Za Latt Phyu Sin Moe

Professor Kaiser

ESL 400

29 February 2024

Are Name Changes a Symbol of Adaptation or a Loss of Cultural Identity for International Students?

Still to this day, the image of that one person who nailed the pronunciation of my name comes to mind(IC) whenever I recall my first week in the United States(DC). The very first American to neatly pronounce my name was this guy who works on an apartment- leasing team. It was strange to hear my own name spoken so well; for a split second, I wondered if he could be a Burmese-American. In many ways, this is a common experience for international students like myself; it makes us simply pleased to hear our names said right. In fact, people in our day and age have a greater understanding and awareness of diversity than they did in previous centuries due to the increase of social media campaigns, and other awareness activities. Considering today’s society embraces diversity, international students who keep their native names can demonstrate their unique identities along with their defining features(VOC) and skills, feel a sense of belonging while also reflecting their cultures through names. 

It is definitely beneficial to continue having a birth name(IC) because it is unique and intriguing to others(DC). Furthermore, it might spark a discussion and provide an opportunity to discuss one's own background and mentality(VOC). We can see this in the article “After being James, Peter, and William, I Decided to Stick With My Chinese Name”, where Huang decided to use his Chinese first name while enrolled in his master program. Huang writes, “Because I was one of the few students using a Chinese first name in my Master’s Class, I was easily remembered by my dozens of foreign classmates. My identity was unique, and consistent across social circles”(QUOTE)(par. 16). Obviously, his distinct identity set him apart from others, which resulted in the recognition of numerous foreign peers. He didn’t have to stress over people mistaking  English names anymore, one to which he doesn't really belong. Huang also mentioned, “Even better is when they express curiosity about the meaning of the name,...”(par. 18). Huang explained the meaning of his name to his colleagues and Huang also described the reaction of others. Similar to Huang, when I was in my first math lesson in the United States, I presented myself to the class as "Za Latt Phyu Sin Moe”, which is my birth name. They showed a great deal of curiosity and inquired about the meaning of my name as well as asking about my nationality. The meaning of "Za Latt" is a type of flower known as "Primrose”, "Phyu Sin" means "Angelic," and "Moe" is the last name of my father. I will never forget how stunned they were after hearing the meanings, and they chose to call me “Za Latt”. I had the chance to convey the meaning of my original name and background when I introduced myself with it. On top of that, my name stands out in the class, so my professor and classmates had no trouble remembering me.Therefore, going by a native name can make international students stand out in the crowd and stay with their true identity.

Moreover, international students who retain their original birth names can have an emotional connection to their names. Using one's birth name builds a greater sense of confidence when introducing oneself to others, as it is closely associated with the person's identity. In the article “After being James, Peter, and William, I Decided to Stick With My Chinese Name”, Huang was not confident about introducing himself as James to Fiona, an exchange student from Edinburgh. She was doubtful when Huang identified himself as "James" because he was nervous about introducing himself as James. According to Huang, “Perhaps my introduction didn’t sound confident. If so, no wonder: I didn’t feel like a James”(par.13). Huang assumed that his introduction to Fiona didn’t sound confident at all because his name was certainly not James and it hit him: he didn’t belong to it. We can also find this in the article, "Claiming the History in Family Names,” where Wartanian insisted on changing his name to "Kevin" because his mother’s and brother’s native names were made fun of by others. But when he received the Christmas present labeled "To Kevin," he felt an intense disconnection from his own identity. Wartanian stated, “I felt lost. Displaced. Like something essential about me had been replaced by something disposable”(par.10). Wartanian felt as if nothing in him is “essential” anymore and felt “replaced” with the name “Kevin”. The same thing happened to me when I called an Uber from my college to home for the very first time in the U.S. Because my ride request was under my English name, when I stepped into the car, he greeted me by that name. For a moment, I felt as if I were in the wrong car, but then I remembered that I had used my English name for this Uber ride. The driver was confused because I didn't respond to his greeting at first. So, I had to explain that I wasn't used to being called by my English name, and fortunately, he understood. This experience made me realize that if I had just used my native name without considering the convenience, I wouldn't have been in this situation and I could respond to the driver naturally because it is the name I was born with and the name I have a connection to. Therefore, it is not a good idea for international students to change their names just to make things easier because changing one's name could make one feel less confident in their own identity.

Furthermore, international students can better represent their home countries and reflect their cultures by using native names while studying abroad. In the article, “It Took Moving To America for me to Change my Colonized Name”, Kimeria realized that a name can carry and reflect its own kind of culture. According to Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, “Language, any language, has a dual character: it is both a means of communication and a carrier of culture“(qtd. in Kimeria, par.17). Thus, it is clear that a name can serve as both a means of expression and a cultural carrier. We can also see this in the article, “After being James, Peter, and William, I Decided to Stick With My Chinese Name”, where Huang described names as a reflection of different cultures. He added that Chinese people tend to not only introduce their names but also share the culture behind them as a charm. Huang describes, “The name carries my parents’ simple wish for me to live a life free from accidents or suffering”(par.19). Thus, international students who keep their original names can certainly reflect their cultural backgrounds just through their names.

When international students travel to a new country to pursue their education, they are essentially(VOC) acting as representatives of their home countries. People are able to reflect on them and have a better understanding of the history and culture of their nations. It is always worth the effort to clarify how to pronounce the name to those who are not from the country where you are from, even though it can be challenging at times. Consequently, I propose that every single international student should not change their names but rather highlight the cultures, identities, and connotations(VOC) that are associated with their names.

Works Cited

Huang, Zheping. “After Being James, Peter, and William, I Decided to Stick With My  

Chinese Name.” Quartz Magazine, 14 Feb. 2017.

Kimeria, Ciku. “It Took Moving to America for me to Change my Colonized Name.” 

Quartz Magazine, 30 Jul. 2017.

Wartanian, Raffi Joe. “Claiming the History in Family Names.” The New York Times, 1 

Mar. 2019.