may (month) in German  Lin is a VERY old japanese first name. Women who are around 100 (or more  ) carry that name. It's a funny name, b/c Lin also means phosphorus (P) in Japanese ;D |
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Post by Paddy on Dec 19, 2008 21:06:34 GMT -5
Yup, Lin and Mei (however you might wish to spell it) are both given names in Chinese. They are also denoted by several different Chinese characters.
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Post by nemesisgalofdoom on Dec 19, 2008 21:07:35 GMT -5
Hello, Sanitary Pad Wz up ? |
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Post by Paddy on Dec 19, 2008 21:24:18 GMT -5
Err...hi. Hello?
You're memory is far too good. I write thing here, expecting people to forget!
Isn't it way past your bedtime?!
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Post by nemesisgalofdoom on Dec 19, 2008 21:30:52 GMT -5
I'm enjoying the time while my daughter and my husband is sleeping... ;D
btw: Aiko is aJapanese (my daughters second name) and also an East Frisian name (but for Guys).
This is funny though, because my husband is East Frisian aswell.
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Post by Paddy on Dec 19, 2008 21:42:58 GMT -5
My cousin's name is Heiko. He's German and Chinese. Sounds kinda Japanese, but suppose it's German...?
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Post by nemesisgalofdoom on Dec 19, 2008 21:47:53 GMT -5
Yep. Heiko is quite common in Germany. My Ex-bfs name is Heiko ... ;D
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Post by pandaroo on Dec 31, 2008 3:11:49 GMT -5
Gee, it looks like I shouldn't have put this thread in the Entertainment Forum... it's more of a Culture Forum topic. Anyway, I originally intended to talk about famous western stars with asian first names... seeing as though many asians living in the west have western first names, I was wondering if it could be vice-versa for non-asians with asian first names. But it doesn't look so. Oh well.
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I don't know if Kim is an Asian 1st name. Anyone?
;D
) carry that name. It's a funny name, b/c Lin also means phosphorus (P) in Japanese ;D