The way the character Gogol is developed in the novel The Namesake is directly extended as a causality of him growing up in America. I believe that if he had grown up in his parent’s heritage country of India, surrounded by relatives and exposed to the cultural norms that this country entails, he would act different in regards to his dating life and views on his name. For instance, for the majority of his young life Gogol dates only American girls. I believe that this is a causality of him growing up in America, and himself wanting to hold on to and be part of the paradigms that exist in America. His dating of Americans is a reflection of this in his view of being with an American makes him an American.  Even the way he introduces himself later in the novel he uses his “good name”, Nikhil, because he has a self loathing view towards his name given to him by his parents. Resenting that Gogol isn't an easy to contract name like Nicholas (shortened to Nick) he uses his good name to represent himself to others to help him feel that he fits in as an American. 

Ashima, Gogol, Maxine an American Girl Gogol Dates

In contrast, I believe this would be a different case if he grew up back in India, assuming he were to still be named Gogol, where names have an important cultural significance. It could be the case that he would not see his name as being too foreign, seeing as it’s Russian, but rather embrace it and use it as his good name. Mind you he would also be forced into arranged marriages and such things that are part of American culture. Conclusively, the fact he lives in America and has a foreign name and foreign heritage causes a cultural clash that is seen as a result in how Gogol views himself (his name included) but also how he views the world around him.