/ot/ - off-topic

What don't you get, is it the use of Kanji which are pronounced to mean something else, or names themselves?

It's not really any different from say in German, where a lot of names "mean" things, like Siegfried, which is literally "Victory-peace". In fact the naming conventions in most languages in the world are like this, where given names refer to things which are still etymologically current. Like I had a Lithuanian friend whose name was Giedre, which also means something like "Sunshine" or "Sunny".

Maybe it's just because English names (so to speak) have been quite removed from their origin, so it doesn't sound "right" to Anglophones when people of other languages use names which still "mean" things.

I think I've explained this weird but I hope you understand?

>>42469
Yes, exactly, that's what confuses me. I'm used to names that are very removed from "meanings" like the name "Emily." I hear that name and don't immediately think of like "Industrious/striving" (which apparently is what Emily means). I guess I just am curious, like in my example, are Japanese / Chinese people and others who use names with real meanings, actually calling the person that specific word meaning like "Love Child" or "Plum" or is Aiko/Mei/etc just a 'name'? Hard for me to explain, haha, but I am very curious about it

>>42470

Yeah it's pretty cool.
I think English is just the odd man out in this whole thing. There are similar kinds of names in English like Apple or Rose or Holly or Blanche but they aren't really as common as other names(which of course also mean things in their proper context/language of origin, but we don't automatically think of them as such, like you mentioned with Emily).

I don't get it either. I think it's just one of those cultural difference things.

Most people in English-speaking countries don't use those conventions, so when someone does name their kid something like "Sparkle" or "Moonrise" or "Amethyst", it seems trashy or bizarre. In areas where it's common, it's not seen as weird.

Not really, because they are generally far removed from the structure of the actual colloquial spoken language, even if they share some of the same characters. This is one of the reasons, but it's not all of them.

You can't look at the Chinese/Japanese language through the lens of an English speaker. Just know it doesn't feel like what you said.

My JP friend explained it to me like this:

Almost anything can really be put together to "sound like a name", even if it isn't a real one. Anime is a good example because there are frequently "fake" names that are still recognizable as a name in context.

Context and tone have a lot to do with it, although I guess you could think of it like people's internet handles where you get used to calling a person something like "Pixy" or "Lottes" (lol). Not a name, but sounds like a "name" in context.

Agreeing with >>42480 though on the point that you are having trouble with the concept because of viewing it through an English speaking perspective. Try learning some moon runes if you're ever bored, OP.