China is definitely one of those places where the locals sometimes give themselves English names that sound mighty odd for native English speakers. I still remember meeting one East China Normal University student, a pint-sized runt of a lass, who told me her English name was “Creamy”. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. You can be sure I was thinking the same. And that’s just one of my own experiences.
Two Dutch ladies, who have since fled Shanghai back to Europe, have seen fit to document over 200 Chinese people and their inspiration for their adopted English names in a 176-page book that I’m certain would make a great addition to coffee tables everywhere (I’m actually saying this with all sincerity). As described on their website:
Researched, written and photographed by Valerie Blanco and Ellen Feberwee, Dutch travelers and students of international social trends, “In China, My name is…” introduces the reader to dozens of Chinese people and their reasons for selecting their English name. Apple, Henry, Molly, Phoenix and Zat are among the nearly 200 names—some deeply personal, some random, some humorous—discussed in the small-format, 176-page book.
Apple, for example, says she selected her name because she always dresses in green and often turns red with shyness. Young Henry’s name was chosen for him because his Chinese name is Han Rei, Han being an ethnic group and Rei meaning lucky. Molly named herself after the Demi Moore character in the American movie, “Ghost.” Phoenix picked her name because she admires both the bird whose spirit is said to never die and the American city that has a basketball team she likes very much. Zat says that her English name has no meaning at all, but was selected merely because it was “simple and easy to remember.” Zat and several others featured in the book provide additional comments on the trend, and how their friends and family have reacted to their English names.
So why did Valerie and Ellen write this book?
We hope ‘In China, My name is…’ accurately shows some of the cultural changes taking place in China, and the differences between Chinese people and Chinese hopes and dreams….We wanted to share simple stories, touching stories, and perhaps even future developments resulting from a far more open-door policy in China with the rest of the world.
Sounds like my kind of gals.
If you haven’t already heard, the ever-smackable chinaSMACK is running a nifty contest where three lucky commenters will win a free copy of the book (think of your coffee table) by sharing their own stories of the English appellations Chinese people have given themselves. You better hurry, however, as the contest ends this coming Sunday or so. Go share your stories »
Otherwise, “In China, My name is…” can be purchased online through the book’s official website (via Amazon) or at a local book store. For Shanghai and Beijing, you might want to check out Garden Books:
7 days a week 8am-9pm
Tel: (010) 6585 1435
Address: 44 Guanghua Rd, 100020, Beijing
7 days a week 10am-10pm
Tel: 021-5404-8728
Address: 325 Chang Le Rd, 200031, Shanghai
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Since chinaSMACK popped into the scene, other English China blogs have increasingly copied its formula of translating Chinese discussion forum news and content.
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What do you do when your Chinese name is so unique the computer lacks the character to print your name? Officials in China are suggesting that you change it.
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Summary of interesting points and the English-language China blogs mentioned in the recent BON TV David Moser interview with Jeremy Goldkorn and Michael Anti.
English China Blogs Increasingly Translate Chinese Forum Content 
The Trouble With Chinese Names Not Found In The Computer 
English Blogs About China: Moser Interviews Goldkorn & Anti 
My favorite name is that of a former student. In my first ever English class in China, I wasted the first fifteen minutes or so asking each student in a 70 student class what their English names were. Of course, most of them didn’t have one and those that did were all “Cindy” and “Apple”, until one boy near the end said “Dragon Soldier”. I was too nervous to laugh, but man, what an awesome name!
(I assume his actual name is 龙军 or something and that’s where it came from, but who knows!)
LoL, that is definitely an awesome name and yeah, it might be a literal translation of his Chinese name or something, but that’s about 20 levels of kick-ass right there. I really hope he delivered it with a stone face. “My name is…DRAGON SOLDIER.” +2 points if he twitched after a moment of silence.
Yeah, he delivered it really really well. And he was kind of a twitchy guy, but I don’t recall if he twitched right after saying it or not. I would have died laughing if I hadn’t been 15 minutes into what was already my first-ever failed lesson plan.
Seriously that class went so badly.
“a pint-sized runt of a lass” ??? what’s up with this type of negative derogatory comment? – jerry
LoL, artistic license. She won’t mind.
Me: “Do you have an English name?”
Student: “My name Bob-O”
Me: “Oh, you mean your name is Bob”
Student: “Bob-O”
Me: “Ok, B-o-b, Bob (long, slow pronunciation), got it”
Later that night as I’m teaching apparently every kid in the neighborhood how to toss the pigskin, I am approached by a Zhejiang University Grad. with decent English
Her: “Your student wants me to tell you something”
Me: “Oh really, which student?”
Her: “Him. He says you got his name wrong. His name is Bob-O”
Me: “Oh, well I think he means Bob…”
Her: “No, he says his name is Bob-O, he wants you to stop calling him Bob”
I guess that name sucks in China too
LoL, nice, you do have to give him credit for standing up for what he believes in and, you know, not letting foreign imperialism mess with his sense of self-identity.
Oh yeah, notable as well:
A tour guide named “Rebel”
A language partner named “Scofield”, I wish it was after the rifle, but its from that unbearable yet wildly popular “Prison Break” crap
A Chemistry student named O-2, calls herself “Oxygen” but writes it O-2
I really hope that chemistry student is cute as how she handles her name is pretty nifty. Would redefine the “O” face also.
That’s a great idea! When I was in China at university, local English teachers gave students English names, You could tell the teachers’ background by the name they chose: i.e. classical “Mary, Ann, Paul” vs. trendy “Jason, Apple, Keith”. :lol:
But how about Westerners and their Chinese names? Some litteral translation are super weird!
My favorite two foreigner Chinese names:
The lazy classmate： 丁一一
The mackin’ classmate: 高和帅