What's in a Name?

I have 8 classes of Nursing English.  Of 200 students I have 6 male students...though a few female students have no qualms of taking male names.  Most were chosen by themselves, others have kept the name assigned to them by their high-school English teachers. As my Chinese is limited, I rely on these identities to know and call my students.  And also getting them accustomed to their new English-speaking personalities.

CLASS 1A

Fiona, Angel, Lishine (self invented), Kitty, Eleven, Reta, Hellon (to distinguish from the other Helen), Sophie, Yoni, Winter, Summer (sits next to Winter), Even, Cherry, S  (Just S, with a shade of gold to go with it), Yiko, Joyce, Coco, Remember, Winnie, Sky, Moon, Helen, Ben (m), Michelle, Vivian

CLASS 2A

Maggie, Yuki (I like Japanese things), Haze (not sure if she knows Cloudy), Nancy, CiCi, Mayday (inventive writer), Ray (I know),  Luby,  Crystal,  Cherry,  Grace,  Even,  Miki,  Tracy,  Flora,  Milly, Stephy, Candy, Alma, Cherry G., Sherry, Sandy, Andy (m), Cyndi, Angelina

CLASS3A

Lena, Mandy, Jodie (low-profile standout), Edith, Cariol (anti-materialistic), Swallow, Summer, Mike (m, who in English Corner change his name to Stephane, but then never came back again), Jane, Jacky, Daisy, Cheryl, Cheery (Yes, I know), Cathy, Oliver (I like oliver Twist), DanNi, Tina, Tracy, Tammy, Over, Zoeta, Happy, Dycedra, Jocelyn (formerly Beata), Doris

CLASS 4A

Lina, Rebecca, lily, Nancy, Minnie, Emily, Rainbow, Forina, Shine, Sande, Angel, Tina, Kasy, Kasa, Prince, Lisy, Dream, Amy, Lucy, Suki, Emy (who wants to be called Cookie, and I just noticed in the books, so Cookie it will be from now on), Yuki, Mike (m), Sophie, Lina

CLASS 5A

Lucy, Kenny, Crystal, Ealine (who used to be called Chris, and was OK with the androgyny the first day, but then changed, possibly wanting Eileen, but here it is--she tells me she's happy everyday), Selena, Jenny, tracy, Page, Penny, Cloris, Jenifer, Jenny (who has the same facial architecture as my 4th uncle), Sara, Sinky, Anne, Shelly, Lily, Jane, Annie, Vicky, Adela, Yoki, Cloudy, Anna

CLASS 6A 

This class always changes seats so it's hard for me to remember their names, though a distinct or bold choice of name is easy to recall.

Yodi, Sanny, Amy, Rain (always sits next to Sunny no matter what), Sunny, Toni, Kame, Cacao (yes I know it means chocolate), Eva, Lynn, Jenny, L (just L), Jan, Sky (used to sit next to Rain and Sunny), Satan (my friend gave it to me, yes I know, I keep it, though she uses an 'e' at the end of late (to feminize?) and is still pronounced the same), Vera, Yuki, Gisli (don't know nothing of J-lo), Cinderella, Ivon, Anna, Fantesy (m, sleeps lots), Fiylr (I made it), Jane

CLASS 7A

Stella, Yuki, Yvonne, Kiki, Sura, Sunddy (yes), Trista, July, Cathy, Ling, Julia, Strawberry (at Best Buy where I used to work, they called me Candy), Yellow, Cat, Tiffany, Camily, Vancy, Qute (o that's cute), Ivy, Millie, Yoyo, Tina, Wolf (m, changed from Jack), Vivian, Rebecca

CLASS 8A

Stephanie, Irene, Chris, Rechill (pronouced Rachel), May, Candy, Kiki, Angel, Sue, Kydin I made it), Joanna, Dora, Susan, Micky, Pinky, King (I know), Yoyo, Emily, Kelly, November (my birthday), Maple (it is sweet), Hellen, Jay (m, ultimate Shanghai Mullet, floppy, defying gravity), Sky

Even Winner, who works with me at the Lida Global Initiative, and was one of the first I met in Shanghai at the airport, asked me to give her a new name, a more formal name, that she could apply to programs with, that could be taken seriously.  I first suggested Faye, because it corresponded with her Chinese given name, but coupled with her family name, it sounded, in Chinese, like 'fat cow.'  So still wanting the 'f' sound and the 'n' sound, I thought of Ivana, which goes nicely with her last name.  What does it mean? she wonders.  It is the feminine form of Ivan, which was the name of many Kings in Russia and is popular in Eastern Europe. She is very gracious and formal at times, and she is hard working with self-determination.  Coming from the rural area of Shanxi and with a rounder personality due to the fact that she has siblings (more common outside of the city) she has global aspirations, wanting to succeed beyond the usual nurse's means. 

She is happy with her new name.  Others still call her Winner, cuz they are used to it.  I call her Ivana. It fits.

p.s.  'Obama' transliterated into Farsi means 'He is with us.'