Trying to educate myself - is it normal for an Asian man to have two different names?

Well my nicknames not too hard, 'tis pronounced similar to 'Bev' but with an A not an E.

(Bev being a nickname for Beverly, no I'm not changing my name to a wimmins name).

The H cant really be too confusing judging by the name of the major religion in the west, plus all the people named after it.
 
Some of you are missing the point of the thread.
It isn't somebody called Mujarinda Ghatsane called themselves Michael Gates to make it easier for us, it's somebody who has got two totally different Asian first name and second name.
It has been answered I think.

Didn't come across like that to me :eek: :( (I'll obviously accept what you say if that is what the OP is asking :-) )

I have never come across anyone like that.. only people with things like Anjit calling themselves Andy (even being enrolled in Uni/work with the name 'Andy' when it isn't even legal lol).
 
Actually, thinking about it... I do know someone with two first names, but concantenates it into one singular name, then picked the closest sounding English name. With regard to the two first names bit.. is this what the OP is asking?
 
I've come across it. I think it's something to do with Islam, but I'm not really sure.

I really don't think it's to do with that, I think it's more to do with them being embarrassed by the name or the people they're around having trouble pronouncing their name.
 
I actually think it's pretty cool that most oriental people I've come across introduce themselves in an "English" name. Then after a bit of pushing you can usually find out their real names.

Much more laid back than the people who introduce themselves over 15 seconds while spitting everywhere and then get annoyed when you can replicate every nuance in their name.
 
I think it's because a lot of them find that the Western world, frankly can't often pronounce their names.

But yeah, if that's what you're talking about, then it isn't too uncommon :)

kd

Yep, had this conversation with someone who used a different name (why bother creating a thread when you can just ask someone direct? Billy no mates?)

They told me it was for the reason above and I sort of suggested that they don't need to do it for the benefit of other people.

Next academic year in Uni and their now using their original name.
 
Ok, so it's sometimes related to Islam and probably more often not.

Well I've never heard of it being related to islam, unless like the person has a name they find so holy and don't want people of a different religion to call them by it.

Never been presented with any evidence that it's in the quran about such names, so I'd guess it's just someones make-believe tale :)
 
yup, first came across this at college, a girl on my course from Thailand, english name = Vicky, Real name = Prasatporn :D

I can kinda see why they pick a different english name
 
I have a theory about this (at least for students). All students from the far east get told its a good idea (maybe it is) to adopt an English name for studies in the UK.

I always found out their real name and tried my best to pronounce it though. Yeh some might find it annoying but to me it doesn't feel right calling someone by something else which they have adopted temporarily.
 
I hope that means something mildly insulting, something like "big-nose". That would amuse me.

Unfortunately not:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chetan

Chetan is a very common Indian and Nepalese first name for males. The Hindi word means 'Spirit Full' or 'Full of Consciousness'; the name is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Chaitanya'.

First time I saw Cheets' user name, I thought he was a brown person named Chetan IRL. Everytime I see his name, I still think of that name.

Well done Cheets, your name is somewhat Sanskrit.
 
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