Baby shower gift for new mom to be name translation

[crystalpluto]

I want to honor my sister in-law who is a native chinese speaker with a special gift for her first child who's a boy. I want to get his name emobroidered on a "year of the horse" baby blanket I bought in native chinese but I don't want to screw it up so I need a translation of the name Archer if anyone could help. It's going to be a surprise for the baby shower coming up soon. Thanks again!

[Shelley]

You run in to problems here, do you want the meaning or the sound?

 

In Chinese an archer (one who shoots arrows) is 射手. It is She Shou in pronunciation.

 

Or the transliteration (using the sounds of the word) is best approximated with An Qi  安骑.

 

I would STRONGLY advise you ask your sister-in-law what they have chosen to name him in Chinese. You can make terrible mistakes when translating names in to Chinese.

 

I know you want it to be a surprise but you could ask without telling her why. it would be better for her to know and for you to get it right and then for it to be a surprise and get it wrong.

 

It would be very embarrassing for her because she would not want to criticize you but also she would find it hard to use the blanket if it was wrong.

 

Please ask her.

[Demonic_Duck]

@Shelley: "射手" isn't a name, it's a common noun. Sure, the meaning is archer, but you wouldn't translate the name "Bob" as "蹦".

 

Also I'm not sure why the sound of the name is "best approximated" by 安骑, it's not particularly close. I'd say "二车" is closer, but it doesn't look remotely like a name.

 

@crystalpluto: If your sister in law has already chosen a Chinese name for the kid, ask her what it is and use that. If not, I'd suggest you use the English name "Archer" without transliteration, as it's quite possible she'll want to choose a proper Chinese name at a later stage.

[Shelley]

I know its not a name, I was trying to explain that Archer translated in to Chinese was not a name but a man that shoots arrows and so as a name would be useless.

 

The transliteration I got from a book What's in a Chinese Name by Lin Shan.

 

This is not the first time this book has steered me in the wrong direction. i think it going to go in the rubbish bin.

[Demonic_Duck]

Fair enough. I can't comment on the book as I haven't read it, but "安骑" is just... not very close in sound to "Archer". If I saw the name "安骑" as a transliterated foreign name in a Chinese magazine article, I'd be scratching my head trying to figure out if there was a name "Anchy".

 

Now, if there was a guy called Archer who went to China and decided to use that name, I wouldn't think it was all that weird weird (though I've never seen 骑 in a name before). I just wouldn't call it the "best approximation" as a transliteration.

[Shelley]

I suggested, as you did, that she should (must almost) ask the sister-in-law.

 

I really think this is for the best.

[MPhillips]

What ever happened to calling kids John or Mary? They must be just about the most unpopular names in the US today!

[anonymoose]

Can't you just ask your brother what the kid's name is in Chinese? Even if he doesn't know Chinese himself, he should be able to get the name without raising suspicion.

But I agree with Shelley. Don't try to translate the sprog's English name. It just doesn't work.

[crystalpluto]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has responded to this topic.I also have to tell you that I absolutely cannot stand the name, I think it's ridiculous because one it's a noun and two it does nothing to honor any part of his mothers heritage.I already asked the dad and he has no idea so I guess I will take your suggestions and ask her directly. Thanks again everyone!

[Shelley]

Maybe it is a mistake, maybe she meant Archie, short for Archibald which might be a bit old fashion but at least its a name. Maybe you could call him Archie if you dislike  Archer.

 

Perhaps you could suggest it as a better option for the poor little tyke who has to go through the whole of life being called Archer.

 

I think the captain of the enterprise ( the new series) is called Archer, but I thought that was his last name which is more reasonable.

 

Hope it all goes well for you and the little chap whatever he ends up being called