Using family names from another language....?

Question

Do you alter the spellings? not use them?

here are a few of my family ones... what do you think?

girls:

Magdaleena would be Magdalen in English

Saara (Sarah or Sara)

Kaarina (Karen or Karina)

Tuula (Tula, Toula)

Anneli (Anne, Anna, Annelise, Anna-Lee)

Anna-Liisa (as above plus Annalisa)...

Helmi (translates to Pearl)

Adelleid (Adelaide)

Lilly

Lotte (short for Charlotte maybe?)

Christine

Anita

Milma (Milly)

boys:

Hermanni (Herman)

Urho (translates to Hero)

Matti (Matt, Matthew)

Tomas (Thomas)

Joachim (Joaquin)

Answer 1

I like Tomas and Matti and Marcia and Annalisa, i guess. Not sure about girls. Yes I would translate, that way it is easier for people to pronounce. Also , if you want to keep it in the native language, you could always use these names as middle names

Answer 2

The names are nice, but the spelling just butchers them. I'm sorry.

Answer 3

It all depends.  Are you trying to honor others in your family for naming them directly after them?  If so keep the spelling the same, otherwise Oz-i-fy 'em.

Magdaleena, Magdalen, Magdalane, Magdalyn(ne), Magdalana, Magdalayna, Magdala, or make the G silent as if it were welsh...shhhhh no one will say a word about it. try Madaline, Madeline, Madelyn(ne), Madalyn(ne), Madda, Maggie, Maddie

(I really like Magdalyn(ne), Madalyn and Maddie

Saara...I really like this spelling of Sara/Sarah just as it is.  My name is Sarah and its rather boring.

Adalleid can stay the same

Lotte could stay as it is, but no one names their child this anymore, it's too European for them to wrap their mind around.

Urho is just too odd for English speaking countries, Hero would be different, but is still a little odd....try spelling it with an I and think Japanese with Hiro.  People will then just make fun of the parent for being addicted to the time traveller from the tv show Heroes.

Matti could be Matthias or Matias , its a fairly biblical name but gaining popularity every now and again, often used in German speaking countries.  Maybe other spellings could be Mattis or Matisse

Your list sounds slightly Dutch with a Catholic feel.

Answer 4

Are you from a country where people usually speak a language other then English?

If not, I'd stick to fairly normal spellings unless there's one you just love. It has potential to make you look pretentious when your daughter or son(If that's indeed what you're asking this question for) is called upon in class, or on job applications, etc.

If these are names of people you cold potentially adopt, then you could translate, or if they are old enough, ask for there  input on the matter