by Barbara Akowuah

Created on: June 24, 2008

Names are important, names are a way we remember people, a way we introduce ourselves and a way we stand out.

So why is it people are so bias towards people who choose to use cultural names that are reflective of their heritage?

Should we get upset when we are unable to pronounce a name correctly? Should we pre-judge someone who has a "ghetto" sounding name? Believe me I am not a fan of ghetto sounding names but cultural names have some "ghetto" aspects to it.

For one they are names that we often misunderstood like let's say for instance the name Amir or sometimes pronounced Ahmir, this name may have a ghetto ring to it yet it means Prince in Arabic.

If the name Amir appeared on a job application I am guessing the employer would automatically assume that the person is ethnic probably black. Amir is a lovely name with a distinctive quality something I would consider naming my son after.

In fact there are many Arabic names that I would love to name my son after not because they are Arabic or because of what they stand for but because I love the way it sounds.

Names like Nuri, Mosi, Nasir and Khalid all sound great to me but would it be at a disadvantage for my son because of the "terrorist" type of environment we live in, I don't want people to classify him as a terrorist because he has a Muslim sounding name.

There is nothing wrong with Muslim sounding names just as there is nothing wrong with Islam the religion itself. I have contemplated at times giving my daughter a Japanese name like Yukiko, I knew someone from my former college a friend names Yukiko and she was very sweet. I thought why not do something different and give m daughter a Japanese or Chinese name?

I mean how many times has this been done by a black person or any other person who is non-Asian for that matter? The only black people I know with Japanese/Chinese sounding names are Teikio Spikes the professional football player and Tomiko Frasier the supermodel. I've heard of Nikko which has a nice ring to it and Kimora which I personally think sounds more black than anything but is also a nice name.

Would it be unusual to give my child a Japanese name if it has a particular sound that I find appealing or a definition behind it that I feel suits my child? Speaking of definitions what is with this whole pretty girl names idea?

The idea that if your name sounds pretty than you are most likely also pretty, you know the Jasmines, Vanessa's, Mias, and Ava's of the world. Once I remember hearing a comedian say, "what's up with the moms who give their children pretty people names knowing damn well their child ain't cute".

I thought this was funny than I began to think to myself whose to say who is cute and who isn't a name doesn't give you license to believe you are what it constitutes you to be unless you really are that way.

Anyway people appreciate the names that you have and when trying to select a name for your child please try and choose something that you really like and that you feel your child might like to.

Don't go with the name Chloe, Zoe or Isabella just because you feel it will allow your child to be with the in crowd, if you feel the names Alfie, Joachim or Ameyo are just as good than by all means give your baby those names, the more unique sounding the name the better.

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