Eva Shange
USA- Biography of Eva Shang
- Seeking an American Name
- The Challenges of Immigrant Names
- The Search for an Identity
- Finding Her True Self
Biography of Eva Shang
Eva Shang is an American of Chinese descent who faced the challenge of choosing a suitable name for herself in an English-speaking environment. Growing up, she felt the need to have an American name to make it easier for her to navigate through life. However, finding the right name proved to be a difficult task.
Seeking an American Name
At the age of 7, Eva first considered changing her name. Her parents searched through various guides and books to find a suitable name for her unborn sister. This prompted Eva to question why she didn't have an American name herself. In response, her parents calmly suggested that she choose her own name.
The Challenges of Immigrant Names
Many immigrants opt to Anglicize their names, even those who are proud of their cultural heritage. Eva's friends had different names at school and at home, catering to different audiences. She understood better than anyone the difficulty of having a name that foreign ears and languages struggled to pronounce. Even when someone managed to pronounce it correctly, Eva felt like her name revealed her as an outsider.
The Search for an Identity
Eva went through various phases in her search for the perfect name. At the age of 10, she considered naming herself after geographic locations her parents had visited, such as the Californian town of Eureka. She also toyed with the idea of adopting the name Scarlett, inspired by "Gone with the Wind." However, her mother pointed out the flaws in the legendary character, dissuading Eva from choosing that name.
Finding Her True Self
In her later years, Eva explored numerous options for her name. She was drawn to romantic and dreamy names like Summer and Alaska. She also had a phase where she considered names starting with the same letter as her given name. However, none of these options truly resonated with her.
After 10 years of searching, Eva finally came to understand herself fully and chose the name that perfectly aligned with her identity. She decided to be known by her English-speaking friends and acquaintances as Eva Shang. Just like her original name, Eva means "life" and represents the image she wants to project to the world. By using an American name, Eva does not reject her Chinese roots but acknowledges that she is both Chinese and American. The use of a simple and understandable name has greatly eased Eva's life, allowing her to remain true to herself without worrying about how others address her.
