Is Santa a nick name for something?

[HeadFairy]

Ok I know it's Santa Claus's name but doesn't Tara Palmer Tompkinson have a sister called Santa? Is that her real name or is it short for something?

I thought it was her real name!

Santa

Oh lynette, that's really rather nice!

Disclaimer: I do have an Argentine mother like Santa TP, but dd is due on Christmas day, so it might be faintly ridiculous to call her Santa, no?

Usually short for Santina isn't it?

isn't it just the spanish word for saintly?

Lynette's link says Santana, which I prefer I think.

i know santos is a name so maybe that, for a boy

There's a child in a children's book by Noel Streatfield called Santa.

The more I think about it, the more I like it... is it really bonkers to call a girl born at Christmas time Santa?

i know a girl called santa

Surely it means Saint?
As in Saint Nicholas.

It means Saint in Italian

as in Santa Maria del Fiore

tis a bit evil - like Holly, Noel etc.
Any other day, it would be nice but the Christmas link is harsh, imo.

Wouldn't persoanlly anyway, but DEFINITELY not at christmas! Think the poor love would be having no end of teasing and explaining to do throughout it's life!