What's In A Name?

Some of my kids have chosen some pretty crazy English names.  I don't think they fully understand the amount of power choosing a name gives them.  If they go to an English speaking country, and they introduce themselves to a person, that person will struggle to pronounce their Chinese name (to be polite) and then, the student could offer them their English name - and that first impression is pretty important. That is how that English person will know the student for the rest of their time together.  Too normal of a name, and its forgettable.  Too absurd, and...well, its absurd.  They have to hit it just right, getting the meaning they want behind the name as well as capturing an aspect of their personality.

I spoke to another American teacher, and they said that we have every right to help them choose a better name.  Or make them do it.  If I believe that their English name will hinder them later in life, its best to try to convince them to change it now so they can get use to something different.

So, here is a list of some of the names that my students have chosen for themselves that I'm probably going to talk to about changing them:

- Snowy (I have a lot of 'Snowys' or 'Snows' and things like that)
- Star (Ehhh)
- Wind (God, this is an awesome name.   The kid looks like a young Jet-Li too.  But I'm not 100% sure if its appropriate.  I may let him keep it because its just awesome)
- Echo (Pretty much the same thing as 'Wind's'.  Just an awesome name...but not sure if its a good English name.  On the wall with this one)
- Adolf (....yeah.  I don't think the world is ready for 'Adolf' again just yet.  Even if it is a common German name technically)
- Hurray (This is a guy's name)
- Lichard (Yeah, I don't know what to do with this)
- McGrady (I'm just going to tell this kid that his name is the last name of every stereotypical cop from Boston)
- Pink (I have to tell these kids that there is a difference between an English name and a nickname)
- Cream (she's so nice and helpful, and I'd hate to do it.  I may allow her to keep it, because it fits her, but is it really a good English name?)
- Seanday (Yeah, I have a lot of trouble pronouncing this)
- Shrimp (Adorable, but this is a nickname)
- Seven (You can't have a number as a name)
- Vae (For a guy.  Is this a good name? I don't know.)
- Goblin (This is a girl)
- Lasting (on the fence with this one.)
- Merlin (Pretty sure he is friends with Goblin.)
- Nemo (Again, on the fence)
- Rock (This kid is not Samoan.)
- David (This would be a perfectly fine name if it belonged to a gentleman and not a lady)
- Wonderful (Cute, but not a wonderful English name)
- Boopa (...what?)
- Smith (Not a good English first name)
- Kaka (I think this kid is playing some kind of joke on me with this name.)

Name this,

- Andrew