Santiago - no Hispanic/Latino connections

[Saharasunset]

What do you think of the same Santiago? The baby will be half English/half Asian so could perhaps look Mediterranean/South American in complexion although that's not me trying to give justification for using it.

Do you think it's strange to use it when there's no Spanish heritage?

I like it! If you want to use it, use it and don't worry about whether or not you have the "right" heritage to justify it.

The Persian name would work better than the Kenyan one - a lot of Gujarati people in the UK originally from East Africa became refugees and have some very bitter-sweet memories of their homeland. Dad can’t even watch Lion King without getting angry.

@Teddybear45 finding a name just seems so difficult. DH likes unusual names himself and it's taken a long time for his family to come to terms with the fact we won't be naming him in the traditional method of waiting until the 6th day to name him and giving him a Rashi name decided by his sister.

His parents have no real connection to Kenya and like your dad, find the stories of their parents heartbreaking and angering.

I was originally set on the baby have an English forename as our surname is probably one of the most popular Indian surnames, however, the traditionally English names are not to our taste.

I'm aware that you will never appease everyone with the name you chose however I don't want pretty much everyone to raise their eyebrow

Okay so why not compromise and make the Rashi name the middle name? A lot of second and third gen Gujaratis do this anyway and I bet the Gujji side probably has a lot of cousins etc that did this and so there’s probably precedent too. As for names, honestly, I think having a name that works in English and Gujarati (which comes from Persian / Farsi - which is why you can use those names) is probably best. You could also go to Bollywood for inspiration - there are some beautiful names from old school Bollywood actors etc. Eg Nutan, Nargis, and Mina (girls names); and Raj, Dev, Rishi (boys names) have had a huge resurgence recently. You could also go the Hebrew route as a lot of hebrew origin names like Ari, Josh, etc work in Gujarati too.

I say if you like it then go for it!
Altho I did teach a boy once who was called Diego because his mother had had a fling with a Spanish waiter of the same name 🙈 It always makes me wonder now about the back story to names where it isn't obvious (eg heritage)....

@Teddybear45 It's difficult because I just like such out there names - Santiago has been the 'tamest' option so far (previous #1 name was Mars)

I love Rishi and Mina/Mira/Maya but there's already close cousins with those names.

I do like - but not love - Milan, Sonny (spelt the English way), AJ and Rudi/Rudy.

I am happy with the middle name to be a Rashi name for sure!

@Mimca I used to love Tiago until that song came out 'Thiago Silva' and went viral. I didn't even relate to the footballer before but now that's all I hear

I don’t think it makes sense as a name.

It’s a place name and means St James.

But it is a person's name as well as a place name.

Haris - another form of Harish / Harith (m)
Khushi - means happiness (f)
Annika
Layla
Mala (you could use Malala too)

It isn’t really a person’s name. It means St Janes. As in Santiago de Compostela

Tiago or Diago are names. They mean James. You can’t just stick San on the front and say it’s a name.

It would be like naming your son Saintchristopher.

Yes, I know what it means but that doesn't mean it isn't commonly used as a first name in some Spanish speaking countries. I'm sorry you're finding this so difficult.

A relative has two DC with names distinctively and immediately identifiable with another culture / nationality to which they have absolutely no connection. It's extremely odd. Imagine say Hu Wan Smith. Like that. Bizarre. It's made worse by the relative's insistence that a) this isn't remotely odd and b) refusal to explain because why would you when it's not remotely odd.

Btw, OP I know a family where the father, son and grandson are called Mars. I love it.

I mean, it's not like any English man has ever been called St John...

It’s really not used commonly in Spanish speaking countries

StJohn is one on its own. And I’ve never met or heard of one in real life.

'some Spanish speaking countries'

Perhaps certain South American countries?

What relevance is it whether you've met a St John or not?

Because almost anything can be a name. The fact is, StJohn and Santiago rarely are.

I havent travelled widely in South America, but never changed upon a Santiago in the States, Spain or anywhere else.

So because you've never met a Santiago or a St John that means those names don't exist? Okey doke.

Poor old Santiago Cabrera. Someone needs to break it to him.

I volunteer!

It's awful, especially awful with no Latino connection. Sorry

St Johns are generally a plain lot so I'm not so concerned about them.

Name your baby what you want! It's a lovely name btw.
English translation is saint James.

And as for the place, the original Santiago is in Galicia in Spain, and is the end point of a famous pilgrimage called the Camino Santiago, which ends in Santiago de Compostela.