Name given to me by a Taiwanese lady-a bit strange

[Dachrei]

So I lived in Taiwan from the ages of 2-7 years old. I was given a Chinese name by a close friend of the family that is Taiwanese. 包柏凱 Bao Bo Kai. I went to China this summer after 13 years of not really having contact with enough chinese speaking people to tell them my name, and when I got there first my teacher said my name was "interesting", then a girl laughed when I said my name, then another said it didn't flow very well, then another asked if I picked it myself, which I now assume is because it's definitely not a standard Chinese name.

Since I'm no longer in contact with the lady that gave me my name, I'm a little bit puzzled as to whether or not it is a good name. I did hear from two people that thought there was nothing wrong with it. I suffered a bit of a blow to my ego after spending my entire life thinking that it was a good chinese name, since a Taiwanese lady picked it, and then having these experiences.

I do know the reason, relayed to me through my mom, as to why the lady chose the name. The Bao was chosen since it's close to my last name. The Bo part was chosen kind of as a way to conjure up the image of a tall, strong, person. The Kai part is originally a different character meaning warrior but no one else I've met has ever seen it before so now I'm using 凱 to get the same sound. Keep in mind that the lady that gave me my name graduated top of her class in ancient Chinese studies so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt as to whether or not that character exists.

The only explanation I can think of is that maybe my name sounds better in Taiwanese since the lady spoke Taiwanese. But I only know that the Bao part is the same sound. So if anyone knows Taiwanese I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know how it would be pronounced.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm a little bit distraught from this summer after finding out that a name I held in high esteem my whole life may be a bad name after all.

[skylee]

Sorry I don't know how the name is pronounced in Minnanhua. But I think the name is ok. I'm not sure why some people find it funny/interesting.

I am curious what the original character for Kai is. Could it be this one -> http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/cgi-bin/agrep-lindict?query=%f1%5a&category=wholerecord

[muyongshi]

Got my curiosity up...

bao isn't a typical 姓 though right? The rest sounds find but I've never heard bao as a xing before.... confirmation anyone?

[skylee]

包 is a common surname. Haven't you heard of 包拯 aka 包青天?

http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/cgi-bin/agrep-lindict?query=%a5%5d&category=wholerecord

[muyongshi]

He he...brain fart....

[cdn_in_bj]

bao isn't a typical 姓 though right? The rest sounds find but I've never heard bao as a xing before.... confirmation anyone?

I was curious about this too and looked it up on a list of Chinese surnames ordered by frequency - it was 186th on the list.

[gato]

包柏凱 Bao Bo Kai. I went to China this summer after 13 years of not really having contact with enough chinese speaking people to tell them my name, and when I got there first my teacher said my name was "interesting", then a girl laughed when I said my name, then another said it didn't flow very well,

Boba means "breasts" in the Minnan dialect used in Taiwan. You might have heard of people referring to "Pearl Milk Tea" as Boba tea. I don't know if that's why people find this name funny, though.

[Lu]

Boba tea? I thought they called it 'bubble tea'. Might have misunderstood though.

If the lady who gave you the name was well-versed in classical Chinese, she would have made sure it sounds fine in Mandarin as well as in Taiwanese. I don't think that's the problem. The name does look unusual to me, but not weird or funny.

柏 can also be pronounced bai, but I don't think that makes it sound better. Maybe you can ask your teacher why it is 'interesting'.

Came across an article the other day by a man named [surname] Baibo, with some rather unusual characters. At first I thought it read Bobo. Poor guy, must be mispronounced all the time.

[gato]

Boba tea? I thought they called it 'bubble tea'. Might have misunderstood though.

Yes, Boba as in boobies. See the connection?

[muyongshi]

If I say "boba" fast it sounds like a slurred "bubble". Maybe that's where the term really came from...

[Dachrei]

Thanks for your responses so far. I guess I'll take my name being unusual but not "funny or weird." I don't mind having an unusual name. My english name is unusual too, but most people like it.

[Li Yuzuo]

congratulations, you got a good name, why chinese mainland people confused of it, is because they know chinese culture less than Taiwanese. “柏凯”is a very powerful name.

[fireball9261]

Yes, I agree with Li Yuzuo. “柏凯" has a good meaning. “柏” means tall and straight like a tree, and “凯”means generous. "包" as the last name conjured up the image of a good and fair judge who upholds righteousness. It's just too bad that "包柏" sounded like boba in the boba tea, so your name became generous boba. I thought it could be a great way to approach girls if you don't mind they laugh at your name first. I was told that if you laugh at yourself first, the others will stop laughing at you. Some girls may think you have a good sense of humor and like to be your friend.