Hi Everyone, just want to know what your views are on this topic. Would you give your child an African name as the first name, knowing thatsometimes it is difficultto get a jobor things like ahouse etc....all because ofyour name. I mean iwas considering changing my own name to Jon London at one time so that I could stand a better chance. Let me know your views on this.

This is kind of funny because a few nights ago I was talking with a friend/associate of mine, we were relaxing and I was telling her that if I ever had a baby and it happened to be a girl I was going to name her after my grandmother. Her name is Mamie Lee King. What I was going to do is combine the first and middle name (kind of like LisaRaye).......MamieLee!!! Homegirl had the nerve to be like "uuummph I'm glad my mama didn't name me Mamie" (bitch!) Lol...Nevertheless, that name means a lot to me and it WILL be the name of my firstborn, if I ever happen to have a girl

changing your name still doesn't change the colour of your skin and most jobs need interviews, so if someone wasn't going to employ you because of your arican name, they def won't employ you cos of your african skin. Hence pointless exercise. I'm sure if i married an African guy his family would kill me before they allowed me to call the kids john smith!

Changed my name over from my english name to my Ghanian name...Tamika your on pointclp)I was going to say the same thing...

Chaley I am thinking of doing the same cos when i go back home they always laugh at my english name cos not many black folk have it!

What did your parents say when you did it?

I slightly disagree with you, if for example you are applying online like i do, they don't always require a face interview( Phone interviews sometimes and that is it), also one thing is that when you submit your application, once they see your name as African, they mightthrow your cv into the bin straight away, but if you a have a name like JON LONDON, if you make it to the face to face interview, you have every chance of convincing them and changing their views on you. I don't really agree with you.

Yes yes and yes..there is no way I'd give any child of mine an English name...no way!!

Tamika wrote:
My mother was upset and said my english name was the one that was given to me when I was born...and it is very special to them blah, blah, blah...I ignored it and went ahead...had my name legally deed polled in January of this year...for me I believe that your name is your nature...so it was a positive step for me to move forward...

@Hurricane
As for applying for jobs, if someone on the basis of name would reject my application I would not even bother going to the interview to be truthful...I could put and English name on, but I should not have to have an english name in order to justify my capabilities as a job applicant...

I suppose if youre in an english society then youd probly get somewhere with an english name, actually my mom has a couple of Asian friends and theyve changed there Asian names to English ones. I would choose an exotic name but Im not really that bothered. Im proud of who I am and if changing my name means denying who I am then I am not prepared to do that.

I definately would.

Once i like the name and it has a good meaning, then yes, African name all they way.

Most people i know with African names normally have an English alternative anyway, but i think to use it so that you dont appear African is pointless.

We have to hold tightly to some of our customs because the rest of it seems to be going down the pan. There are so many beautiful African names, and not all of them are hard to pronounce etc. They have such strong meanings unlike John and Sharon!!

This generation dont even use standard names anyway so it is not like the child will be singled out when their white schoolmates will be called Brooklyn and Apple!!!

I have a very English name, but i have an African one too and i am glad. In fact i would hard prefered for my mum to just give me the African one full stop.

Peace~

Hurricane wrote:

Quote:

Hi Everyone, just want to know what your views are on this topic. Would you give your child an African name as the first name, knowing that sometimes it is difficult to get a job or things like a house etc ....all because of your name. I mean i was considering changing my own name to Jon London at one time so that I could stand a better chance. Let me know your views on this.

Quite frankly that is a ridiculous proposition!
And what after you have got that great job or house in that exlusive neighbouhood with your 'terribly British' name? You think you will not face any problems of a racial nature because people, though now realising you are black and not 'yer typical Trevor Jones', accept you fully because your name is Trevor Jones?

It is not your name that determines your chances of success such things as the job or housing market. If that were the case so many African/black people would not be complaining about unfair treatment in white-dominant societies, since the majority of us (would you not agree) have non-African and more English orientated names.

You really think a white John Smith and a black John Smith stand on equal footing in this country.

May I suggest that you have not fully thought this one through?

Respect

@free HmmQuite frankly you are a breath of fresh air.

We need more people like you, more action and less talk. Someone who believed in their convictions and stood for it irrespective of the consequences.clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)c lp)clp)clp)clp)clp)clp)

Me I have always used my african name, my kids will have african names, my kids kids will have african names, my kids kids kids will have african names my kids kids kids kids......aarrggh you get the idea



free wrote:

Hello everyone,please rememeber that I asked a question? I see that majority of people here not only like their African names, but they will keep the tradition going from Generation to generation.

I am happy to tell you that I 've never used the name Jon London or never came close to changing my name to that. Although, I considered putting an English name on my british box( Sorry I mean passport). That would have beenone extra middle name,I might still add that though. But my surname will obviously remainAfrican and I will give my offsprings African name.Reason whyI asked this question was because I wanted to know what people thought about such things.

However, I am adamant and still think you stand a better chance of getting a job quickerwith at least one English nameplus it makes it easier. You get that logic, it's not about youdenying you're anAfrican

Peace

P.s. Whenever i am in London, everyone calls me by my African Name, but Once i leave london, they call me my other name. Actuallythe name isnot english- Philip Infactmy African friendswho knows that I call myself Phil prefer to call me that instead of my African name..

most africans who have left africa during the last 500 years have had to change their african names to european ones.

there are s