如何起一个走心的英文名字？5个技巧！
For English, please scroll to the bottom.
看英文内容，请直接滑动到底部。
老桑说
英文名的英文意思是 English name，目前各国比较流行英文名，因为世界各国交流多了，有了英文名更方便交流。
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「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。 」
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=k0564y1lx4i&width=500&height=375&auto=0
01
作为一个有着很多中国朋友的外国人，我经常会被身边的人请教如何给自己起一个合适的英文名字。
名字作为我们身份的象征，对于每个人来说都非常重要，我也十分看重这个事情。
我的朋友经常让我给他们起一个“符合身份”的名字，以便于他们追求更好的职业发展和建立国际知名度。
首先，英文名字并不是一个必须因素。如果你想直接用中文名字，这完全没有问题。
然而需要注意的是，若你的名字拼音含有“x”或则“q”，则对于一些外国朋友来说可能会较难发音。
此外，用中文名字的拼音作为英文名很容易令他人难以辨别你的性别，所以选择一个符合性别的英文名能够让他人在看到你名字时更好地识别你的身份。
我的中文名“桑国亚”就是我的第一个中文老师给我起的，起这个名字的原因可能是因为它与我的真实姓氏发音相似。
其实我许多中国朋友甚至都不知道我的英文名字，但这并不妨碍我们之间感情。
一个适当的中文名字很大程度上拉近了我和中国朋友之间的距离，同样的，我的很多中国朋友也会为了与外国人更好的沟通而给自己选择一个英文名字。
许多中文名都含有历史典故，激励意义或文化气息，但这在英文里并不常见。
许多大众化的名字都源于拉丁文、希腊文以及希伯来语，随着时间的推移逐渐变为现在的英文名字。
其实大多数美国人甚至都不知道他们的名字的真实含义。
02
如果你决定选择一个合适的英文名，
下面五个技巧一定会帮助到你。
美国社会保障署每年都会公布一份男孩和女孩前百姓名的数据，详细请看链接：https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/(也可点击文末阅读原文)
主页中向大家展示了男孩女孩姓名热度的前十名，当你向下滑你可以选择查看全部前百姓名。
由于前十名的名字都十分常见，向下多找一找，你会发现更为独特且令你心仪的名字。
一个小建议：名字的最后一个读音与姓氏的第一个读音最好要不同，以便他人更容易读出你的名字。
比如，假若你姓“Li”，那么请避免使用“Daniel”或者“Abigail”作为名字；如果你姓“Wang”，那么请避免使用“Matthew”或者“Willow”作为名字。
这样做能够保证在你的名字中不会有太多重复的读音出现，也会让你名字的发音更容易。
不信的话，可以尝试着读读下面这些名字：Daniel Li和Matthew Li，Abigail Li和Willow Li，哪个读起来更顺口呢？
虽然只有细微差别，但我认为Matthew Li和Willow Li读起来会比另外两个更加顺口一些。
许多中国姓氏都是单音节的，因此选择一个双音节或多音节的名字则更为合适。
这样会让你的名字读起来更有节奏感，更加顺畅。
如果你姓“Liu”，那么Benjamin Liu或Isabella Liu读起来就比Mark Liu或Ann Liu更有节奏感。
如果你姓“Zhang”，Alexander Zhang或Charlotte Zhang就比Paul Zhang或Ann Zhang读起来更为顺畅。
而我的情况则正好相反。我的姓氏“Smagula”是三音节的发音，所以我很庆幸自己的名字是单音节的“John”。
当然了，如果你姓“欧阳”或“司马”等复姓，那么恭喜你比大部分人都有更多选择，你可以选择一个单音节或双音节的英文名字。
你的名字和昵称之间是存在区别的，在某些情况下，你的名字将会成为你职业身份的一部分。
举个例子，如果你的名字是Kitty，Candy，Delilah，Satan，Cash或者UFO的话，或许大家并不会对你认真对待。
如果你通过前百排行榜选择姓名，那么请一定要尽量避免被认为愚蠢的风险。
当然，如果你真的想取一个略带“幽默”色彩的名字作为朋友间的昵称，这样做没有任何问题。
如果你选择一个名人或者运动明星的名字作为英文名，人们的第一印象可能是认为你想成为别人，而不是你自己。
此外，另外一个风险就是倘若这个名人最终陷入丑闻，那么你个人的名声可能也会受到可能的影响。
所以我建议大家尽可能不要使用Kobe或者Angelina作为自己的英文名。
当然，如果你真的非常崇拜他们，尤其是怀有成为一名优秀篮球运动员或电影明星的梦想，那么你当然可以这样做。
03
朋友们，选择英文名并不是一个需要精确计算的科学，甚至你都并不是必须要有一个英文名。
然而，如果你真的想给自己起一个合适的英文名，请根据上述这五个技巧进行尝试。
选择一个并试试看，如果你感觉真的不喜欢它那么就换另一个再试试。
我肯定你在最终一定会找到令你满意的答案。
谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
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「 Hello, my friend,
I’m John Smagula. 」
I am often asked to help friends choose an English name. I consider this to be an important task, as your name becomes a part of your identity. Friends often ask me for an “authentic” name to help them with professional development and build a more international awareness.
First of all, there’s no requirement that you have an English name. If you wish to use your given name in Chinese, that’s perfectly fine. If the pinyin of your name has an “x” or “q” in it, though, it could take some effort to help foreigners pronounce your name. Moreover, it is hard to tell if a pinyin name is that of a man or woman, so choosing a gender-specific name in English will help others know who you are in written correspondence.
My Chinese name of Sang Guoya was given to me by my first-year Chinese teacher, perhaps because it sounds similar to my real last name. I’d say that many of my friends in China do not even know my English name, and I have no problem with this. Having a Chinese name helps me to reduce distance in relating to people in China, and for the same reason, Chinese friends often choose an English name to facilitate communication with foreigners.
Many Chinese names have historical, inspirational, and poetic meanings, but this is not common in English. Many common names have their roots in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and over time have become Anglicized. Most Americans, for example, don’t even know what their name means.
《English Name》
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If you do decide to choose an English name,
here are 5 tips to help you with your selection.
I. Choose a Top 100 name for your birth year
The U.S. Social Security Administration publishes a database of the top 100 names for boys and girls each year. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
( You can also select the link at the bottom of this article. )
The home page provides the top 10 names for boys and girls. When you scroll down to the left, there is an option to search the top 100 names by birth year.
As the top 10 names are really common, you may wish to choose a name farther down the list to help distinguish yourself.
II. Make it easy to pronounce
The final phoneme, or sound, of your first name should be different from the first phoneme of your last name.
For example, if your last name is Li, avoid choosing “Daniel” or “Abigail.” If your last name is Wang, avoid “Matthew” or “Willow.” This makes your name easier to pronounce and prevents having too much of the same sound in a name.
Try speaking these names: Daniel Li vs. Matthew Li, Abigail Li vs. Willow Li. There is a very subtle difference, but I think Matthew Li and Willow Li just flow better than Daniel and Abigail.
III. Avoid names with one syllable
As most Chinese last names have one syllable, choose a first name with two or more syllables. This creates a greater sense of rhythm and prevents your name from sounding choppy.
If your last name is Liu, Benjamin Liu or Isabella Liu has a greater sense of rhythm than Mark Liu or Ann Liu. If your last name is Zhang, Alexander Zhang or Charlotte Zhang seems less choppy than Paul Zhang or Ann Zhang.
My case is the opposite. My last name has three syllables, Smagula, so I’m grateful that my first name, John, has only one! Of course, if your last name is Ouyang or Sima, you have more flexibility, and can choose a one- or two-syllable first name.
IV. Be professional
There is a difference between a first name and a nickname. At some point, your name will become a part of your professional identity.
You may not be taken seriously if your name is Kitty, Candy, or Delilah if you’re a woman, or Satan, Cash, or UFO if you’re a man.
If you stick to the top 100 names, you’ll avoid the risk of being considered silly. It’s fine, though, if you want to have a more “fun” name as a nickname to use among friends.
V. Skip the celebrity names
If you choose a celebrity or athlete’s name, people’s first impression may be that you’re trying to be someone else. And there’s a risk that if the celebrity ends up in a scandal, your own reputation could be affected.
So, I suggest avoiding names like Kobe or Angelina. Of course, it’s fine if you admire them as people, especially if you’re an aspiring basketball player or movie star!
My friend, choosing an English name is not an exact science, and there’s no requirement that you even have one. However, follow these steps if you wish to have an English name. Select one, try it out, and if you don’t like it, change to another one. In the end, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with your selection!
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Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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老桑说
John Smagula
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