Jaamac to Jamie: Why not Anglicize your name?

[DubatDiaries]

Recently attended a graduation ceremony and I’ve never been so convinced in anglicizing ethnic names or going by an entirely different one when you live abroad.
The stage walking ceremony was a symphony of strange names that struggled to even make its way out of the mouth of the announcer. I'm used to people mocking or complaining about how “white people” butcher their names and don’t pronounce it correctly, they don't speak your language, what do you expect?

If it’s one cultural group, sure, the average person could learn the names and pronunciations but it was more like a UN conference.
Looking back, I used to think the Chinese people I would meet with names like Brenda and Jack were confused and ashamed of their own cultural names - but I’m sure they knew more than anyone else that pronouncing names like Xing Zhou is simply not in the cards for most of us. And they are right.

Somalis usually have simpler names to pronounce but this name fiasco still applies. Why not go by an anglicized name in public, or give your kids an anglicized name? It’s not like we are doing justice to your name if we are consistently mispronouncing it. Is it even still ‘your name’?

 

[berberaboy66]

Niggas called Barre should just bite the bullet and change it to Barry

 

[futurafree925]

Name discrimination is a real thing so ethnic folks are gonna do that

 

[Ashraf]

Nah keep your identity, don’t change yourself to conform to social norms. If niggas was gonna discriminate you on your name, they’d probably do the same if they saw your face

 

[DubatDiaries]

Niggas called Barre should just bite the bullet and change it to Barry

It needs to be done. Maxamuud to Max, Abdi can probably stay as Abdi, its pretty straightforward

 

[DubatDiaries]

Nah keep your identity, don’t change yourself to conform to social norms. If niggas was gonna discriminate you on your name, they’d probably do the same if they saw your face

Yeah, this probably wont stop discrimination but names serve a purpose, if nobody in the society around you knows the meaning, pronunciation or cultural context of it- what is the point of said name?

 

[SixthAbdi]

Besides the Abdi variants a lot of Somali names are pretty short - Hanad, Mahat, Ducaale, Warsame, etc. It's not like Indians or Nigerians where their names looked like someone fell asleep on their keyboard

 

[DubatDiaries]

Besides the Abdi variants a lot of Somali names are pretty short - Hanad, Mahat, Ducaale, Warsame, etc. It's not like Indians or Nigerians where their names looked like someone fell asleep on their keyboard

The difficult names of these two groups may or may have not radicalized me

Central Asians are a close runner up.

 

[Keep it a boqol]

I knew a dude named guleed that went by george

 

[AbdiFreedom]

Lots of Somalis have gaalo names. Not sure about Gen Z or Alpha.

 

[Abu Hesi]

I get it if your birth name is Sahro which can be changed to Sarah or Sara, or Sabiriin for Sabrina, lkn if my name is Mohamed, I am not shortening to Moe or Mo like some folks do, I see it as a disrespect to the Prophet's name SAW.

 

[Bernie Madoff]

I get it if your birth name is Sahro which can be changed to Sarah or Sara, or Sabiriin for Sabrina, lkn if my name is Mohamed, I am not shortening to Moe or Mo like some folks do, I see it as a disrespect to the Prophet's name SAW.

There was a Pakistani guy I know who went by ed instead of Mohamed

 

[hayran]

I get it if your birth name is Sahro which can be changed to Sarah or Sara, or Sabiriin for Sabrina, lkn if my name is Mohamed, I am not shortening to Moe or Mo like some folks do, I see it as a disrespect to the Prophet's name SAW.

Crazy how changing mohamed to “moe” is the most common of these anglicizations

 

[Bille]

Mohammed is very easy to pronounce I don't understand why some folks short it to Mo

YOMBO on Instagram: "FIND MUHAMMAD!🤣🏃‍♂️ Where Next?🤷‍♂️ #traffordcentre #public #yombo #fyp"

17K likes, 252 comments - yo.its.yombo on October 21, 2024: "FIND MUHAMMAD!🤣🏃‍♂️ Where Next?🤷‍♂️ #traffordcentre #public #yombo #fyp".

www.instagram.com

 

[CABDULWALI XASAN.]

weak minded, you have a completely different problem which is shame of your own culture, Obviously some are going to shorten their names duh but you think our names are inferior, like cmon how are you going to change Jamac to JAMIE... most just say Jama with that accent and its just fine...

 

[DubatDiaries]

weak minded, you have a completely different problem which is shame of your own culture, Obviously some are going to shorten their names duh but you think our names are inferior, like cmon how are you going to change Jamac to JAMIE... most just say Jama with that accent and its just fine...

I don’t think anyone’s names are inferior. These names probably have beautiful meanings in their own languages and are culturally important. For example, If I moved to China for work, ideally I’ll try to have a Chinese equivalent of my name. Nothing crazy

 

[The alchemist]

I'd rather them say my name wrong than say a fake name right. Your name is your identity. Most Whites pronounce it functionally well after one correction (most don't need one since you state your name to them which they note).

You must be a socially weak person to succumb to cultural cuckery like that. And yes, Chinese who pick random names are compromised by internalized social and cultural inferiority because fitting in is their motive. It's pathetic.

And by the way, most white people think it's weird when foreigners anglicize their names. It's convenient for them, but you come off as a culture-washed social climbing opportunist. It's not respectable. Not only that, people are going to think you're adopted at first. Furthermore, you're taking on the idea that assimilation is better.

What type of message do you send to kids if you, on the one hand, tell them to hold on to their culture and be proud of where they're from, then on the other, tell them they should change their names to fit in so as not to get friction with the natives. I mean, that notion goes further since culture and religion go with what is not totally harmonic. Condition such mindset in them and they'll figure if they stop identifying with the Somali culture and instead practice whatever they do in the West, they'll be better off. Up with the Christmas trees. Next, they will undermine their own religion too, because, guess what, many have some ignorant views about Islam.

To mention the Chinese again, these people have stats showing nearly half of the females marry white men because their mothers tell them that cadaan men are the go-to. Their strategy is to merge and to the so-called socioeconomic climbing. So it is fitting for such people to do the pretentious name switch. But that is not our way.

I have a Chinese friend, everyone says his name right. No one says the name exactly like in China, but Xiao Yu is very simple, Shiao Yu. Xing Zhao is pronounced, Shing Jow... That's not a tough name at all. I don't buy the practicality argument. It's not honest.

Historically controlling naming was essential for the assimilation processes. That is why now, you have many people re-culturing themselves in central Asia, where they change the suffix of their surnames back to their original culturally linguistic forms. Out with the "-ov(a)".

White people never butcher Jamac here because it is written as Jama. We don't include the c, x in the names, so things go smoother. This is a fair compromise. And how much are you doing this anyway, are you even anglicizing the as-difficult surnames too? Are you gonna redo the father and grandfathers name? Anything formal will include those names, so there is no escaping these things.

Damn, I thought you were more down than this. You never know with the internet, man. Too many shaky people, you have to reserve a second glance for good measure.

And to the fellas, be suspicious of a woman who anglicizes her name.

Essentially all these are fatherless activities. We have to imbue confidence in the younger people, not tell them that it is ok to give in to insecurities and become losers who'd do everything to be accepted. Sticking out is not a problem. Tons of opportunities come through being distinguishable from the crowd. Overall, we live in a globalized world that is not so ethnically monotone. You're one of several foreigners in nearly every place you're in. This is not the 90s. No one cares about how silly you think your name sounds to non-Somalis.

Your strength and advantage lie in who you are. You should own your name, and carry it proudly. Have some dignity.

 

[DubatDiaries]

I'd rather them say my name wrong than say a fake name right. Your name is your identity. Most Whites pronounce it functionally well after one correction (most don't need one since you state your name to them which they note).

That’s fair enough, but I don’t know where the accusations of shame are coming from.

Don’t you think it is a lot more ideal we have names in the language we use in the day to day?

 

[The alchemist]

That’s fair enough, but I don’t know where the accusations of shame are coming from.

Don’t you think it is a lot more ideal we have names in the language we use in the day to day?

I shame those things because they are detrimental to our self-preservation. That argument is quite asinine and ridiculous. It's only ideal for an individual that supports assimilation.

Walaal, you have terrible takes today. What is going on with you?

Write down your name so we can build up your confidence. Being the only nerdy girl in the History and Culture section, I would hate to see a sister look crazy out in the streets changing her name because she thinks the world might embrace her more.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Xassan]

After you anglicize your name its a slippery slope, hiding your name given to you by parents to appeal to others seems odd considering you can just tell them how to pronounce your name