Is it possible and acceptable to transcript foreign names into hiragana instead of katakana for aesthetic or other personal purposes?
How would Japanese people judge this choice? Would they perceive it as a mistake?
Thank you
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Sign up to join this communityDon't do that. You have to use katakana for foreign names in almost all cases (excluding Chinese names where kanji can be used).
The only exception, maybe, is when you want to be a comedian/etc and want to play a childish, cute or simple-minded character under that hiragana name.
The general impression of hiragana ばらく・おばま (instead of バラク・オバマ) is described here. If I see ばらく・おばま, I would think it's a mistake, or it's a kind of ゆるキャラ inspired by the US president with the same name.
Addressing foreigners using hiragana can be insulting in many contexts, too.