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A recent New York Times op-ed piece entitled “Leave Your Name At The Border” raises the topic, amongst others, of Latino parents giving their children “White” names. We’re not talking about Dave or Rick or, ahem, Cindy. We’re talking about seriously White names like, Heather or Ashley or Buck. Most likely in another generation, Ashton Martinez will sound as natural as, say, Scott Baio, but for now it still makes us giggle. Yet for some reason, we love it when we meet a White girl named Maria. Go figure.
Leave Your Name at the Border [New York Times]
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- Managing Editor
Daniel Mauser
- Editor
Cindy Casares
- Associate Editor
Alex Alvarez
- Contributing Editors
Gabriel Caro - Camilla Rowan
- Video Editor
Marcelo Cunning
The only difference I see between Dave, Rick, and Buck is that Buck is a gay porn star. Don’t know if that necessarily makes him whiter.
Posted by Ben | August 02, 2007
Augh! You have named my previously unknown secret desire! I’ve finally made peace with the fact that if my fiancé and I have kids, they’ll basically be little blanquitos. But I still want a girl named Maria. Is that so wrong?
Posted by Abi | August 02, 2007
LOL I think I’m actually guilty! My son is named Devin Mendez, I don’t think that’s too white. I really liked Bradley but that would just be pushing it. I think the reason to this is that second generation latinos grow up in a nation where those names are constantly used, and since there are only about 20 male latino names to choose from (in my case a boy) then we look for other more original, less used names.
Posted by Denise | August 02, 2007
The only English name I like is Gladys. For all else… It’s Spanish. I’m going to name my sons either Joaquin, Lucas, Sebastian, or Saul. Girls… maybe Mercedes.
Posted by Diego | August 03, 2007
My parents — both born in Mexico, emigrated as children — gave me and my three siblings names that would sound good in English and in Spanish. I guess they didn’t want my grandparents to have issues pronouncing the names. I like that approach.
Posted by cindylu | August 03, 2007