When is it a Good Idea to Adopt an English Name?
Tags: Immigrants, Asian American, Career Advice, Racism, Professional Development

When is it a Good Idea to Adopt an English Name? Eric Follow Jun 17 · 3 min read

It’s 2021. Yet it happens everywhere.

Yes, there are laws and regulations. And yes, some people are trying, and some organizations are doing all the right things. But no matter the industry, no matter the size of the company, no matter what kind of job it’s for, it’s there.

“We are a Canadian/American company. We need people who look like they are from here.”

“You guys aren’t calling us from India right?”

“If you can’t pronounce the name, throw the resumé out.”

I have heard every single one of these things said (and much worse) in professional work environments over the past five to ten years.

As an immigrant from Hong Kong with a Chinese name growing up in Canada, I shudder to think of the number of professional opportunities I may have missed out on if I did not adopt an English name after moving here.

So what can we do? What can you do?

For starters, if you have options, then choose to work where they don’t racially discriminate. It can be difficult to tell, and even the most well-intentioned individuals may have unconscious bias that may affect you. Besides, it’s not always possible for you to be choosy about where to work. Some may advise you that “if you don’t wanna work there, then work somewhere else!” But there are only so many job opportunities available, and if you say no to all of them, you may not end up with a job at all. It’s not ideal, but until society changes for the better, what we imagine to be ideal isn’t an option sometimes.

In most work environments, consider very strongly adopting a name that works well in the English language. Options include shortening your Asian name so an English speaker can easily recognize and pronounce it, picking two initials from your Asian name such as KC or TJ, or outright adopting an English name. The hiring process is much more favourable for you if you do not appear to be racially different on paper. In addition to evaluating your skills and experience, hiring managers also consider factors such as “Does it appear like they speak English proficiently?”, “What will our clients think when they see them in person?”, “Does it look like they will fit into our company culture?”

Some say that changing your name to fit in is equivalent to giving up your heritage or identity. I strongly believe in the importance of being proud of your heritage and where you and your family came from. It’s what makes up your identity. And I also believe that you can maintain your sense of pride and identity no matter what name you adopt and use when interacting with others. Consider that even when western visitors travel and stay for an extended duration in Asia and China for example, many of them adopt a full Chinese name so it’s easier to interact with people who speak Chinese.

Moving to a new place for a better life already comes with so many challenges. Being flexible reduces and sometimes even removes some of the frictions. Finding a job and developing your career is difficult enough as it is. Do what you can and adopt a name that works well in English. It’s the practical thing to do.