The Washington Post has carried an opinion piece on its website saying the adoption of unconventional English names in China and other parts of East Asia is the source of perennial fascination and mirth among expats.

The article mentioned a humorous report on a satirical Chinese Web site done in the style of China's state broadcaster CCTV that offers advice to Chinese on how to choose their English names.

It says any young Anglophone who teaches English in the region could rattle off a host of perplexing names he or she had to call out during class.