Chosen names and cultural appropriation.
I recently started transitioning (mtf) and have been looking into new names to give myself. The problem Is that I keep on landing on names that are of Aztec/Myan origin. While my family, last name, and appearance are very obviously Mexican I am about as American as it gets. I speak minimal Spanish and don’t really have family or friends in Mexico/Latin America, just ties to Chicano communities and politics here in the western US.
Honestly I just don’t quite feel comfortable giving myself a European name but idk if that really justifies avoiding them in place of one from a culture thats equally if not more distant from myself. And I know I can always make something up that’s not tied to any cultures but I also don’t want to rule out some of my favorites that I’ve considered. It’s just that even though those names match my face and bloodline and no one would really question it there’s a part of me that feels like going by them might be a bit insulting to the indigenous Mexican communities that are actively keeping their cultures and languages alive.
Has anyone has had similar issues/criticisms regarding their chosen names? any insight would be greatly appreciated