Apple, for example, says she selected her name because she always dresses in green and often turns red with shyness. Young Henry’s name was chosen for him because his Chinese name is Han Rei, Han being an ethnic group and Rei meaning lucky. Molly named herself after the Demi Moore character in the American movie, “Ghost.” Phoenix picked her name because she admires both the bird whose spirit is said to never die and the American city that has a basketball team she likes very much. Zat says that her English name has no meaning at all, but was selected merely because it was “simple and easy to remember.” Zat and several others featured in the book provide additional comments on the trend, and how their friends and family have reacted to their English names.

Both Valerie Blanco and Ellen Feberwee studied marketing concepts and branding at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute before temporarily relocating to Shanghai. Having already developed a working relationship, they decided to combine their research skills, journalistic resources, cultural interests and social curiosities on a project that would explore a movement they noticed while living in Shanghai: the use of many English names by Chinese natives.

“We hope ‘In China, My name is...’ accurately shows some of the cultural changes taking place in China, and the differences between Chinese people and Chinese hopes and dreams,” state the authors, who include in their book short and informative essays relating the changes and differences both to Chinese customs and increased international influences. “We wanted to share simple stories, touching stories, and perhaps even future developments resulting from a far more open-door policy in China with the rest of the world.”