Belonging starts
with a name
Teach the world how to say your name
Share the beauty and significance of your name
by creating your own custom graphic.
Everyone has a name — and from birth through a lifetime of introductions, it becomes the cornerstone of our identity. For many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), their given names carry an even deeper history and significance. But bias, indifference, and even unintentional mistakes can lead to mispronunciation and even misidentification.
This film hopes to elevate the importance of a name, and how meaningful gestures — like pronunciation and understanding its meaning — can create a greater sense of belonging for us all. Join us in celebrating AAPI names, together, and opening the door to belonging.
Let’s help everyone
learn your name.
Join the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in celebrating their names and teaching the world how to say them. Use our tool to add yours and its phonetic pronunciation, and get a custom graphic that you can share on social.
Identity
is an everyday
challenge.
For so many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), mispronunciation and misidentification are parts of life. These acts can be rooted in bias, whether we’re aware of it or not. In fact, studies show that the AAPI community is seen as “less American.” 1 And even though they’ve helped shape the nation, 39% feel that people are uncomfortable around them because of their ethnicity.2
But with a little conscientiousness, we can prevent this “othering” and interact with the world more equitably. Hear more about the history of Asians in America.
There are many
answers to “what’s in a name?”
Every name has meaning, but for many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, names tell their story, too.
Whether it’s a family name passed down through generations, a name that connects them to their cultural identity, or a Westernized name they’ve chosen to use, let’s try to make sure every name is respected — and recognized.
Small acts can make all the difference.
Seemingly innocent remarks about people’s names, culture, and upbringing can make them feel like outsiders.
Instead, let's learn how everyday acts of understanding can show the people around us that they’re fully accepted, no matter their background. To learn how to navigate the hard topics and make a positive impact, check out our discussion guide, co-created with Lean-In.
Prabhjot Singh
"In the Sikh religion, after you're born, the holy book is opened, opened to a random page and the hymn that's there on the left-hand side, Whatever letter that hymn starts with, that's the letter with which you're named."
Meet the people behind the scenes.
At P&G, we believe that progress starts by seeing the world with a broader perspective. Led by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cast and crew members, our film spotlights the honest realities of the AAPI experience today — informed by their lived experiences, cultural identities, and backgrounds.
Goh Iromoto
( GOH ee-roh-MOH-toh )
Japanese Canadian
Film Director
Explore our partnerships.
Change starts with coming together.
Here are the partners who’ve already joined us.
Discover other P&G initiatives.
At P&G, we aspire to create a company and a world where equality is achievable for all; where respect and inclusion are the cornerstones of our culture; and where equal access and opportunity to learn, grow, succeed and thrive are available to everyone.
1. Daley JS, Gallagher NM and Bodenhausen GV (2022) The Pandemic and the “Perpetual Foreigner”: How Threats Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic Relate to Stereotyping of Asian Americans. Front. Psychol. 13:821891. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.821891
2. According to Pew Research Center: Many Black and Asian Americans Say They Have Experienced Discrimination Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak. Link:https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/07/01/many-black-and-asian-americans-say-they-have-experienced-discrimination-amid-the-covid-19-outbreak/