Is this name ridiculous to you? (longish)

Elinetrouwt

So, DH and I are Dutch native speakers. Although I have some roots in the US, and lived there for a while, we live in a Dutch speaking country now and plan to remain there for the long haul. So concerns about our name in English are secundary, but still, not unimportant.

Today I stumbled upon what seems like a Holy Grail in naming territory: Wander. It's derived from the German Werner and you pronounce it much like the English verb. It's a legit Dutch name, that apparently goes back a long time. However, I had never heard it before, and with only 25 living namesakes in my country, the name comes close to being "unique".

At the same time, with very popular local rhyming names as Sander and Lander, it is very recognizable as a name. To the Dutch ear, it does not sound "youneek", made up, farfetched, snobby or exotic at all, which usually is a problem with rare names.

More important, I truly like the sound of it. I've always liked names like Sander, Lander, Werner and Walter, but they felt like they were not for me. But Wander... I have a big time name crush! I also like the meaning, "warrior, defender of the people". It sounds good with our last name, everyone in the family can pronounce it... 

The big question is: how does this name sound in English? I know several girls called "Joke". It is a very normal name here, and you pronounce it totally different than the English word, but of course, they hate the English meaning of their name. I think Wander is different, the meaning of the English verb gives it a certain poetic, philosophical edge in my opinion. In Dutch, the name doesn't have this meaning at all. But I don't want to give my son a name that would make him feel awkward should he travel to or even choose to live in the US, or another English speaking country. 

So, the question to you is: would you ridicule someone with the name 'Wander'? Even if the person is obviously not an English native speaker?

mkanderson85

It's somewhat strange, but knowing they are foreign would make me not be so judgemental about it. If you love it, which you seem to, go for it!

Emmakins87

If its cultural and an traditional from where you are from, no. I have friends from the Netherlands and that region. Are they unique for the US, YES,  but we are not the have all end all in naming authority. My friends names who are from there are named Elke, Femke, Lennert. I would never mock their names, because they are used where they are from. I would find that ignorant and unkind.

austenreader85

I would not even think twice about what the name I chose for my child sounds like/means for a language, culture and country that I do specifically plan to immerse him in. It's odd but if he comes here can always say "it's Dutch" to any inquizitive glances or questions he gets. I assure you 99.9% of us would not think twice. And anyone that would expect the whole world to only pick "English" names (many of our names are not actually English) is so so ridiculous it wouldn't matter their opinion. I really don't think I know a single person who would be so prejudiced and I live in a rural area that at times can be quite backwards in some cases.

CeCe8579

Emmakins87:

If its cultural and an traditional from where you are from, no. I have friends from the Netherlands and that region. Are they unique for the US, YES,  but we are not the have all end all in naming authority. My friends names who are from there are named Elke, Femke, Lennert. I would never mock their names, because they are used where they are from. I would find that ignorant and unkind.

 

This!

Elinetrouwt

Thanks all! Time to get DH on board ;-).

It may seem strange to attach so much meaning to a language/culture that is not (really) mine. But English is somewhat of a 'lingua franca' today. If my child travels, or would work at an international company in our own country, he (or she, all of this may still be a moot point) will speak English all the time, even if the people he meets are not English natives themselves. So most of the people I know here in Belgium do consider the pronounciation of the name they pick in English. 

Elke, Femke and Lennert are very Dutch names indeed . Although I bet Elke is from Belgium! 

FakeFinn

Elinetrouwt:

Thanks all! Time to get DH on board ;-).

It may seem strange to attach so much meaning to a language/culture that is not (really) mine. But English is somewhat of a 'lingua franca' today. If my child travels, or would work at an international company in our own country, he (or she, all of this may still be a moot point) will speak English all the time, even if the people he meets are not English natives themselves. So most of the people I know here in Belgium do consider the pronounciation of the name they pick in English. 

Elke, Femke and Lennert are very Dutch names indeed . Although I bet Elke is from Belgium! 

I know exactly what you mean. Dutch is my mother tongue as well, but having lived & studied abroad (and becoming bilingual as a consequence) I find it very important that names of future children are easy to pronounce in English. I think that Wander is a nice name in Dutch and the English meaning is okay, it's not offensive and, as you said, quite poetic. I agree with pps that he can always say 'it's Dutch' and no further questions will be asked. I know that other Dutch speakers named Elske/Floris/Merel/Maaike have had no problems going abroad. I'd only reconsider if you were thinking of raising him to be bilingual. Good luck convincing the husband!

Elinetrouwt

Ha, I could see why Trijntje picked another nickname. I know several people who had to do that!

And Maaike would be a hard one for Americans as well

GrayGhost13

I had never heard it before this post, but I like it a lot.

EmJ&B

I like it. And anyone who cant respect the cultural significance is mean ;-)

PinkLillyLover

Emmakins87:

If its cultural and an traditional from where you are from, no. I have friends from the Netherlands and that region. Are they unique for the US, YES,  but we are not the have all end all in naming authority. My friends names who are from there are named Elke, Femke, Lennert. I would never mock their names, because they are used where they are from. I would find that ignorant and unkind.

This exactly!

duffmaker

If the parents were clearly foreign then nope I wouldn't side eye it, I would think it was pretty cool.