50 replies to this topic

[MutluKadin]

Didn't know where to put this- feel free to move it to the 'correct' spot!

We're pregnant and the discussion of names came up. How did you solve this? All Turkish? Islamic? English or other? Half and half?

Just doing a little preliminary informal research to get a little perspective...

Thanks!

[Fil]

As ours have an English surname we thought a Turkish first name makes a good balance. Pronunciation for my relatives is a bit of a problem, at least in the case of the second child, but I thought it was time my relatives learned a bit if Turkish pron.

We also thought the combination of names would make the children unique. We were wrong, there is an elderly lady in the USA with exactly the same names as our younger daughter, which is quite amazing.

[sunny]

Personally I would go for one of each. That is one English name and one Turkish name so that wherever the child lives in the future they can use a local name if they wish.

[dande]

I know at least three couples who have given their babies a first English name and a second Turkish one - but one without Turkish language characters and which can be easily pronounced easily - Selin, Ela and Elvan, but there will be many more.

This can be reversed if preferred, giving them a Turkish first name followed by an English one.

[Ahududu]

Yes, same thing here.
Turkish surname, Turkish first name, and an English middle name.

One Turkish first name doesn't have Turkish letters, one has the letter C which is /J/ in Turkish, so that has caused some problems when people first see it, but when they are corrected they are fine with it. Some kids teased him a bit at school, but he just took it on and said it himself, so that took any sting out of it for them!!!

Both are easy to pronounce in English.

I remember the first time I heard the name Fatih /farty/!! My OH said don't laugh it's a beautiful name - but really, you couldn't be calling that name in a playground in UK - so, as long as it sounds OK in English, that's the main thing.

[Abi]

Congratulations. I think if the child was to be brought up in Turkey I would give it a Turkish first name and an English middle name, and the other way around if living in the US.

As other have said think carefully how the name would sound in either country before deciding.

Hope your pregnancy goes well and keep us posted

[Fen]

I don't have kids yet or not planning to get one in near future, but I've been thinking this name issue as well. I have ended up conclusion that names must be something easy to pronounce in both language - in Turkish and in Finnish. I want that our families knows how to pronounce names without practising it hard. I also want names to be something "international" that kids are not directly recognized partly foreigner. For sure, no Turkish letters.

[atayavie]

Oh my gosh, if it's a boy just name it Efe. Cutest name ever and it probably won't get pronounced wrong. Although there is a chance somone might say eef.

Hahah..anyway I will totally name a boy that if I get lucky enough!

[Meral]

Friends of ours named their daughter Meltem, but she hated it --- was the target of many cruel jokes in school in Australia. The parents hadn't realised.

I think parents should take all of these things into account when naming children.

[MutluKadin]

Yeah, we're doing all you suggested. Like, my husband suggested Can. I was like, do you mean tin or aluminum, lol?

[dakar]

Sue - it's odd you shld mention this as my BF went inter-railing all the way to Istanbul back in the heady summer of 1989 (when we had just finished our A levels) She and her mate met some Turkish guys and one was called "Fatih". Coming from Bradford (!), needless to say they collapsed laughing. These guys didnt have a clue what they were on about and when it was explained to them were mortified!!!

I had an old Uni lecturer once who was married to a Pole, and she said the safest bet was to have a name that worked in both languages that didnt need explaining the whole time - they called their daughter Lydia, but I'm guessing thats not really an option in Turkish? Anyone know of any bilingual names?

[Ahududu]

MutluKadin
My son's name is Cem, and actually Jem is an old English name, a few people have told me how they have known an old man (usually out in the sticks) with this name, not shortened from Jeremy, but Jem.
It actually comes from one of Noah's sons - Shem in English.
But the kids at school would call him Jam or Kem or Sem.
If you choose Can and he goes to school in UK, then when they are learning phonics, the kids will pronounce it /Kan/, as long as he doesn't get annoyed they will stop!!

dakar I know of Melissa, Yasemin, Leyla, and my daughter is Zara. (ETA Zara is an Arabic name)

[sunny]

Another one to avoid is Ufuk!

[Fil]

I think another consideration is that it is much easier to be a Sedef in UK or US than to be a Jennifer in Turkey.

[MutluKadin]

Can was never one we wanted... But I want Benjamin and he didn't go for it. His fear is that our kid will be American enough without having an American name. It was a long and painful conversation and I do respect his opinion, yet I'm also hurt by it...

BUT if we spell it Binyamin, then it's actually Islamic! I pray that he'll be okay with that. I'm waiting for the right time to mention it.

[Ahududu]

MutluKadin,
My immediate thought was 'Netanyahu'. - I thought it was a Jewish/Hebrew name??
Does it have that connotation for a Turk??

[MutluKadin]

Netanyahu??? No thanks, I'll pass!

The issue was the specific name I was fond of and how it didn't meet my husband's 'requirements' but I'm hoping my compromise on the spelling will warm him up to my idea.

[samanthaozkara]

congratulations on your pregnancy MutluKadın Myself and the hubby have decided when we have children we will have names for the children that dont have any turkish letters in and are spelt the same way in turkish and in english. So far the names I have always said I like he likes too

Im sure when you have your baby you will both agree on a name that you never thought you both would like xxxx

[clinky]

When the Fiancée and I talk about baby names we usually come up with the classic names. Being Armenian, she's keen not to confuse the officials...

We've provisionally decided on Eva, Viktoria or Izabella.

[Meral]

So you've definitely decided it'll be a girl then ?