Anglicisation of names

Imagine you have a friend from a different country who has a name that is difficult to say or spell. Sometimes, people may decide to change that name to make it easier to say or spell in their own language. This is called anglicisation of names. It means taking a name that is foreign and making it more like a name in English.

For example, someone from Japan with the name “Takeshi” might have their name changed to “Ted” or “Tom” because those names are easier for people in English-speaking countries to say and remember. Angliscisation usually involves changing the spelling or pronunciation of the name to make it more familiar to English speakers.

However, anglicisation can also erase the cultural or historical significance of a name. It’s important to respect people’s original names and their cultural identities. People should be allowed to choose how they choose to be addressed and represented, even if their names are difficult to say or spell at first.