Edit: Looks like this might be the wrong approach since I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to be Japanese myself. Back to the drawing board to try and come up with another idea lol. Thanks very much for the honest advice!
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~~Bit of context: my name and nickname are hard for people in Japan to pronounce to the point that when they say either I don’t realize they’re talking to me until they come up and wave at me. That’s completely understandable – no judgement at all and I’m definitely not trying to make fun of anyone. There are tons of words in Japanese that are hard for me to say, so I get it. To make it easier for people when I go overseas I’ve been thinking about giving a name that’s easier to pronounce. As in, “Hi, nice to meet you, my name is (my name) but you can call me (Japanese name) if you prefer.” So like, not attempting to cultural appropriate or act like I’m actually Japanese or any of that crazy sh\*t, just giving people an option that’s easier for them if they want it.~~
~~I found the name Rin and I really like it. I’m wondering if this is a name that would be normal/acceptable to use in Japan, and whether the primary meaning of the name is indeed “forest” as this website claims~~ [~~https://japanese-names.info/first\_name/rin/~~](https://japanese-names.info/first_name/rin/)~~. I’ve also seen conflicting things about the gender of the name on different sites (maybe something to do with the Kanji used?). I’ve literally seen places saying it’s a woman-only name, men-only name, and some saying it’s unisex/genderless.~~
~~So yeah. Any clarification would be appreciated, and if you got this far then thanks for reading!~~
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/yrv8jj/is_rin_a_common_name_in_japan/
5 comments
Your name will only mean that if it’s written in Kanji.
Other kanji have the same pronunciation.
Names in Kanji has meaning so you using it to make it the meaning of forest doesn’t make sense imo.
Just write it in katakana and that should be it.
I don’t recall talking to foreigners in Japan who’ve created a new name though, so others can chime in on that.
My neighbor’s kid’s name is Rin, common enough I think.
Is there a way to shorten your nickname even more so it’s easier for Japanese people to pronounce? I’ve had some coworkers from South Africa and Zimbabwe whose names were complicated sometimes, so they shortened it in a way Japanese people can say easily.
I know you don’t intend to be Japanese, but I worry some people may still think otherwise. I also have never met another foreigner who has given themself a Japanese name and wasn’t married, naturalized, or a long-term resident.
As for the name Rin, I’ve met some girls with the name (with the kanji for bell), but I haven’t met a guy whose name was Rin.
Yes pretty common as an abbreviation for many names.
Most of the Rins I know of (less than 10) are females in their 20s.
Have you considered making a portmanteau from your first and last names? Japanese seem to love doing that for foreign celebs. Burapi = Brad Pitt, Jimihen = Jimi Hendrix
In my experience, it’s mostly Chinese people who make up “English names” for themselves. At the same time, entertainers and fashion people in Japan have and/or give themselves western-sounding names.
Find a part of your name that’s easy for Japanese to say and use that? If Arnold Schwarzenegger (Shuwa-chan) can do it, you can too?