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Today I ask your help to make my choice. I would decide my name in Japanese Kanji. 

My name is Aala Kanzali. I had the opportunity to live inJapanfor a year, and I am going back on afterJuly 3, 2012for several years. In this context, I would choose a name in Japanese thata retranscrive mine and my personality.

The meaning of my name in Arabic:

My parents gave me my name, at my birth, like everyone else somehow. This is of Arab origin and significance.

Aala at diminutive for Ali and Aladdin for long version. But what would it means?

Aala or Ali in Arabic means “high”. We find the part that means “high” in the name Aladdin. The second part comes from Dhin and means “religion”.

All this to say that the Aladdin name means high in religion. Well my name is the diminutive: Aala.

My first and last name in Japanese katakana and hiragana:

Like all foreigners inJapan, we can write our full names in Romaji (latin characters) or in Japanese Katakana. It is very rare to see a foreigner write his name and first name in Japanese Hiragana. Here’s what happens to my name and surname.

Romaji : Aala Kanzali

Japanese Katakana : アアラ      カンザリ

Japanese Hiragana : ああら     かんざり

If it is common that we write our name and first name in Japanese Katakana is because they are used for all words of foreign origin, the hiragana are reserved for words of Japanese origin. For information, the L is characterized by the letter R in the Japanese language.

My full name is therefore write Aara Kanzari but read Aala Kanzali.

My first name and my surname in Japanese Kanji:

Why would I want to have my first name and my surnname in Japanese Kanji? Just because they have significance compared to Katakana or Hiragana.

I love the fact that behind every Kanji hides an image or meaning. So I started looking for my Japanese Kanji. For a year I consulted several of my friends to find these Japanese Kanji to write my name and surname.

As all the Hiragana and Katakana, Kanji are read by two of its letters. Thus, for my name and first name, I must separate them into syllables, giving the following sounds:

Aala: A-RA

Ali: A-RI

Aladdin: A-RA-DIN

Kanzali: KAN-ZA-RI

So I had to find kanji for each syllable and which will give me a powerful combination with a consistent meaning. I hesitated between Aala, Ali and Alddin for the first name, but given the limited choice in terms of Japanese Kanji for these syllables, I had to cut my choice. Here are the choices available to me:

• For my first name :

Aala : 新 which means « new » (read ARA)

Ali : 虫義which means « ant » (read ARI)

• For my surname :

Kan: 肝which means « courage » or 観which means « observation »

Za : 座which means « to sit down »

Ri : 理which means « reason and logic »

For the surname I have the choice between: 肝座理 (courage, to sit down, reason and logic) or 観座理 (observation, to sit down, reason and logic).

I must make a choice:

 I write this to ask for your help. I have an impression of my choice, but I would like to know your views on the issue. I would decide that I will use Kanji for my name and first name to make a stamp on my return toJapan. I will tell you later.

So go ahead and tell me what you think of the first and the last name, the selected Kanji and give me your opinion.

Personally, I like: 新  観座理. And you?