I'm creating a book entitled shontisha williams guide to naming your black baby and I need some sister input?

I'd like to share in the books successes with all that contribute african names and meanings. Are there any sisters out there that would like to help?

I'm creating a book entitled shontisha williams guide to naming your black baby and I need some sister input?
I don't know whether to cry or laugh at Margeret's response - about being a sub who can't figure out how to pronounce her student's names, and would like people to refrain from assigning their children names that are creative and evocative of a rich cultural heritage, because she has a hard time pronouncing them.





I make it my business to learn my Kwacys, Chilembwes and Ashanti's, and to know which one of my students is Darren and which one is Darion. I think Leila and Lliana shouldn't get mixed up and I certainly can distinguish Pablo from Pedro. And a classroom of Rayshawns, Quintaras and Xoichotl's is a lot more interesting than a tedious grouping of Ryans, Madisons and Regans.





It always saddens me when i say a kid's name back and they look at me in astonishment and say "wow, you pronounced my name right." It makes me think there are a lot of people who just won't listen if the name doesn't have an anglo cadence.





It's funny because I grew up going to a school where a lot of kids had hebrew names and I remember how we used to mock the subs that mangled the names beyond recognition. The thing is, Akiva, Vered, Ronit and Gilad sounded completely normal to us, since we all knew multiple people with names that were representative of our jewish heritage and culture. I remember quite clearly very much enjoying a similar guide to jewish baby names, and looking up all the names of my classmates and friends.





I'd love to read "Shontisha's guide to naming your black baby" when it comes out and learning more of the stories behind my student's names!
Reply:I did a search, and I'm sure you know what's out there. I used a lot of info when I named my son, including his grandfathers' names, meanings and even initials. I wasn't looking for any nationality per se.





But I would like to say a little something regarding the comment about children's names. I was a teacher for almost five years (and might go back), and I had a number of children that said, when I asked to hear their name again, "You can call me..."





I said, "No. I want to call you by your name. You just need to help me." I spent time in a primarily Hispanic culture and can now have a much better Spanish accent. It takes practice.





I have a cousin that was adopted from Korea - they kept her Korean name for her middle name. Why? What's wrong with it being the first name?





My brother's children have names that are similar in both Spanish and English - that's an option.





What I hope is that you can find an angle which really hasn't been explored in the naming process. Pictures, similar names and spellings, numerology, I don't know, just something to make your book stick out.





I myself am of European descent, but my family is diverse, and I love it that way!
Reply:With a ghetto name like Shontisha who's going to take your book seriously. I mean you have to be kidding you want to write a book to naming a black child when in fact you shouldnt write on that subject because your first name sounds ghetto.
Reply:The girl's name Lela \l(e)-la\ is of Kiswahili origin, and its meaning is "black beauty". Also refers to "loyalty" in French.





The girl's name (Ashanti )\a-shan-ti, ash(a)-nti\ is of Ghanaian origin. From the name of a powerful African empire (17th to early 20th century). Today, names associated with the empire bring to mind power and victory. The name is used as a surname by the Akan people of Ghana, and also in modern American black families as a link to the African past.








The girl's name Ciara \cia-ra\ is pronounced kee-ARR-ah, see-ARR-ah. It is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and its meaning is "black". Modern coinage. Feminine form of Ciaran, the name of two major Irish saints. Can also be traced back to Chiara (Italian) "light", or to Sierra (Spanish) "saw".
Reply:I can't help, but I'd buy a couple of copies when you're done.
Reply:I have a favor.





Would you consider using African names for the child's middle name, and just give them a run-of-the-mill American name for the first name? In fact, a couple of my own kids have 2 middle names, perhaps you could encourage parents to do the same, but still use a standard American first name just for school. Lots of kids have nicknames which they use everywhere but at school, so this has a lot of precedent.





I sub in an inner-city pre-school, and it's just so hard to remember these names. I'm European in descent (Ireland mostly), and I just went to the Bible for my kids' names. I have a somewhat exotic middle name --it's Greek, it's Aurora--but it's my middle name. In the ordinary course of the day's events, no one has to contend with that awkward name. My first name is pretty standard, with standard spelling.





I know this is a different perspective, but I have heard kids complaining that the teacher cannot pronounce their name right, even now, toward the end of the school year. It's frustrating to the kids and embarrassing for the teacher.





So please consider my point of view when you write that book. We love all our students, and hate it when we have to look at a child and say, "young man" because we can't pronounce or can't recall the name.





Thanks!