Anyone else have a multicultural family?

Question

I'm about as Caucasian as they come but my hubby is first generation Chinese. (His parents immigrated 30+ years ago).

My in-laws are offended and upset that we've decided not to give our baby a Chinese name. I figured since his last name will be Chinese, why do we need another one?

Plus, I don't speak Chinese at all so the name would have absolutely NO meaning to me. We told them they could pick a Chinese name to call him as a nickname, it just won't be on the birth certificate but they seem unhappy with that. My hubby has an American first name and a Chinese middle and last name. He speaks enough Chinese to get by but doesn't know any names either.

We love the name we've chosen and don't plan on changing it. We're not being unreasonable, right?

Anyone else having some cultural issues?

Answer

My husband is Japanese and the same generation as your SO. He always said that he would give his kids American names, but when I got pregnant that all changed. We are going with Japanese names, but have agreed they will be easy names. We are having a girl and her name will be Emi pronounced like Emmy. It was hard at first bc I really wanted to name my daughter Charlotte, but now Emi just seems to fit

Answer

My dh is Chinese as well (I'm white) - my in laws gave our first a Chinese name but we don't use it.  We use the (english) name on her birth cert and they are ok with that.  Just out of curiosity what kind of names would they like?  I actually wanted to try a Chinese name for new baby but there just doesnt seem to be any good cross over names (i.e., easy to pronounce etc) Just wondering if you guys had any contenders :)

Answer

My mother in law hates the middle name I picked but guess what she is going to have to suck it because I had no say when she picked her children's names and neither will she.

Answer

Yes I'm Caucasian and my husband is salvadoran. With our first son we had a huge battle over everything from names to circumcision. Now we are having a girl and We haven't had as many battles...

Answer

I'm European American and my husband Cuban/Ecuadorean

Answer

I feel your pain!! I'm a mix of so much it's not even funny. My husband is full native. However, his mother is insane. She's convinced we must name our baby a Hispanic name and raise it Hispanic because his mother was accidentally born early in a vacation in Mexico when she was a baby... WteverlovingF.... I vetoed immediately. She hasn't forgiving me but oh well. He has a common name. My sons from my previous marriage have common names. We chose a common name for our baby. My kids will all be raised the same.

Answer

My best friend is whiter than white-reddish blonde hair, pale, freckles and her husband is Korean. Both of their kids have Korean middle names. The Asian culture is very traditional like that. As for me, I'm Italian and my husband is Mexican. My daughter's name is Alexandria Jade and my son will be Jaxson (or Jackson) John. Not too much culture in those!

Answer

It's what makes YOU happy. I think his parents probably feel like he's losing his history or Chinese-ness by not keeping the Chinese first/middle name going. BUT you are Caucasian. I'm Hispanic, he's Caucasian. My parents insist baby has my last name, to keep our side "going" 😕 you just gotta do you! If you're both happy, I think you've compromised enough by being open to them choosing a Chinese name to use themselves.

Anyone else have a multicultural family?

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