Hello!
I have had a few people ask me about our daughter's name and if we have also selected an American one. My brother wants me to put my explanation on the blog (so hear you go Keith).
Her Chinese name is Lu Chen Jie, mostly Chen Jie. Lu designates where she is from, LuAn city. Chen Jie means White Star, or Pure Star.
I have a personal belief that names are very powerful and important. I gave alot of thought to naming my sons, and have thus come up with certain "rules" regarding the naming of my children.
1. Both Alexander and Nathaniel have 9 letters in their names. I want 9 letters for hers.
2. A & N's middle names are family names, George and August.
3. She will have Rose has her American middle = family name.
4. The meanings of names are important to me....
Alexander means "leader of men." Nathaniel means "gift from God."
OK. So...
We have come up with two names:
The first one was Gabrielle, ie, Gabby. With the hopes it would inspire her to "talk more" as she is going to need surgery on her mouth and speech therapy.
Gabrielle means "God is my strength." Pretty good. It's a bit trendy, though.
The second one is Genevieve. This one we are leaning the most towards. We thought of Genevieve b/c it sounds like Chen Jie. If her nickname in China is Chen = Gen or more likely JieJie. Gigi is apparently a common nickname for Genevieve. I have always liked Evie, another nickname for Genevieve.
Genevieve means "woman of the people."
St. Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris. Dave proposed to me in Paris.
If you ask Nathan what his sister's name is, he'll say Genevieve.
Genevieve Rose Chen Jie
Chen Jie will be 5 by the time she comes home. We will, of course, use her Chinese name at first, and ask her if she wants an American name. Based on my research, and reading of adoption blogs, I have only come across one boy in this age range, who didn't want to give up his Chinese name. All the other children I have read about seem to want a name to help them fit in not only with their family, but to fit in with other people around them. I do believe, too, that China wants to know the name we select ahead of time, as a part of the endless paperwork that we have to provide, before we meet the child face-to-face to ask her.
So, that's the name story. Feel free to share your opinions.
I love the name Genevieve! How wonderful that you have found your daughter.
ReplyDeleteBoth names are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe kept our daughter's Chinese name because it meant 'beautiful'. We gave her a middle name that is a loose combination of her grandmother's middle names (I was given my grandmother's middle names as my first and middle name). So...our daughter became beautiful grace/favor.
Like you, I absolutely believe that names are powerful and important.