So, I really adore the name [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] (Tag or [name_m]Tito[/name_m] as nicknames). [name_m]Santiago[/name_m], really, was the true guilty pleasure name for me… but, [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is where my heart has settled.
I’m worried, though, as I’m not certain whether or not the fact that I’m a White woman would then make it rude of me to use a predominantly Hispanic name (an appropriation of Hispanic culture, perhaps). What makes this more difficult is that my S/O is half Peruvian (last name Javé) which then might make it more okay, but he doesn’t very much identify with that culture… I really don’t want to be disrespectful, I just love the name [name_m]Tiago[/name_m]…
What does everyone think? Should I just go for it? [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] [name_m]Grover[/name_m] Javé would be the full name; just for reference, other names on my list that would be used for siblings are along the lines of [name_f]Caprice[/name_f], Faerelith, [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f], [name_m]Rembrandt[/name_m], [name_m]Amos[/name_m], [name_m]Dresden[/name_m], etc…
Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see an issue. [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] is the name of a city, and I don’t see names like [name_u]London[/name_u], [name_f]Florence[/name_f] or [name_u]Sydney[/name_u] being preserved only for people who are white and/or from [name_f]England[/name_f], [name_f]Italy[/name_f] or Australia respectively.
I think [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is different, as it is a title given to priests. It’s more like someone who isn’t [name_m]Christian[/name_m] calling their child [name_m]Christ[/name_m].
[name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is very different than [name_m]Santiago[/name_m]. [name_m]Cohen[/name_m] is a sacred name for the Jewish religion. [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] is just…a kinda trendy spanish name that’s also a place name. I think it’s fine, like pp said people use place names all the time. People might assume he’s Hispanic but that’s the worst that would happen.
Since it isn’t, to my knowledge, a sacred or unusable name from that culture, I don’t think it would be rude. It would give me pause, though. A friend of mine is naming her baby a name along the same lines and it is just so weird to the ears, considering they are as white as you can get.
I don’t think its appropriate. It might also be a place, but I also think its inappropriate to name your child [name_f]India[/name_f], [name_f]China[/name_f], [name_f]Asia[/name_f], etc. If you and your family dont have a personal connection to the culture I would try to find something similar that has different roots.
I realize everyone has their own view, but I believe that world is becoming smaller. Hispanics are growing in numbers, but still a minority in the US so you may be asked if you have that heritage but no biggie. I am of Afrikaans descent (Dutch south African) and my husband is Colombian. Should we be limited to those names when I tend to like Scandanavian names? I don’t think so. As long as you research the name, put in thought I don’t think it matters.
First of all, [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is the portuguese form of [name_m]Diego[/name_m] (a variant of [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] and one of the spanish forms for [name_m]Jacob[/name_m])
I think [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] sounds pretty international. I’m spanish, and [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] sounds italian to me.
And finally, [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] is pretty, pretty, pretty popular here in Spain. We do have a city called [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] de Compostela. And we’re not hispanic nor latinos but european / caucasians. So I don’t think it would be culture appropiation. It would be different with a quechuan name, for example.
Would you find it inappropriate for a [name_m]Black[/name_m] American to name her child [name_f]Florence[/name_f], or an [name_f]Indian[/name_f] couple to name their child [name_u]Sydney[/name_u]?
At the end of the day [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is a Portuguese name. So it’s South American & European. You are of European decent, and if you have a baby with your boyfriend the child would be 1/4 Hispanic. Not that race should have any limitations on what language of names you are allowed to name your baby.
I couldn’t agree more! I’m portuguese and I’m white/caucasian. [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] was the most registered name in 2016 and 2017, in Portugal. [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is also quite popular. [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] also appears on [name_f]France[/name_f] top 100. So I don’t see why you can’t use those names. But, if you want an alternative, maybe [name_m]Thiago[/name_m] would look less hispanic.
I get where everyone is coming from in regards to not using sacred names and I believe that they should be used with a lot of caution but as far as I am aware [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] or [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] are not,
I feel as the world gets more connected via social media and platforms like Nameberry we will be seeing more Tiagos in western culture or more Finleys in [name_f]Asia[/name_f]. It’s just the start but I am sure in 10-20 years names will be more diverse in every country. The thing is parents need to be aware of the name culture and maybe it’s as simple as loving the feel and vibe of the Hispanic culture - I personally love the colours and fabrics and liveliness of that culture - or maybe loving a city in the area of that culture - for me Greek Mythology and the city of Athens astounds me or [name_m]French[/name_m] painters blow me away. If you can find a connection to the culture I think a name from that culture seems to be ok and usable in cultures where it is more unheard.
I think do some research into the name and make sure you have a reason when people say ‘Oh why did you choose that name?’ like for me I have my name reasons (linked in my sig) so for names that are not my culture they have meaning.
I hope that is understandable. I think I went on a tangent…or rave.
I can’t speak for your specific situation but I do have experience with what people consider racist / culturally inappropriate names.
One is a child I know of, called leviathan. Neither of his parents are Jewish or religious and from the story I got, I believe they named him after a “monster” in a movie or something. I find this to be very inappropriate due to it being an established religious culture with significant meaning to some and they are both white / young / Australian with, I’m assuming, no idea of the meaning of this name or the creature itself.
The second is a school class mate of my child, named [name_f]Gypsy[/name_f]. Which could now, historically be considered a race or group of significance. And some people would identify with this word as a title or lifestyle. I don’t see as much of a problem with this one as my first name, as I feel this child could also have cultural and / or identifying meaning with this word. However it is something I’ve heard mentioned by others, that this might be racist or inappropriate.
Considering both or these are direct words, I don’t see the same problem with [name_m]Thiago[/name_m] in your case. And if people do happen to know the name, the culture and your background all at the same time they are also likely to know the reasoning behind the name you chose. Use it if you love it.
I put so much research into the names I love (probably too much, sometimes)! But I appreciate that you mention the importance of respecting and connecting to the culture despite it not being my own. Because of course I knew, prior to my post, that [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is a Portuguese name; equivalent to [name_m]Jacob[/name_m]/[name_u]James[/name_u]. As well as the fact that it’s the shortened form of [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] and the break down from that to where the name began with [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] and so on. But even more so, I do adore Hispanic culture. I speak a fair bit of Spanish in, frankly, a better tongue than my Peruvian S/O and I partake often in the advocation and admiration of Hispanic culture in ways such as learning to make/making food from the culture and honoring holidays. What I worry about is how it will appear to others when a White mother drops off her very faintly Hispanic resembling son named [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] at school… /-:
“The thing is parents need to be aware of the name culture and maybe it’s as simple as loving the feel and vibe of the Hispanic culture… I think do some research into the name and make sure you have a reason when people say ‘Oh why did you choose that name?’”
I put so much research into the names I love (probably too much, sometimes)! But I appreciate that you mention the importance of respecting and connecting to the culture despite it not being my own. Because of course I knew, prior to my post, that [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is a Portuguese name; equivalent to [name_m]Jacob[/name_m]/[name_u]James[/name_u]. As well as the fact that it’s the shortened form of [name_m]Santiago[/name_m] and the break down from that to where the name began with [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] and so on. But even more so, I do adore Hispanic culture. I speak a fair bit of Spanish in, frankly, a better tongue than my Peruvian S/O and I partake often in the advocation and admiration of Hispanic culture in ways such as learning to make/making food from the culture and honoring holidays. What I worry about is how it will appear to others when a White mother drops off her very faintly Hispanic resembling son named [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] at school… /-:
I don’t find is inappropriate at all. I agree with previous comments made that it isn’t a sacred names as far as I am aware and I don’t see any problem in using it if you love it.
I believe it would be harmful to name a white child with a Hispanic name, unless it has origins from Spain.
My reasoning though is because your child will have identity issues. Your child should have a name that reflects his own identity and beautiful heritage so that he should grow up proud of who he is and able to fully embrace it. I’m happy to expand on that if you wish
My name is [name_f]Brynn[/name_f], which is welsh. I’m not Welsh. I was not harmed in any way nor do I have identity issues lol. Now a days people use names from all over the world and I think it’s amazing, as long as it isn’t a sacred or offensive name in that culture. There are so many beautiful names out there, why limit yourself?
I don’t think it’s at all problematic to use a name from a differing heritage than your own, barring any specific offensive connotations. Obviously you are appreciating the name and its origin if you are using it for your child - this means it’s complimentary.
Here on nameberry [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] is said to be a portuguese name. I’m portuguese and I know a few dozens of boys/men named [name_m]Tiago[/name_m]. If I met a foreign named [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] I’d make some assumptions about that person (mostly about the family’s heritage) but I wouldn’t be offended at all (nor would I see why someone would). If you won’t mind people questioning or assuming things just because of your child’s name, then go for it!
“White” and “Hispanic/Latino” are not mutually exclusive terms. You can be Latino and be European in ancestry. [name_m]Just[/name_m] wanted to point that out.
I associate the name [name_m]Tiago[/name_m]/[name_m]Thiago[/name_m] much more with Portugal or [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] than with Spanish-speaking countries. For example there’s [name_m]Thiago[/name_m] [name_m]Santos[/name_m], the Brazilian mixed martial artist. As far as I can tell it hasn’t historically been commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries.
As a Caucasian woman, unfamiliar with her roots, who is married to a Hispanic man, we never felt limited to names from our ancestral places of origin since I wouldn’t even be sure where that was. We did, however, pass on any names that had a strong association with one place or another. While [name_m]Tiago[/name_m] feels open to me, if it weighs on you and you have your doubts, I would keep looking until you find the name that feels irreplaceable to you both. I don’t think one is disrespectful in naming a child from outside of their culture, but confusion or judgement may occur. Still, it is your child and your choice, so go with what feels right for you both.
