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Thoughts on Santiago

90 replies

KatRee · 10/07/2022 09:35

Hi all- would like to get an idea of initial reaction to the name Santiago - thoughts?

Also, if there are any Spanish people reading, could you tell me if Tiago is typically used as a nickname, or would you say it's more a standalone name in its own right? I know Santi is the most typical nn, but would ideally like something with different options

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
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Louise0701 · 10/07/2022 09:38

I would think it quite ridiculous if you aren’t Spanish. If you are; it’s lovey. My friends son is called Santiago and he gets T by his friends.

TreePoser · 10/07/2022 09:40

I knew a Santi (short for Santiago). I wouldn't use Tiago.
I'd use Diego as that's close to Tiago and needs less explanation if you're using it in a non spanish speaking country.

TreePoser · 10/07/2022 09:41

I also knew a salvador when I lived in spain, I loved that and that could work in an english speaking country, he went my Sal mostly but used the full name too.

LubaLuca · 10/07/2022 09:47

I know one Santiago (Filipino), and nobody shortens it.

I'd it just Tiago that you like? How about Jago? It doesn't rely on everyone picking up on the correct shortened version.

itssquidstella · 10/07/2022 09:50

I love the name and prefer the abbreviation Santi, although I know one who goes by Tiago. Also love Salvador like a PP.

iloveorange · 10/07/2022 09:58

Spaniard here, never met a Spanish Tiago (Portuguese I have), and had never linked the two. Never met a Santi my age either, to be fair, but I'd say that's the nickname for someone called Santiago.

OneCup · 10/07/2022 09:59

I only know it shortened as Santi

DrDetriment · 10/07/2022 10:00

Not a wise choice if you are not Spanish. It would be like someone with no Indian heritage calling their son Sanjay.

TwigTheWonderKid · 10/07/2022 10:26

DrDetriment · 10/07/2022 10:00

Not a wise choice if you are not Spanish. It would be like someone with no Indian heritage calling their son Sanjay.

But there are thousands of Olivias, Isabella's,Sophies, Charlottes and Louiss in the UK with presumably no family connections to Italy or France. Should these names also not be used?

USaYwHatNow · 10/07/2022 10:27

Isn't that what Dani Dyer called her little boy? I thought it was a strange choice as I don't think they have Spanish ties or heritage

whosaidtha · 10/07/2022 10:29

The one I know was bullied at school by being called santi arsehole. So it's a no from me.

Flangelica · 10/07/2022 11:21

Love it! And love nickname Santi

KatRee · 10/07/2022 11:41

Thanks for the comments so far. I deliberately didn't say anything about the baby's heritage originally as I wanted to gauge responses to the name itself, but it seems it's difficult for people to say whether or not they like the name without knowing the background, which is useful feedback in and of itself

I am 100% English and my partner is 100% Spanish. We met whilst I was living in Spain, but are now living in England. It's likely we'll move back to Spain in future, but will be here for at least the next couple of years

I was hoping we could find a name that was spelled the same in both English and Spanish, but there are few options for boys names and all those I like, partner doesn't and vice versa- so will have to be either English or Spanish I think

@LubaLuca I really like the nn Santi, but I'd like a name where there are different options to choose from as my own name is really short and you can't play around with it at all and I always wished I could!

@Louise0701 I like T- like when they're little, but works when older too

@iloveorange Thank you- that's what my partner says re Tiago too, though he also says it's become popular as a boys name in Spain too recently? I wanted to get an idea of it was just him who views it as a separate name, or Spaniard's generally, as the first time I heard it, I automatically assumed it was short for Santiago. When you say you don't know any your own age, do you mean they tend to be younger or older? I can actually only think of two Santiago/Santis I met when I lived in Spain and I think both would be in their forties now. Does it feel like a middle-aged man's name to you?

@USaYwHatNow yeah, that's literally the only thing I know about Dani Dyer. I saw a headline that she'd named her baby that when I was struggling with infertility and my heart sank a little bit, not sure why exactly, but I have always had the name at the back of my mind in case we ever had a son and it felt a bit weird seeing someone else use it. I think I also thought it might trigger lots of other English people to pick it, but don't think that's happened...

@whosaidtha oh no! How sad! Good to know though, thank you, as never would have made that connection myself. Even after you said it, it took me a minute to figure out how they'd arrived there! I think it's very likely we'll be in Spain by the time we have to worry about that sort of bullying though, so hopefully won't be an issue. Maybe he could just go by Santi in England...

@Flangelica Oh, great! Nice to get a strong positive reaction Smile

OP posts:
Louise0701 · 10/07/2022 11:57

After seeing your update, I would go for it! Especially that you were so sad after seeing it. I had similar with a name I always loved and used it for DS1.

midsomermurderess · 10/07/2022 12:25

I like it but it’s a bit eccentric if you’re British. It would conjure up to to me devout parents who have done the Camino. James, Jamie, do the job.

midsomermurderess · 10/07/2022 12:29

But the, your husband us Spanish so why not.

Names like Olivia etc have been used in Britain for time out of mind so seem almost British. Santiago isn’t, or isn’t yet, in that category.

SwedishEdith · 10/07/2022 12:29

Wouldn't Iago be the short form?

JaninaDuszejko · 10/07/2022 12:37

SwedishEdith · 10/07/2022 12:29

Wouldn't Iago be the short form?

That's what I would have thought. But I guess it's like St John (Sinjin) in English and is seen as a separate name.

Roselilly36 · 10/07/2022 12:40

Only ever met one, he was a lovely man (Spanish) nn Santi

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/07/2022 13:25

TwigTheWonderKid · 10/07/2022 10:26

But there are thousands of Olivias, Isabella's,Sophies, Charlottes and Louiss in the UK with presumably no family connections to Italy or France. Should these names also not be used?

I know what you mean, but Sophie, Charlotte and Louis etc, have all been popular here for hundreds of years, brought in by various Queen consorts and Hanoverian Kings. Santiago hasn’t so it sounds odd if there isn’t a reason for it.

Actually Isabella and Isabel were the original forms of the Hebrew Elisheva in Britain (coming in around the Norman conquest). The Elizabeth version only came in later via some middle European saint, it didn’t get popular till the late mediaeval period.

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/07/2022 13:27

Just read the update. If your husband is Spanish there’s no issue at all.

RightOnTheEdge · 10/07/2022 13:31

I love the name!

ofwarren · 10/07/2022 13:34

Great name
I prefer the nickname Santi though.

DuchessOfSausage · 10/07/2022 13:42

@TwigTheWonderKid , but those names are established ones in the UK. Olivia, for example, is a shakespearean character. Santiago isn't.

SecretVictoria · 10/07/2022 13:51

Mr friends husband is Tiago, they’re Brazilian. I would never use ‘Santi’ as a nn as there’s a takeaway where I live called ‘Santi-Bag’.