more help: Spanish-English BOY names!!

[porcelina]

DH and I had a name, but he has since decided he doesn't like it.

So, we're back to the drawing board. I've given up on the name sounding exactly the same in English and in Spanish, as long as we like it in both. The contenders right now are

Tobias
Oscar
Daniel
Tomas
Mario
Simon

If we did Tobias, it would be pronounced the Spanish way, "To-BEE-ahhs", but in English we'd probably use Toby. I definitely like it in Spanish, but I don't get excited about the English version.

Oscar is the one that DH has nixed (I thought it was so cute). He likes Daniel and Tomas, but I find them SOO boring in their English shortened versions Dan and Tom or Tommy. Mario just conjures up memories of Mario Brothers games for both of us.

Names we have liked but ruled out:
Matias (like the Spanish version, first boyfriend was a Matt)
Lucas (doesn't go well with our last names, plus too common among DH's friends' kids)
Sebastian (also know 3 of DH's friends' kids by this name, one special needs)
Nicolas (taken by cousin)
David (DH nix)
Martin (taken)

What do you think of Tobias/Toby? Can you think of any other names?

[lotusma]

i'm currently liking O ending boy names and have Arlo on my list, which is the spanish variation of Charles. (dh has nixed it tho)

[Lauren31]

Javier. I would pronounce it the same way in English and Spanish...

hmmmmm also, Arturo/Arthur, Alfredo/Freddy, Timothy/Timoteo-- nn Teo, Tim, Benito/Benny.

[isabchi]

What about Mateo,Mateus, Agustín, Renato, Marco(s), Luciano,Martín, Andrés, Lorenzo, Ramiro, Cesar, Omar, Enzo,

[jabeen]

Joaquin! LOVE that name.

[porcelina]

Yay, thanks for the replies! We've definitely thought of Javier, with Javi for short. Do you think English speakers can deal with that, though? We live in the NE, not the SW, so there's not a lot Hispanic influence around here (though we are likely to move away at some point). I just dread my child having to spell out his name every time he says it, and the slaughter at the first day of school every year.

Agustin is a really great suggestion (no accents on my computer here). I also wonder if English speakers can deal with it. We just lost a niece 2 years ago (at 3 months old, horrible tragedy) by the name Agustina -- not sure if it would be sweet or creepy to re-use the name.

[mamabearsoblessed]

I was just coming to suggest Lorenzo, Mateo and Joaquin (did I spell that right?).
Love all of them~ you are getting some great suggestions too.

[queenofchaos]

Tobias is OK, not wild about it. Tomas is cool (toe-mahss, right?). My two fav Spanish names are Alejandro (al-ee-hand-ro) and Xavier (ha-vee-air). Joaquin is pretty cool, but a little difficult to pronounce.

[bdoody11]

Originally Posted by porcelina

Yay, thanks for the replies! We've definitely thought of Javier, with Javi for short. Do you think English speakers can deal with that, though? We live in the NE, not the SW, so there's not a lot Hispanic influence around here (though we are likely to move away at some point). I just dread my child having to spell out his name every time he says it, and the slaughter at the first day of school every year.

Agustin is a really great suggestion (no accents on my computer here). I also wonder if English speakers can deal with it. We just lost a niece 2 years ago (at 3 months old, horrible tragedy) by the name Agustina -- not sure if it would be sweet or creepy to re-use the name.

I love Javier/Javi! I think that it would be more familiar to people now that Javier Bardem is a bigger star here in the U.S. Besides, people can get used to anything, go with a name you love...DH and I also have given our girls hispanic/spanish names (Ana and Isabel), but our boy name (if we ever have one) is Luca, which is technically Italian, so I don't think I'm much help.

[Drummer's Wife]

I really like Enrique. You could call him Ricky. From your list, I like Tomas. The kid I knew with that name went by Tomas (as opposed to the American sounding Thomas). I think however you all pronounce it is how most people will say it, yk?

[cloe]

ruben

[Pinoikoi]

I was going to suggest Lorenzo.. Also Emilio.. Miguel.. Ramon Ricardo Antonio or Anton

[Pinoikoi]

All of my boys have an O in their name (most at the end) and all have a Hispanic and an English name.. some are in middle- first and some are first-middle, but.. it fits for us!

[RedOakMomma]

I like Esteban. A LOT.

Of the names you're considering, many of which are great! , I like Tomas, Simon, and Oscar. If you don't like the shortened version of Tomas, don't use it! We refused nicknames for one of our older kids, and it worked. After a while, no one could see him as the nickname...only the whole name.

[terrordactyl]

some i know

Adrian
Marcos
Lorenzo

[terrordactyl]

some i know

Adrian
Marcos
Lorenzo

[mrsbrunette]

i think tobias is really cute.

my husband's name is eliseo (el-"e"-say-o). i love it and i dont hear it too often! the nickname for that is cheo (like chay-o).

i also really like paolo.

[HeatherB]

What about Gabriel? The pronunciation is different, but it's certainly used in both.

[porcelina]

We decided to start calling baby Tobias. Then, I was with DS playing with trains at the store the other day and there was a train named Toby. Somehow, suddenly, it seemed like a bad name. We also loose the cuteness of Tobias (Toe-BEE-ahs) by shortening it. Plus, name has to go with DH's last name (starts with P) which will be middle name, and my last name, which starts with "SH" sound. The S at the end of Tobias gets eaten up.

We've ruled out "difficult to pronounce" names at this point, Javier, Joaquim, etc., because my mom convinced me that she wouldn't be able to handle it (plus, they've been butchering everyone else in DH's family's names for years).

I'm still drawn to Oscar, and DH is still drawn away from it. Currently, I'm practicing calling the baby Simon.

A couple of new names (Italian origin) to the list:
Alessandro
Stefano

With such long names, I'd want to have a short version. What would be good nickname for Alessandro? Sandy is too fem, as would be "Ales. "Don't like Andy, and Alex doesn't go with an "SH" last name. What about Alec or Ale?

Same goes for Stefano - Stef is fem. Can't think of any others!