Mixing Ethnicities?

StrawberryAlarmClock

WDYT when you hear two blatantly different nationalities in names, neither of which is American? I know names like Jennifer Botocelli and Alex Troung are super common, but what about Domenico Stoltzfus, Conchita Nkuchwayo, or Marie-Laure Kowaleski? Does this make you pause for a moment or not even beep on your radar?ETA: I guess I should tell you why I'm asking. I'm Italian and love Mediterranean names but DH thinks they sound ridiculous with our PA Dutch LN.

forensicmama

I think that living in our modern world and in our country - the melting pot of the world - it's kind of hard to never run across names like this. It's kind of common, in fact. I don't really even blink at it...

However, sometimes I think it's strange when people name their kids things like McKenzie and don't have any Irish ancestry.

magsugar13

Nope doesnt make me stop and go hmmm.....

This country is full of mixed families. I also do not think it is strange from someone of one ethnic group to chose a name not associated with that particular group. We are a mixed bag and we do not know everyones blood line. I also dont think we should limit ourselves to our own nationality when it comes to naming our kids. If you think about it there are millions and millions who have multiple nationalities.

magnoliablossom00

forensicmama:

I think that living in our modern world and in our country - the melting pot of the world - it's kind of hard to never run across names like this. It's kind of common, in fact. I don't really even blink at it...

However, sometimes I think it's strange when people name their kids things like McKenzie and don't have any Irish ancestry.

I don't necessarily think of "McKenzie" as an "only Irish" name. I don't really think of any name as only one ethnicity. 

We are naming our daughter an Italian decent name, but neither my husband nor myself are Italian. Our last name is English and my maiden name is Czech. We, however, chose our name b/c it is after a Catholic saint, and that was very important to us. Also, we honeymooned in Italy and it just seemed to fit.

To the OP, I don't think these rules really apply in America anymore. One of my best friends is Italian and her new last name is Irish. They decided to name their daughter Franchesca McCormick. If anything, I think it is a nice way to honor both families and their heritage.

jallascalla

I would just think that the child's family was from the two different ethnicities. In this world not such a big deal, and often leads to some cool names. 

PS. McKenzie is more of an American/Irish name than an Irish name. There is a big difference between Irish-American and Irish!

Moxie27

i don't have any negative reaction to a first name and last name that are from two different cultures...actually, i think it's nice.

if my husband and i were from two different cultures, i would want our child(ren) to have a name that derived from both cultures.  your child is half you and half your husband, so it makes sense that his/her name would come from both you and your husband's cultures.

StrawberryAlarmClock

I'm so showing this thread to DH.

NellaJ

I think it is perfectly fine to mix names, especially in our society today. I have a very Polish last name but my son's name is Ian.

nndidiamaka

DH is from Nigeria, I'm from CA, so Curly has a mixed race name as well.  His first name is American (Levi), but his middle name is Igbo (Ikenna), and our last name is obviously Igbo as well, a long, confusing O name.

Obviously I don't have a problem with it.  If our next child is a girl, she'll have a Igbo first name, and probably an American middle name.

JMay

I Love Mixing.  I knew a baby boy who had a mix of Dutch, German and African names to reflect both parents - that was 15 years ago and I loved the name so much I still remember it.  My DD has a Greek FN and an Irish MN.  It's just a matter of finding names that sound nice together, regardless of origin.  GL!

baeluevano

I have no problem what so ever with people naming there children with names of 2 different ethnicities.

I personally think it gives something a little extra special & have & will do it for my children to honor their Mexican as well as their American ethnicities.

I also do not see a problem with using names that aren't either of the parents ethnicities.

anna7602

I don't have a problem with it. It's pretty standard in the US, isn't it? I went to school with tons of girls with first names like Jennifer and Jessica paired with very Polish or Italian last names. And anything Eastern European or Russian immediately sounds normal to me with a Hispanic first name due to all the Argentine, Mexican and Cuban Jews I know (including my own daughter)- Alejandro Goldstein, Jacobo Cohen, Marcela Umansky, etc.

ubermoose

I don't bat an eye. There's so many families with mixed ethnicities, so I'd just assume, "maybe his/her Mom's Italian," or "maybe they just liked the name."

Cissi64

jallascalla:

I would just think that the child's family was from the two different ethnicities. In this world not such a big deal, and often leads to some cool names. 

PS. McKenzie is more of an American/Irish name than an Irish name. There is a big difference between Irish-American and Irish!

 I do think it is kind of weird when people use a very "out there" ethnic name when neither of them has that ethnicity in their ancestry.  For example, a very white couple of Germanic descent naming their child something African. Still, everyone had the right to name their kid what they want and I would much rather see a legit name of another ethnicity than a smoosh/trendy/made-up name.

zaramarie81

H and I have this issue too. He is part Colombian and I am half Polish-American. But our LN happens to not reflect EITHER heritage... meaning if we want to honor either or both it will be like 'huh?' with our LN. That said, I second a pp who pointed out we live in a more diverse, global world now where this is more common and accepted.

OctoberCAPA

I don't think it's a problem or an issue at all.  Also, since your LO will be getting a name honoring the dad's side of the family with the last name, it only seems fair that the first name reflect the mother's side.  It shouldn't be that because the last name is PA Dutch that that would limit you to Germanic names.

Jaytee501

I think it's fine.

I love Italian names (& am half Italian-American) & would pair one easily enough with MH's super English, not-so-poetic last name, no looking back.