Written by Junxi Guo, Jiacan Li and Tianxin Xie

A decision that could be considered a cultural phenomenon; adopting new names has the potential to drastically impact the lives of international students in many ways.

While most students adopt new names when they move overseas; the few that stick with their given names usually have ones easier to pronounce. It is often difficult for teachers and other international students to get their names right; but of course, some stick to their given names despite this, as the names are often bestowed with a special meaning for the students.

There are many reasons as to why international students may change their name when they study abroad, basing the name on their cultural background or personal interests. The name William could easily arise from admiration for Prince William and wanting to appear noble. In other instances, choosing a new name based on homonyms of their given name is not unheard of.

Why does this happen?
International students who adopt new names, typically find that their given names are difficult for teachers and other classmates to pronounce. The wrong pronunciation can bring about awkward conversations and embarrassing moments, which can be discouraging for international students looking to make connections in the new phase of their lives.

The adopting of a new name is often seen as a means to ease how an international student adapts to local life in their home away from home, because it is not strange for people to be discriminated against because of their name. Most students’ lives don’t change much. They think that adopting a new name will create a lot of conveniences for them in their daily life including the hope that friends can accept their new names, as it certainly makes it easier to order a drink when taking advantage of the universality of an English name.

Is this the case for everyone?
For international students who choose to stick with their given names, it can be very frustrating to be surrounded by classmates with non-standard pronunciation. This can sometimes lead to having others students awarding them a nickname which might not always be bad or matter to the student in question.

All in all, the adoption of a new name all comes down to preferences. All cultures or ethnicities are unique and beautiful in their own way. We should respect and understand those different to us, as the silver lining is that there are people out there taking the initiative to learn the pronunciation of names from other countries than their own, which is a great way to promote the cultural exchange and nurture healthy relationships with those around us.