Alejandro?

[Gigi97]

Thoughts on this name please.

Very Lady Gaga.

South American (Portuguese?) version of Alexander.

I like it. There’s one at my DD’s preschool (in London), and he goes by Ale (Al- ay)

IMO only if you have Hispanic/Spanish in your ancestry.

Otherwise it's Alexander.

This. Also the Lady Gaga song.
FWIW DH is Romanian and we could have legitimately used a Romanian version of our child’s name but decided not to as we decided he’s going to spend his life spelling his last name and explaining how to pronounce it anyway.

I know one vaguely and I have to work very hard to not sing ale-Alejandro at him every time I see him.

Do you know how to pronounce it?

Only if you have Spanish heritage or a reason to use a Spanish name

This. I love it but not if it's just for the sake of it.

There's a large Spanish community in my area and Alejandro is a very popular name but everyone of them goes by Alex so you might as well call him Alexander anyway!

Quite dated, if that’s a consideration

He’ll be called Alex, or Al

I love it. I love the way it rolls off the tongue.

I first heard the name as a teenager in the late 90s as my Spanish exchange buddy was a huge fan of Alejandro sanz and it’s stuck with me since.

However, I didn’t ever seriously consider it for my children as I have no Spanish heritage or connections (besides GCSE Spanish and some fun memories of our two week exchange trip!!) so felt a bit of a fraud at the thought of using it.

I know one who goes by Alex.
I have also heard Sandro as a short version.
Both have Spanish backgrounds.

Not if he's your average British Brit!

By which I mean not of South American or Spanish ancestry!

Always makes me think of someone spraying you with spit when they say it

Fine if you're Spanish. Otherwise, no. The pronunciation will be butchered in Britain. You'd have endless problems with the aspirated Spanish J. Even Lady Gaga didn't get it right.

What others have said really.

• Very nice name
• I wouldn't use it unless I was Spanish/had recent Spanish heritage
• Lady Gaga, but think that is a dated reference, I haven't heard the song in years. Would be curious to see if any under 18s think of this song
• Where I live in the UK I fully expect the pronunciation would be butchered, even with the best of intentions

As others have said, it's fine if you have a Spanish/Latin American background. It would be an odd name to choose if you have a pure English-speaking background because there is an English version of the name.

It's quite boring how if you're English, everyone insists on using English names and you can't use anything else if you're not of that particular heritage.

Then there are random exceptions. The name 'Luca' is an Italian name that happens to be 28th most popular for boys in the UK even though we have 'Luke' in English. I know a few boys named Luca, a few Enzos too and none have Italian heritage.

Why is that fine but not Alejandro?

Please don't name your child this unless you are Hispanic. Otherwise go ahead lovely name

Why is that fine but not Alejandro?

Because Luca and Enzo use the same pronunciation in English and Italian. (Mostly.) The different J in Alejandro seems a little pretentious if you don't say your Js that way normally.

I agree.

Agree with others. If it reflects your heritage I think it's great, if not, it sounds contrived and I'd go with Alexander which is an equally lovely name.