Portuguese and English names?

[Swanlike]

Hi, expecting first baby with partner who is Portuguese. We will be living in London. A lot of names are quite similar in the 2 languages ie George/Jorge but the pronunciation can be quite different. Beatrice would be pronounced beatrish for example. It's fairly early days yet, but I'm wondering how other people have dealt with naming children so that their names work in two languages/countries or should we just go for what we like? Also, We both have 2 surnames each which don't combine well - mine is quite posh (I'm not) and v English sounding, DPs is long and V Portuguese, we haven't decided which we will use yet.

Anyway names so far: boy James/Jaime, Rui, Jose or girls: Leila (Family name and works in both languages) Anna/ana, Bridget/Brigitte, jullietta.

What do you think?

[Littlecherublegs]

Love James and Jamie, Leila and Anna - lovely!

How about: Matthew / Mattheus? Marie / Maria?

[badtime]

I knew a Portuguese guy called Tiago, which is awesome.
I knew another chap with a Portuguese background called Abel, although I know this is pronounced more like 'Ah-bell' in Portuguese.

I know Portuguese girls called Monica, Alexandra, Andrea and (of course) Maria.

[baskingseals]

i was going to say Tiago

lovely name

[twonker]

www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_registral/registos-centrais/docs-da-nacionalidade/vocabulos-admitidos-e/downloadFile/file/Lista_de_nomes30-06-2012.pdf?nocache=1341821060.06

You must look at this list! I have found it fascinating. It is the list of permitted an non permitted names for babies registered in Portugal. If your child is born in the uk, he/she can have any name. But the list itself is worth looking at.

[twonker]

Nomes Portugueses a Portuguese names blog.

[VolAuVent]

James for a boy, and any of the girls names, would be fine :)

[yellowraincoat]

I used to teach a Tiago, he was Brazilian. Cool name. Currently teach a Tomas.

Anna, Maria.

[shouldbedoingtheironing]

I like Nuno for a boy (brings back fond memories of first crush on gorgeous Portuguese boy!)

I love Luz for a girl and Ana is really nice too

[Lyftiduft]

Others not mentioned yet that work (some of the many Portuguese/Portuguese background pupils I've taught) Ruben, Hugo, Marta, Carla, Daniel, Erica.

LOVE Leila from your list.

[winkle2]

Marco?

[winkle2]

Cristiano?

[Dream11]

We had the same problem. Husband is Brazilian. He wanted to use names that sounded like old people in Britain and I wanted names that translated badly into Portuguese! We ended up giving our daughter a Greek name used in Brazil Thássia said without the ´h´ our boys name was a common Brazilian name which is actually Italian. Anyway it doesn´t really matter. Its got to be something that suits you as a family. Good luck it took us a long time to decide! x

[schroedingersdodo]

several names are similar in both languages, like:

lucas, daniel, samuel, eric, jonas, nicolas, gabriel, bruno, rafael (raphael), octavio, hugo, oscar, marcus

Emilia, laura, cecilia, flora, claudia, alice, clara, gloria, elizabeth, etc

[sandyrose]

Annabelle

[portuguesebraziliangirl]

I am Portuguese and Brazilian, and just saying, Leila is not used at all in Portugal nor Brazil, neither is Julietta nor Brigitte, but Tiago, Jorge, Ana, Antonio, Jaime, Maria, are all used.
My name is Luz, by the way, which isn't common, but it means Light. Hope I helped a little!

[portuguesebraziliangirl]

My name is Luz! Thank you! It isn't common but has a beautiful meaning, Light

[DoctorBambino]

I love Leila, great name! Could you use one of your surnames each and double barrel that for baby's surname?

[Peachbubble]

How about:
Carlotta
Elena
Talia
Sofie

Mateo
Elias
Luca
Leo

[portuguesebraziliangirl]

@DoctorBambino Leila is not a Portuguese name but it is nice

[portuguesebraziliangirl]

@Peachbubble Carlota and Helena are the only ones actually used in Portugal, although Mateo and Leo are sometimes used too.

[Wheresthebiffer2]

Paulo (m)
Paula (f)

I actually know a brother and sister with these names.

[NameChange30]

"mine is quite posh (I'm not) and v English sounding, DPs is long and V Portuguese, we haven't decided which we will use yet."

The fairest way is to use both surnames, with or without a hyphen, but I prefer no hyphen as it makes it easier to drop one if you want to.

If you really don't want to use both then use yours. Children should share a surname with their mother. His surname could be a middle name.

[s3tut0y3r]

Aline or Aurora for a girl?
Ben short for Benedito for a boy

[GattinaGattona]

Marcella
Marcel

[peachypetite]

Clara for a girl