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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on Santiago, Leonardo, Rafael, Nicholas and Oliver

61 replies

Lucia2013 · 20/02/2013 11:07

What are your thoughts on those names???

Thanks x

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MrsGP · 20/02/2013 18:29

Santiago! I'm probably going to out myself, especially with my name, but my husband is Santiago. He suits it, he usually gets Santi.
He's a bit cheeky and it seems so suit his character if that makes any sense?!

Beatrixpotty · 20/02/2013 18:24

Sorry but I don't really like Santiago.
Rafael is nice,and Leonardo.
Of the English names,prefer Nicolas to Oliver.
As your son will be English/S American you can easily get away with either type of name.

MadameCastafiore · 20/02/2013 17:44

Are you foreign?

If not giving your kids foreign names is a bit pants. But that's just my opinion.

zingally · 20/02/2013 17:35

The first 3 - Only if you/DH are Spanish or Italian in origin. Otherwise it's horribly pretentious.

Picture all the questions dear Leonardo gets in the future "Oh, are your parents Italian?"

"No..."

PandaWatch · 20/02/2013 14:40

Sorry - South American mother!

PandaWatch · 20/02/2013 14:38

With a Spanish mother your DS would certainly be able to carry off Santiago. Also really like Leonardo (although Leo has become very popular here) and Rafael.

Umlauf · 20/02/2013 14:34

Of course your child will get on fine with a foreign name! The only thing to watch out for is pronunciation. For example, I'm considering Mar for dd middle name, but it does sound ridiculous in an English accent, hence only a middle name (I'm also looking for a Spanish/English name op as living in Spain ATM and don't know how long we'll stay).

I think there is something a little pretentious of strange in calling a child a very foreign name when you have no connection to that country, although French names are very 'in' now so I'm sure that will change, but you do have connections to the other country/language- I don't think the other poster realised that.

I work with a Santiago (nn. Santi) it is definitely a name in Spain but seems more common among the older generation and therefore due a comeback!

onlymeee · 20/02/2013 14:29

I don't think there would be any problem with Leonardo in the UK, as the diminutives are familiar (Leo, Leon etc) and are not perceived as "foreign".

Nicholas of course is an English name anyway, and is currently not very fashionable, so will be a little bit individual here. He can be Nick or Nico to fit in anywhere :)

Original poster
Lucia2013 · 20/02/2013 14:12

I wouldn´t personally use Jesus for my child. But yes in Spain and many countries in south america they do use them. But it is also true they use many saints names here such as Chrsitopher, John, etc..

I do think my son could carry on with the foreign names mentioned... he will use both our surnames and he will be half south american. It is just that I wanted to analise the different perceptions the name will get here

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Original poster
Lucia2013 · 20/02/2013 14:09

Never mind, for the ones who helped here thank you so much... I guess for the ones who have heard the names before.. You are well travelled and cultured... Mohammed is not the only foreign name in the Uk is it???

I am still between Santiago and Leonardo...I think I am giving up on Rafael, mostly because the Rafa nickname... We liked Theodore a while ago but decided it sounded like an old man´s name in the end...

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Original poster
Lucia2013 · 20/02/2013 14:06

I guess it is a little bit rude.. at least I am not picking some of those already used names like so many people do so here... But never mind hey? The only reason I picked Oliver is because it is a name that can be used in both english and spanish.

Yes Santiango is a name... but in a country where there are many indians and muslims and those names are so accepted here.. then I guess I wouldn´t really have a problem with Spanish or Italian names??? Just a thought ;-)

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ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 20/02/2013 13:53

OK, fair enough. Just asking.

It Spain, they use names names we wouldn't for example Jesus. But then I guess we have SinJin/St John.

onlymeee · 20/02/2013 13:51

How rude.

seeker · 20/02/2013 13:46

Are you Spanish? If so, great. If not- you're naming a child, not a Ninja Turtle.

onlymeee · 20/02/2013 13:46

Yes, Santiago is an "actual name". Often abbreviated to Thiago or Tiago.

onlymeee · 20/02/2013 13:44

I like all of them except Oliver which I've never liked, plus it's been very popular in recent years, so will date. (In the UK, at least.)

Spoonful · 20/02/2013 13:43

Love Santiago. I know a Santi. Fab name.

If I had a smidgen of Spanish blood I'd use it myself but I don't.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 20/02/2013 13:39

But is it an actual name in Spain? falls mainly on the plain. Are there children in Spain called Santiago or is it just a place with a great cathedral? If there are then fair enough, I guess....

MooseBeTimeForCoffee · 20/02/2013 13:36

Mintberry Nice to see it wasn't just me who had that thought then! :)

lockets · 20/02/2013 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mintberry · 20/02/2013 13:34

Just to clarify, are you having children, or starting a gang of Ninja Turtles? Grin

I really like Oliver.

SucksToBeMe · 20/02/2013 13:33

She not calling the baby St James though Grin

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 20/02/2013 13:31

Except Santiago means St James. Why would you call your kid St James?

Rafael and Nicholas, I guess. Not the others.

SucksToBeMe · 20/02/2013 13:28

I love Santiago, Santi for short.

Original poster
Lucia2013 · 20/02/2013 13:24

I am
Between Leonardo and Santiago!

I still like Oliver... I am
Not so stressed now... But I would still love to have a name. Plus I decided not to tell friends and family... Specially my in laws as they are very very English and old fashioned and would probably have a nervous breakdown with their grandson being
Called any different from their suggestions of James, Ruppert and Spencer!!!

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