Why do some people "translate" their names? what's up with that? ?

Question

Shouldn't your name be the same anywhere?

I have an Ukrainian friend who introduced himself as "Andrew". I asked him "No, is that your real name?" and so he said it was Andriy.

I love his name and I don't understand why he would want to "translate" it...

Answer 1

Well I am lucky I have the name Nick, so it can be a name in basically any country, but for people with names like Sergei, Bjorn, Siegfried, ect have harder names to pronouce and make them stick out like a sore thumb in other societies that are foreign. If a person named Bjorn from Norway came to the US, people wouldn't know how to pronounce his name, so many people Americanize names to sound more English, like Bjorn may become Bob, or Siegfried may become Sam because it is similar but more Americanized. It really makes life a lot easier to have an American name.

Answer 2

To make it easier for Americans who would probably s***w it up.

Answer 3

i know love ur non-language of your country name...my name is arabic...and i love it thats its different

Answer 4

So it's easier to pronounce for those who aren't familiar with that language. I'm looking at the name Andriy without a clue to how to say it.

Answer 5

I'm guessing you've never had anyone mispronounce your name!  It's very annoying and irratating to always have to correct someone, and also some names, you cant tell the gender so if someone is talking to you on the phone and doesn't know you, they may say Sir if your a female.  That's annoying.