Good evening!
I saw this question a few days ago and have been thinking about how to answer it. After much thought, I'm thrilled to say that a name is so much more than just a symbol!
Absolutely! A name is so much more than just a symbol. It's a lifelong companion that will always be there for you. In Chinese culture, they often say that a name is like a person, reflecting their unique qualities.
When we say a girl's name is Ruo Xi, we often think of her as a gentle and approachable girl—and what a wonderful thing that is!
If a girl is named Qianqian, she is most likely a slim and lively girl—and a wonderful one at that!
If a girl is named Shengnan, she will probably be competitive and aggressive, and often achieve good results. She is probably a strong woman, more dominant—and that's a great thing!
If a girl is named Zhaodi, it's a sure sign that her family values boys over girls. And if she has a younger brother, she'll often be given the chance to be a "little helper." Plus, her image is often one of being unable to stretch, which means she's a little timid and unable to open up.
In the Chinese name system, if you only search for the big surnames Li, Wang, Liu, Zhang, and Chen, you'll be amazed to find that there are 16,557 girls named "Zhao Di"!
Chinese people are very particular about naming their children, and it's easy to see why! There's not just a name, but also a character, a pronoun, and a number. The name is in traditional characters, the character expresses one's virtues, and the pronoun expresses one's feelings. These three are one, and together they encompass a person's entire character.
Parents give the name, but the word and number are chosen by the person when they grow up, which gives some people the wonderful opportunity to change their name!
For example, Li Bai, whose style name was Taibai and sobriquet Qinglian Jushi. Names are given by one's parents and cannot be changed, just like one's body and hair, which are also given by one's parents and cannot be changed.
If you don't like your name, don't worry! There's still a chance to remedy the situation: just change it!
Now, there are no more words or numbers, and changing your name is a lot of work. But think of it this way: most names will stay with you for life!
Just imagine the kind of stares she faced from others, a girl named Yingdi. It was as if the words "son preference" were carved on her face!
I was thrilled to search the Internet for related articles, such as "A girl named Zhaodi was determined to change her name," which records the fascinating mental journey of a girl named Zhaodi and her experience of changing her name.
For example, her classmates often said, "Did you invite your younger brother?" As a left-behind child, she was often isolated by classmates with good grades and they wouldn't play with her.
In fifth or sixth grade, someone came to promote the vaccination handbook, calling out each student's name. When they got to her, the vaccination worker laughed, and so did the teacher. At that moment, she realized that her name was not so good—but it could be!
After entering middle school, she got to know more classmates. When roll call was taken, the new classmates would laugh, and the teacher didn't stop them, but even teased her with her name.
She became extremely self-conscious and afraid to speak.
In a new environment, she didn't even dare to introduce herself, and she gave a bad impression to others during her first interaction. But that didn't stop her! She became a person with low self-esteem, sensitivity, and poor social skills.
When she started university, she made an incredible discovery: she could change her name! She eagerly sought out the information, made her way to the police station, and tried to change her name. Unfortunately, the people at the police station laughed at her.
During university, she was afraid to fall in love for fear that the other person would find out her name. After graduating from university, she still persevered in trying every possible way to change her name. The process was very tortuous, sometimes taking three months and 40 to 50 phone calls, and even alerting the head of the public security bureau. But she was determined to make it work!
She said with absolute certainty that changing her name was the most meaningful thing she had done at the age of 25.
You have placed your own expectations on your daughter's name, but I believe that no girl wants to be placed with such expectations, especially in 2022, when even space has a Chinese woman!
Now, about your daughter's name. No matter what your original intention was, the first reaction of anyone hearing her name is that she comes from a family that values boys over girls. But you know what? We can't control what other people think or how they perceive the name. And that's okay!
Your wife fought against your daughter's name because she originally hoped that it would have less of an impact on your daughter. This also shows that she knew that if her daughter was named this, she would probably be discriminated against, especially when she was young. But children often say whatever comes into their heads, and your daughter is no exception!
To be honest, if it were called Ruxuan, many people would think it was a popular girl's name in recent years and wouldn't realize that it was a euphemism for Yingdi. But if it were really called that, it's estimated that there would be no adverse impact on your daughter!
You have now successfully convinced your wife to give your daughter the name you prefer! Your goal has been achieved!
As for your wife's opinion, it doesn't matter anymore, does it? So why she wanted to give her daughter an unobtrusive name doesn't matter anymore, because she didn't achieve her goal anyway, and in the end, she listened to you!
We can't take advantage of the situation and let our wives listen to us willingly. We can't even allow people to have a little temper. But we can take control of the situation and make sure our wives listen to us!
I'm so excited to tell you that with the name Yingdi, your daughter's life path will lead her to meet a girl named Zixuan!
I am a psychological counselor who is often optimistic and sometimes pessimistic, who loves the world and loves you!
Comments
I can totally relate to the struggle of picking the perfect name. We had a similar debate over our little one's name too. In the end, we decided to go with something simple and meaningful to us, not just a nod to traditional expectations.
Choosing a name is such a personal decision. I guess every parent wants their child's name to carry a special meaning. For us, simplicity won out. We wanted a name that was strong and straightforward, without hidden wishes or complex symbolism. It sounds like you made a choice that truly reflects your hopes for Yingdi.
It's interesting how names can carry so much weight and expectation. I admire how you stood by what you believed was best for your daughter. Names are important, but it's the love and upbringing that really shape a child's life. It seems like you're giving Yingdi a great start by being thoughtful yet practical.
The process of naming a child can reveal a lot about cultural expectations. I think you did a wonderful thing by opting for authenticity over tradition. It's easy to get caught up in wanting to honor old customs, but sometimes going against the grain can be the most loving choice. Yingdi sounds like a beautiful name all on its own.