Thoughts on Santiago, Leonardo, Rafael, Nicholas and Oliver

[Lucia2013]

What are your thoughts on those names???

Thanks x

[Lucia2013]

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 ;-)

[Lucia2013]

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...

[Lucia2013]

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

[onlymeee]

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 :)

[Umlauf]

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!

[PandaWatch]

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.

[PandaWatch]

Sorry - South American mother!

[zingally]

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..."

[MadameCastafiore]

Are you foreign?

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

[Beatrixpotty]

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.

[MrsGP]

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?!

[Lucia2013]

Yes I am foreign, I am Peruvian and a Spanish descendant.. I have olive skin and dark brown eyes and hair and my husband has light brown hair and blue eyes so I think the baby will have dark hair and brown eyes...It will be obvious he has a latin side or at least a foreign side... Thanks for all the posts here... it has really helped me a lot!!! Carry on with the comments, the more the merrier :-)

[PurplePidjin]

I have a 3mo Raphael, nn Rafa. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, beyond the "what a nice name" standard reply. He's mixed white British and Jamaican, and named for his great grandfather

Imo it works well in England - easily pronounced and spelled apart from the twit in hospital who spelled it RaphEAl

[Lucia2013]

Did they spell it Rapheal???? What a bunch of idiots!!!!!!

[PurplePidjin]

Twas a tad daft, yes, considering the phonetic nature of the name. Mind you, I've seen Rachel/Rachael spelled Racheal admittedly not often though!

[Lucia2013]

So... now I have three names:

Rafael or Raphael
Leonardo
Santiago

NO Oliver or NIcholas :-)

And my husband likes them!!! :-)

[MrsGP]

If you knew my Santiago you'd definatley choose it. Leonardo might get Leo or Leon, both getting popular in my area.
I do like Raphael (checked spelling twice!!)

[Lucia2013]

Oh really?? My husband and I like it a lot! In fact he likes the three names. Now that we have our short list and I am much happier I guess it comes to the surnames

Santiago Bennett Rivera
Leonardo Bennett Rivera
Raphael Bennett Rivera


And middle names? Maybe a short English one?

:-)

[CitizenOscar]

Santiago reminds me of the Goal films (he's a south American footballer if I remember correctly). It's set mostly in Newcastle so I just hear "Santi! Santi!" in a Geordie accent when I think of it.

DH & I quite seriously considered Santiago but felt we couldn't pull it off so went for Rafael nn Raf, Rafi or Raffles at the mo. Other people do sometimes call him Rafa, but we don't.

I also really like Leonardo but not sure I could have a Rafael AND a Leonardo. We've got mixed heritage but no Spanish/Italian really so think we would get Ninja turtle comments ;)

Lovely names anyway!

[Lucia2013]

Those ninja turtle comments! People Are so stupid sometimes! When my husband liked Theodore right at the beginning they were singing the song of alvin and the chi

[Lucia2013]

Oops... Chipmunks to him! Arghh! I like longer names and as we don't like the same English names it just makes sense. What do you guys think I should go for middle names? Thanks :-)

[PurplePidjin]

People will find something like that to associate with a name, often a song. Which they think they're the first person to sing to you

There'd be a lot more "yooneek" name spellings if parents could be bothered to avoid all pop culture references!

I might have to name ds's hypothetical future brother Santiago now...

[kelda]

Much prefer Tiago to Santiago.

[Bluebell99]

The problem is two of the names in the title list are names of ninja turtles, so people aren't being stupid to say it in this thread. It was my first thought. But presumably you aren't going to use two turtle names together so it won't look so turtle if you only use one of the names. But seriously better to see people find the idea of Leonardo Raphael funny before you use it on your child. And ninja mutant turtles are making a comeback so maybe will open your child up for teasing at school.

[Lucia2013]

to be honest im not bothered about the turtle ninjas. Right now I like Raphael and Santiago now for ds3! I'm excited to finally have two possible names and so is my husband I think after months and months of not getting anywhere. So much easier with girls . If it was a girl she woul ve Been named Sophia :-) ... I just love Italian or Spanish names!