Trying to correct Hetalia's human names.

[anubismito]

EDIT:
I expanded the theme because in the comments there is an interesting debate about Hetalia characters' human names:

Here's a backup of  a page of Himaruya's old blog where appear some human names.

If you are a native speaker of some of these countries (or just manage "perfectly" the language, it would be great, also if you know a little bit of japanese).
Just a basic thing of japanese: Katakana writes the foreign names phonetically (or the most similar possible to the real phonetic). They use syllabes (except for the letter "n" and the vowels that can be alone. Sometimes the U after a consonant is not pronounced -if it's following an O, just makes the O sound "longer").

I think we should "correct" the transliterations once Shoutwiki is back (or a similar site), these mistakes were running since long ago, and I kow it wouldn't be easy get use to the "corrections", but maybe it's more accurate about them and not "live with the mistakes" XD.

サディク・アドナン (Sadikku Adonan) Usually written as Sadiq Adnan or Sadik Adnan. -Turkey

Just looking for Turkey's HFP (I didn't find it yet), I wrote his "human" name, and I found this site.
Not related to Hetalia... Erzi, Adnan Sadik was a turkish historian....

Maybe Hima got his name from this man O_O;;.

Sorry for this post, but I needed to tell you xD. Now we can see that, one more time, the transcription of the names to romaji is mistaken... The Q (some people told me), doesn't exist in Turkey, so, it's Sadik and not Sadiq... Actually, the name should be Sadık and the letter ı sounds like a similar u... Not sure about that...
• Sadık would probably be more correct, but "ı" sounds more like an "eh" sound, akin to a shortened "i." It wouldn't be stressed, so it'd be more like SAH-dehk.  (Thankskomektesiniz )



► トーリス・ロリナイティス  (Toorisu Rorinaitisu) . The transcription is "Toris Lorinaitis" (or Toris Laurinaitis). -Lithuania

The name Toris does exist, but it's inappropiate for a human (being used in pets mainly). Yes I found the name Tolys (Tolis) as valid, but is not that common, but it's a human lithuanian name XD.
About the surname: Lorinaitis doesn't exist. Laurinaitis could be valid... but does the lithuanian syllabe "Lau" have the same pronunciation in English?. I don't know, I'm not lithuanian and I don't know well the language...  If it was with english pronunciation, then Laurinaitis could be valid.  Since I wasn't sure, I just found another surname that could be valid too: Rolinaitis.
So, I think Toris Lorinaitis should actually be Tolys Rolinaitis... Sources that show that these names exist: 1  2  3



► ナターリヤ・アルロフスカヤ (Nataariya Arurofusukaya). Normally written Natalia Arlovskaya. -Belarus

• Belarus' surname is Arloŭskaja (maybe Arlowskaya) (belarusian variant). In Belarusian her name will be 'Арлоўская'. The 'Ў' reads like 'W' or 'U'.  The surname 'Arlovskaya' is not correctly for Russian and Belarusian grammar too. It's like a mix of Russian and Belarusian. (Thanks mg_emji )



► バッシュ・ツヴィンクリ (Basshu Tsuvinkuri). Transliterated as Vash Zwingli.

It' should be Basch Zwingli.
A user named Watermint at the old wiki pointed out that "Vash" would be different in rendering and not "basshu"*. And his name was exactly the same katakana as Basch von Rosenburg.

I saw a Japanese fan-compiled name chart a while back while browsing the net, and they wrote that "Basch" may have been used as a diminutive for "Sebastian" (so "Sebastian Zwingli"). (Thanks vysnia_cerasus )

* Yes, if it was Vash, should be ヴァシュ.



► エドァルド・フォンヴォック (Edwarudo Fonvokku).  The most common transcription is "Eduard Von Bock", sometimes Eduard Von Vock. -Estonia

I think it should be Eduard Von Wock due to the pronunciation and this is not an estonian surname... Seems to be german. And if I'm not wrong the V in german sounds like an english F, and the W sounds like an english V. (Feel free of correct me, please).


► アントーニョ・ヘルナンデス・カリエド (Antoonyo Herunandesu Kariedo).  Written in Romaji "Antonio Fernández Carriedo". -Spain

It should be Antonio Hernández Carriedo.
Hernández is one of the most common surnames there in Spain (but most common is Fernández, maybe from there came the mistake).
Even though Hima messed up the pronunciation here... In Spanish language, the "h" is a mute letter, while in japanese sounds similat to the h in "hello". The most similar letter we have to this is the "J", but the surname Jernández doesn't exist... Hernández is most accurate.


► リー・ヨンス (Rii Yonsu). Transcription: Im Yongsoo/Yonsu. -South Korea.
I think it should be Rhi Yong-Soo.  Most common transliterated as Lee.  Is one of the most common korean surnames, according to the wikipedia -is the most common surname in the world O_o). The correct pronunciation of Lee is simply "Ri"... And it's also transliterated "Yi", even though in North korea it's pronounced "Lee" as sounds in english.
The pronunciation of r and l in the Korean language are pronounced as an "r" at the start of a word.

► ギルベルト・バイルシュミット (Giruberuto Bairushumitto). Transliterated as Gilbert Beilschmidt / Weillschmidt. -Prussia.

I think Beilschmidt is the most accurate. I think the katakana should be written with V, for the other option (also, some people say this surname with W doesn't exist).  Also, the name Gilbert is not pronounced "Yilbert" (the Yi in spanish) it's similar to the "gui" in "guilty".


► ロヴィーノ・ヴァルガス. (Roviino Varugasu). Lovino Vargas (less common Rovino Vargas). -Romano.
Names like Lovino are ok. Last time we had this thread, someone found an old Roman city named Lovinus or something, and Lovino translates into "small wolf" in funny Italian. Plus the only other option is Rovino, we is just plain awful a name to give to poor Romano. And really old names are also ok. Doesn't matter if they seem outdated to us as some of the nations have had their names for more than 500 years... (Thanks taylorphantom )
Also, Lovino is currently an italian surname.
((xD I was one of the people that commented about Rovino's name coming from the italian word "rovina" -ruin- )).


----------------

 

Of course there are more names with "mistaken transliterations". If you find another, just tell us...

As taylorphantom  said, we should start a  "Figure out the best possible human names from katakana and language X" project ....

Comments

[vysnia-cerasus.livejournal.com]

Good find there! I'm hoping we can overhaul some things at the wiki when Shoutwiki comes back up, especially to clarify name spellings. A lot of stuff needs cleaning up.

"Sadik" does make more sense, but because of the iffiness of the human names, it'll be hard for the confusion to end. Switzerland's is still being spelled "Vash" most of the time (it does sound cool, I get it) instead of "Basch", as it is.

[ivavros.livejournal.com]

I didn't even know Switzerland's human name. Huh.

Imo Basch sounds cooler though.

[anubismito]

Exactly, the same with Antonio Hernández Carriedo surname (is not Fernández; even though this is weird, because in pixiv a tag for him says "Fernández" -Antoonyo Ferunandesu Kariedo- while the "most popular" says Hernández (just how Himaruya wrote in his blog) Antoonyo Herunandesu Kariedo).

And others like Basch, Von Wock (Still sounds weird for me, but in japanese is Eduarudo Fon Vokku; and not "Fon Bokku"), Tolys Rolinaitis (Toris is a name for dogs and inappropiate for humans, and Lorinaitis doesn't exist), etc.etc.etc.etc.

[landcow.livejournal.com]

Basch sounds more like a surname to me, buuuuut he wouldn't be the only character with a surname-turned-first name. Take Feliciano as an example. ^^

Timo would make a lot more sense for Finland instead of Tino, too. Ahh, the fun you can have with translating katakana.

[triangularprism.livejournal.com]

Let's not forget that apparently, Greece's human last name 'Karpusi' actually means 'watermelon' in greek, and isn't really a last name at all. XD That's what I read, anyway. I've always liked Heracles for Greece's name.

[anubismito]

True!
If I'm not wrong, the greece world for watermelon is Karpouzi (not sure about the spelling), but seems to have a similar pronunciation.

LOL! Is funny xD. (I remembered the names of dragon ball characters, almost all of them have names of foods or vegetables xD).

[komektesiniz.livejournal.com]

Sadık would probably be more correct, but "ı" sounds more like an "eh" sound, akin to a shortened "i." It wouldn't be stressed, so it'd be more like SAH-dehk.
Hope that clears that up. :)

[anubismito]

Aah!! Nice to know. Thanks for the info!! (the other one, just told me someone at dA)

[xakira.livejournal.com]

Yes!... I've been investigating, some names, like Toris, but I found Lorinaitis: Laurinaitis <-- Lorinaitis doesn't exists, but Laurinaitis yes. But I don't know, maybe pronunciation, I'm not sure at all.

Same whit Weillschmidt... = Beilshcmitd, the first one doesn't exists, well, Google says that xD...

Tino... to my father they called him "Tino" so...

Väinämöinen is a mythological character in finnish mythology.

I didn't know about 'Hernández' that is... awesome x3!!... Hernández is a very common last name here in México, but in Spain I don't know...

Good topic!!

[xakira.livejournal.com]

Beilschmidt* xD

[taylorphantom.livejournal.com]

I think the whole "Weillschmidt/Beilshcmitd" was the first (possibly only) change to occur to the human names. But yeah, It's been about I year since I last saw Weillschmidt used.

I think Väinämöinen is perfectly acceptable a name for Fin. Assuming he's been round for a long time, he might have inspired the character's name from his own~ I mean, it was at least sort of in use Back Then...

Is it possible with the whole Fernández/Hernández thing that one is more Spanish-Spanish and one more Mexican-Spanish?

[anubismito]

Hernández is one of the most common surnames there in Spain (but most common is Fernández, maybe from there came the mistake)... Also is used here in Argentina, but not thaaaat common like in Spain or México.

I just think the LAU in Lithuania has a different pronunciation of the English Lau... in english (for example) the name Laura sounds something like "Lora", so they'd pronounce "Laurinaitis" as "Lorinaitis". But I think in lithuanian it sounds like the spanish "Au" (in Laura, for example).

I think it's Beilschmidt... If it was with W, it should be written with V in katakana... and it's with B.

Väinämöinen, I heard about this character X)) and Tino's name is not finnish at all O_o;

[taylorphantom.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking we should all try to come to an agreement on getting the names as "proper" as we can. Even if that means having to retcon all the Sadiq's, Vash's, Toris' and Tino's... We need people who are native speakers of the country's language and who can understand japanes. I think a lot of these problems resulted from people trying to translate from katakana into english without having any knowledge of languge X.

Names like Lovino are ok. Last time we had this thread, someone found an old Roman city named Lovinus or something, and Lovino translates into "small wolf" in funny Italian. Plus the only other option is Rovino, we is just plain awful a name to give to poor Romano. And really old names are also ok. Doesn't matter if they seem outdated to us as some of the nations have had their names for more than 500 years...

[anubismito]

I Completely support this.... :D And I'll update the thread with your idea ^^. If you don't mind, of course ^^.

[m-dono.livejournal.com]

You might want to tag this with the "profiles" tag as well c: i think it would fit since it concerns the cast's information c:

[anubismito]

Good idea, thanks! :)

[lost-hitsu.livejournal.com]

Only seconding vysnia_cerasus with Hungary's name - it should be definitely Erzsébet. For example the famous "Sissi" Elizabeth of Bavaria was spelled Erzsébet in Hungary.

Héderváry should be correct, there was a prime minister (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1roly_Khuen-H%C3%A9derv%C3%A1ry) Héderváry and you'll find a nice little castle (http://www.hedervar.hu/index-en.html) of the same name there.

[anubismito]

Yes, that's a mistake of Himaruya, not the transcription of the name.
The katakana says Erizabeeta (Elizabeta). I kow it should be Erzsébet in hungarian U_U;

[box-of-doom.livejournal.com]

As a note, there was, historically, a large German presence in Estonia, therefore him having a German-sounding name may not be too surprising.
Mind, this is coming from someone with no personal connection to the area, who's read a few history books. ^^;

[juandalyn.livejournal.com]

Seconding this.

Though I agree, as the country, Estonia should have gotten an Estonian name.

[juandalyn.livejournal.com]

And Beilschmidt is an actual name as well :)
A famous example is the East German high jumper Rolf Beilschmidt.

[salmiakkirae.livejournal.com]

I don't know japanese at all, but I found out that Timotheus Eberhard von Bock was Estonian of a Baltic German origin. There's a Estonian book about him too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Czar%27s_Madman) (one of the best-known Estonian novels in the world).

And then there is Gideon von Fock, a Swede, who owned a mansion in Estonia. But I couldn't find anybody whose name would have been Von Wock.

[transemacabre.livejournal.com]

Toris is not a Lithuanian name; 'toris' in Lithuanian is the word for the chemical element thorium. Tolys is a legitimate Lithuanian name and is probably what the katakana was trying to represent in the first place.

[nodokaotonashi.livejournal.com]

On my side, Francis Bonnefoy is correct, but if Himaruya wanted to be more accurate on France's traditionnal side, he should have put François instead. Francis exists as a name in France, but it's kind of recent.

[sweetwintersong.livejournal.com]

Wow, fandom messed up bad.

F YEAH BASCH FON ROSENBURG ( _{of dalmasca} ). I like Sebastian. Suits him, actually.

But I'll admit I've never heard "Rhi Yong Soo" used before. Hmmm.

And there goes my theory of the "F" in Alfred F. Jones standing for Fernandez. /fails

[sweetwintersong.livejournal.com]

I have a Greek friend who says that since Greece's surname is based on the word watermelon (καρπούζι) it should be transliterated as Karpouzi. Karpouzis since he's a dude.

[atiko.livejournal.com]

A bit late with this but I thought this is interesting: エドァルド・フォンヴォック (Edwarudo Fonvokku)

I used to think it was Eduard von Bock, but if Himaruya had intended this to be a "von" title/name, he probably would have put another dot between フォン and ヴォック. Also, if you put the German "Bock" into katakana, it would be a simple ボック, not ヴォック.

I know Germans had some historical influence in that part of Europe for a long time, but I'm starting to think whatever Estonia's name is, it has nothing to do with "von Bock" at all.

[eikomakimachi.livejournal.com]

アントーニョ・ヘルナンデス・カリエド (Antoonyo Herunandesu Kariedo). Written in Romaji "Antonio Fernández Carriedo". -Spain

It should be Antonio Hernández Carriedo.


I'm not Spanish speaker, but I speak Portuguese and I'm used to listen to Spanish. Hernández does sound more accurate to the phonetic sound of the katakana than Fernández. And it is quite common for people who don't know Spanish to say the H on Hernández, people from my country (Brazil) do that a lot due to the similarity between Portuguese and Spanish.

Not sure if this belongs to the topic, but some people seem to mistake which is the surname of China and Korea. The "correct" writing of China's name would be Wang Yao if following the Chinese way of writing the family name first, same way goes for Korea's name and Japan's name (being Honda Kiku the "correct" order). I believe all East Asia characters have their name written on that system, but some people do that mistake because we are used to see more Kiku Honda on fandom due to our habit of reversing the Japanese names of characters to follow the western system, but almost everyone maintain Yao's and Yong Soo's name the way they are written in the eastern system. If written on western system, they would be "Yao Wang" and "Yong Soo Li"

I'm pointing this out just because my family is Chinese (they moved from China and now live in Brazil, I was born in Brazil and I don't know how to speak Chinese myself, but we are still trying to maintain a good part of the traditions) and some friends had asked me which was China's surname a couple of times. As far as I know, Yao is a very common name (my grandfather was Kung Yao, you see), but it's not a surname, but Wang is a very common Chinese surname.

Alternative writings for Yao's name in internet are also Wang You, Wang Yue and Wong Yao I think. Wong I believe is the Cantonese pronounciation of Wang, which is in Mandarim, but I'm not sure if
Wong refers to the same ideogram, because the surname Wang can refer to many different ideograms with different meanings. Not sure about You and Yue... Yue is the pinyin for Moon in Mandarim, I don't actually remember You and Yue being possible transliterations of China's name, maybe an actual Chinese person may help more on this. I personally believe Wang Yao is the more accurate transliteration.

[hospitalwall.livejournal.com]

I think I'd be more inclined to go along with 'von Bock' because of historical basis.

'Von Wock' isn't Estonian, either. Eduard von Bock seems appropriate enough, because over the ages, there was always a huge population of Germans that had the higher hand in Estonia. It would make sense that he would sort of fit in more with the royalty/upper class. 'von' was also only used for those with nobility, which would fit in appropriately.

If it is 'von' anything, than the name that follows it has to have a meaning. There is a city in Luxembourg with the name. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bock_%28Luxembourg%29)

When the Teutonic Order started to take over Estonia and the change of hands began from the Danish to German rule, the Germans actually dragged some Estonians to Luxembourg to explain their actions for having killed the Germans in charge.

So it's always possible he could have taken on the surname somewhere after then. If he chose his own name, it's doubtful he would have preferred at the time to have connections to his own people. I don't know how far back the history of Estonians having surnames happened, but it might have only started to become a requirement after German rule (much like many Dutch didn't have surnames until the French required it).

His first name is equally German-based anyways, so 'von Wock' seems a lot more nonsensical to me than 'von Bock' would.

If it is a German title though, the 'v' of the name should always lack capitalization, unless referring such as 'mister Von Bock'

I don't know Japanese though, so this is only my insight with Estonian and German history...