The Name Game

One fascinating discovery about Chinese students who study English is how they go about choosing "American" names. Many of them had their names assigned to them by their Chinese English teachers over the years. Some have chosen their own names, and often decide based on objects they like or activities they are known for. And a few have asked us American teachers to name them.

One girl asked me to help her find a name based on famous female biologists. It was difficult to come up with just one, but I eventually recommended Dian (Fossey), Jane (Goodall) and Margaret (Mead), which could be changed to Peggy, Meg, Marge, Maggie, or Greta. She eventually chose Bell, because of her admiration of Alexander Graham Bell and the famale character in 'Beauty and the Beast,' Belle. That one never occurred to me.

Some of the students have what I would consider "normal" (and a few old-fashioned) American names: Shirley, Gladys, Lillian, David, Cecily, Jimmy, Mary, Richard, Charles, Jason aka Jay, Kate, and Kelly.

Some are non-'American' names, but still ones you might be familiar with: Flora, Nina, Vivienne.

Others have chosen names that sound just like their Chinese names: Lulu (Lu Lu), Woman (Wu Man), Nina (Ni Na), Leeanne (Lene).

A few of the students appear to be the off-spring of '70s flower children: Sky, River, Echo, Leaf, Windy, Rainbow, Knight, Candy, Cookie and Sea.

And then there are the ones that defy explanation: Blucky, Elite, Email, Winning, and Naughty Boy.

My favorites, however, are three students' names that go so well together. The last two are actually in my homeroom: Romeo, Juliette, and Shakespeare!