I'm new to Ryzom but not to MMRPGs, and I have yet to see this debate resolved anywhere. For my part, a name is ok with me as long as it is not:
a) offensive
b) unoriginal. Soooooo sick of seeing Gimli's, Drizz'ts, Legolases, Vlads, etc.
c) hubristic. Nothing wrong with it really, but calling yourself GreatSlayer or DoomBringer? I hope you have the chops to back up the big name, especially if there is PvP
I don't see a problem with someone using a nickname, there is a grand old literary traditon for it (Athos, Aramis, Porthos were all nicknames, for instance). I personally think nicknames should be earned and not created, but that is just me.
Anyway, hard to pass up this topic, it is like slowing down to see a car crash.
-Matt
ps: I did not know the Zorai were supposed to be Chinese either, my name is more Middle Eastern. They seemed like Sufis to me. :P