foreign babies

[deird1]

People have different first names in different countries, for the record. It's like this whole thing.


I have found it very interesting having a son in Germany, for many reasons. But mostly because his name's gone all weird.

In Australia, he has one of the most common names ever to exist. It's been in the top 20 Aussie baby names since before we were even a country. In Australia, everyone already knows the spelling, the pronounciation, and the nickname, without having to ask.

In Germany... it's not just an uncommon name; it's a non-existent name.

Here, I'm getting very used to having the exact same conversation over and over:
"What's his name?"
"Lachlan."
"...what?"
"Lachlan."
"...Lach-lan?" (as though I've just presented them with a random mash of syllables that must be carefully tested)
"Yes. Lachlan. It's Scottish."
"...oh."
"Yep."
"...so she's a girl, then?"

They cannot pronounce my son's name. They cannot spell my son's name. The correct spelling convinces them they were wrong about the pronounciation. And they're all sure he's a girl.

It's rather fascinating.

Comments

[velvetwhip]

You don't hear it in the US either, though I had a classmate whose brother was named Lachlan... they were Scottish.


Gabrielle

[deird1]

It's ridiculously uncommon in most of the world, I think. Australia is the odd one out.

[petzipellepingo]

In a country where they name boys Wolfgang, Uwe, etc. I can see the confusion.

[deird1]

*nods*

[immer_am_lesen]

As soon as I try to think of German names starting with 'L', they're all girl names...so I think that a boy's name starting with 'L' is not that common, thus perhaps some confusion...?
PS- to really have fun, pronounce it with a Scottish accent from now on. :-D

[vass]

Ludwig?

[immer_am_lesen]

PPS- Interesting that you write their pronunciation of it as "lach-lan", not, say, "lock-lon". How are they saying it? :-)

[deird1]

They're saying it in a variety of ways, mainly depending on whether they've seen how it's written down or not. But, if you think about it, German doesn't really use "short" vowels at all - so no-one quite knows what to do with the very short O sound. It's an entirely foreign pronounciation of that syllable, so they all either cast around for the nearest German equivalent (mostly variations on "Lack" or "Low-k"), or try to get their mouth round the actual short O, looking very puzzled as they do so...

[vass]

Good thing he's not growing up there. Having a name no one can pronounce or spell or gender correctly is hard.

[deird1]

*nods* Totally.

[beer_good_foamy]

Maybe they're hearing -lan as -lein and assume that since it's a diminutive, it must be a girls' name? (Which is a whole other issue.)

[deird1]

Maybe...

[lliira]

I've never known anyone named that, but in the U.S. we're relatively used to unusual names. He'd have to get used to spelling it for everyone, then having people ask what culture it was from and what it meant. And probably what side of his family was Scottish, was he named after an ancestor, had he ever been to Scotland. Then they'd tell him what a great name it was, because that's what we do in these situations.

[deird1]

The US is awesome like that. :)

And probably what side of his family was Scottish, was he named after an ancestor, had he ever been to Scotland.

That's the other thing! Everyone hears my explanation of "Scottish name" (which it is), and assumes we're from Scotland!

The name is actually more common in Australia than in Scotland, I believe. At home, he's likely to be in a school class with at least one other "Lachie".

[immer_am_lesen]

...yours is the second Lachlan baby I know of within a few months!
(btw, I never knew how to spell the nickname- 'Lachie' just looks like it should be pronounced 'lat-chee' or 'lackee'...
Will you keep him as Lachlan, written, or actually write it shorter, too? I know that 'Lochie' looks a little odd, but I think it's the best written form I've seen. :))

[brin_bellway]

And here I was thinking you had deliberately given him an unusual name. *adds note to mental file on Australia*

My name is common in both the places I've lived, but I have noticed quite a few "Michaela"s (mih-KAY-luh) here. I never encountered that name in New Jersey.

[deird1]

Lachlan Macquarie was one of our first governers, and has numerous places named after him, as well as lots of babies.

It's like if Lincoln suddenly started a surge in babies being named Abraham, so that these days Abraham was a really uncommon name across the English speaking world, except in America where it was about as common as Pete or Jack...