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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2014-11-09T14:40:34.443
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2014-11-09T15:47:22.833
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question
katakana hiragana names
Intentional hiragana transcription for foreign names
Don'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](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%BE%E3%81%84%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B_\(%E3%81%8A%E7%AC%91%E3%81%84%E8%8A%B8%E4%BA%BA\)).

The general impression of hiragana ばらく・おばま (instead of バラク・オバマ) is described
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/15108/). 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](http://www.yurugp.jp/vote/result_ranking.php) inspired by the US
president with the same name.

Addressing foreigners using hiragana can be insulting in many contexts, too.
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2014-11-09T15:28:30.293
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2014-11-09T15:47:22.833
2017-04-13T12:43:44.207
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answer