Why do Asians change their Asian names to American ones?

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For [Asian Pacific Americans] that are second generation and on, growing up in America isn’t so different from their immigrant predecessors’ experiences. Sometimes it means a new name for a new identity, but many still believe a name carries the burden of a fractured identity.

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For the most part, changing your name is increasingly popular because it makes it easier for other people to pronounce and it provides opportunity to better assimilate, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies in New York.

Elaine Kim, professor of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley sees a different pattern in the naming phenomenon. Immigrant parents used to pick out patriotic names for their children — like Jefferson and Lincoln — but these days she sees a return to cultural roots. Parents are naming their children “pure” Asian names that sound more Western. For example, the Korean name Soo Jin is currently very popular and sounds like Sue Jean.

Immigrants are also more conscious when it comes to names and their unintentional English connotations, said Kim. Although she personally knows someone named “Fuk Yu” and “Won Suk,” she said these inconveniences are becoming few and far between.

’Fuk’ is actually a very pretty Korean name. It mean ‘virtue’ … can you imagine?” said Kim laughing.

But even those who experienced butchered pronunciations and teasing because of their names said they would still give their children Asian names.