Should I avoid those names? Are they potentially problematic?

General Name Discussion
1

Ok, so I’ve been thinking of names to give to my future kids lately. Here’s my problem.

I don’t like made-up or foreign names. I only like traditional, classic, conventional names, like “[name_m]John[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Matthew[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Henry[/name_m]”, etc. Thing is, I’m brazilian, and so will be my children, born and raised, so by “[name_m]John[/name_m]” I really mean “[name_u]Jo[/name_u]ão”; “[name_m]Matthew[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Mateus[/name_m]”; “[name_m]Henry[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Henrique[/name_m]”, and so on. These are just generic examples of names.

Portuguese has some diacritics not found in other languages: á/é/í/ó/u, â/ê/ô, ã/õ, à, ç (hope the characters show here, but they are the acute, circumflex and grave accents, the tilde, and the cedilla). So names which are really usual and simple here, like “[name_u]Jo[/name_u]ão” (“[name_m]John[/name_m]”), may be, to non-Portuguese speakers, really hard to write or to pronounce. Some keyboards can’t even type those diacritics, and some computer “programs” may not recognize them (I hope this forum is not one of them).

QUESTION: Considering the world is ever more connected and globalized, and interactions between people of different nationalities are ever more frequent (online or in the “real” world), should parents–of whichever country–avoid naming their children with names containing characters not usually found among most latin alphabet-based languages, or in the “international” language (English)? I don’t mean not giving children names of their native tongue, of their place of origin–I’m certainly giving my kids Portuguese names. But should parents avoid names with language-specific characters, like “[name_u]Jo[/name_u]ão”, “Estêvão”, “André”, “Gonçalo”, in favor of “simple-everywhere” names, such as “[name_m]Mateus[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Henrique[/name_m]”, “[name_m]Pedro[/name_m]” and so on?

Sorry for any English mistake.

2

[name_m]Ol[/name_m]á, @pbrsl!

I’m learning Brazilian Portuguese (or attempting to!), and wanted to reply completely in Portuguese but wasn’t sure I could pull it off well. I don’t think there’s any reason not to use names like [name_u]Jo[/name_u]ão, Sebastião, Jordão, or Gonçalo. Would your son be growing up in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] or an English-speaking country? I know quite a few Brazilians–almost all of them had accentless names ([name_f]Adella[/name_f], [name_f]Bianca[/name_f], [name_f]Bruna[/name_f], [name_m]Daniel[/name_m], [name_f]Rebeca[/name_f], [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], etc.) that work well internationally, but I don’t see why you’d have to stick to that. My best friend was named Amélie (which is an accented [name_m]French[/name_m] name), and when she visited [name_u]America[/name_u] she just used the English variant ([name_f]Amelia[/name_f]), which she rather enjoyed. I think either that or using the name without the accent (like Goncalo, [name_u]Andre[/name_u], or Sebastiao) is what likely would happen in an English-speaking country. I wouldn’t be concerned about feeling the need to exclude any names with accents–I think it’s easy enough to work around internationally. Plus, there are so many beautiful Portuguese names with accents! If you are really concerned and want to go the accentless route, though, maybe you could make sure you have a name without accents as a FN (like [name_m]Mateus[/name_m] or [name_m]Pedro[/name_m]), but you could use something like André or Gonçalo as a middle name, if you plan on using one? (I know the little girl I help sponsor through her schooling and such in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] does not have a MN, but I am not sure if this is a common Brazilian practice? I don’t know as much as I would like about Brazilian culture!)

Boa sorte!

ETA: I just remembered meeting two brothers, Simao and Miguel, who were born in Portugal but have pretty much grown up in the US. So I think Simao’s situation would apply here? The chances of his name being spelled as Simao over Simão on his Portuguese birth certificate is highly unlikely, from what I know about Portuguese culture and language, but I’ve never seen the accent attached since I’ve known him. I think if a João was born João in Brazil but visited (or moved to) America, he’d simply become Joao. I agree with some of the other posters who have posted since I wrote my initial comment, though–go by the culture he’ll grow up in. If he’d grow up in America but you want to pay homage to your Brazilian roots, I can see wanting to pick a name that’s Portuguese without an accent, but if you’ll bring him up in Brazil, I wouldn’t even worry about it.

3

There are so many great portuguese names with accents -I think it would be a shame to avoid them. :slight_smile: [name_f]Imo[/name_f], foreigners can learn how to spell name and if they interact constantly with someone who has accented name, they should. I also would like to echo what [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] has said. They can always use a variant or write their name sans accent while being in another country.

4

"Oi, @pbrsl! Depende de onde as crianças vão crescer: num país acostumado com acentos ortográficos ou não (digo acostumado, pois alguns estados americanos aceitam acentuação em razão da pluralidade cultural, mas em vários outros, os acentos são completamente ignorados).

Lembre-se que mesmo no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m] a papelada [virtual] para consultas médicas, concursos públicos etc rejeitam acentuação (eu sei disso, pois meu nome é [name_f]Lu[/name_f]ísa). [name_m]Devo[/name_m] dizer que eu fico mais chateada quando esquecem o acento no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m], que é super acostumado com eles, do que quando ocorre em países que mal os usam.

Pessoalmente, achei divertido usar variações do meu nome e alguns apelidos quando eu estava nos EUA ([name_f]Louisa[/name_f] e [name_f]Lulu[/name_f], principalmente) e acredito que mesmo que seu filho/ filha não tenha um nome “universalizado” (?), a situação PODE ser driblada com apelidos, variações e bom humor. [name_u]Jo[/name_u]ão poderia ser [name_m]Juan[/name_m], [name_m]Johnny[/name_m], [name_m]Joe[/name_m], [name_u]Jean[/name_u] ou sei lá. Alguém sempre vai ter dificuldade em pronunciar ou escrever um nome, não importa onde (eu já fui [name_m]Ra[/name_m]íza, [name_f]Larissa[/name_f], [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f], Heloísa, [name_u]Eloise[/name_u]… isso tudo no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m]). "

Summary:

  • Give your children names that will work where they are going to be raised
  • No name is completely international
  • Using variations of your name or new nicknames is actually fun!
5

I think that it can be sometimes a bit trickier, but I agree that ultimately you shouldn’t feel the need to simplify or internationalise your kids’ names, hopefully your kids will feel proud to be Brazilian and love their names. They can always just omit the accents when they’re abroad

6

My father is Brazilian and his name looks English and is as Brazilian and unique as it gets: Edmils0n. No accents, no -ão or ç etc.
However after he immigrated to [name_u]America[/name_u] and introduced himself using his Portuguese pronunciation, “Edge-miu-son” (so strange trying to type the way Portuguese sounds!), of course no one intuitively could understand that his name was spelled Edmils0n. Pronouncing Edmils0n the English way just topples the name upside-down. So my father adopted a strange little nickname that has lasted for about 20 years: Edge.
He tried “[name_m]Ed[/name_m]” for a little while, but soon discovered that the pronunciations still wouldn’t line up, so “Edge” was born!

I suppose the lesson here is that no matter how simple a Portuguese name will be, there will always be some confusing in different cultures. Whether your name is [name_f]Diana[/name_f] or [name_f]Ghislaine[/name_f], you will encounter issues. ([name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_f]Diana[/name_f] is a common English name, who would pronounce it with a G?)

I think nicknames are the best solution to this issue. Good luck naming your child and remember to go with what you love.

7

Hello, @ashthedreamer! Thank you for answering. My children would grow up in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], as I have no plans of moving out (you never know, though, our current political situation is quite messed up). Yea, that’s one thing I’m considering–giving one accentless name, and one with accents. It’s just that I really hate it when diacritics are dropped. As I said in another forum, writing “Gonçalo” like “Goncalo” is pretty much like writing “[name_f]Karah[/name_f]” instead of “[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]”. It’s misspelled to the point it doesn’t match the pronunciation anymore. And I really can’t just expect the world to be familiar with Portuguese names and ortography. But yea, since I live in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], I’ll try to get over it, and give my children at least one name with accents. Maybe both, if I really manage to get over it (the accents being dropped by foreigners). Besides, yea, “[name_m]Sim[/name_m]ão” would be the propor way to write it. “[name_m]Simao[/name_m]”, if pronounced like it’s written, would just sound like “see-MAH-oo”. “[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]” should also be “Cecília”. Best of luck on learning Portuguese! Should you need anything, feel free to PM me.

[name_m]Ol[/name_m]á, @ashthedreamer! Agradeço a resposta. Meus filhos cresceriam no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m], sim, não pretendo me mudar (mas nunca se sabe, a situação polítical atual nossa tá osso). [name_m]Sim[/name_m], isso é um negócio que eu tô considerando–dar um nome com acento, e um sem. É que eu realmente detesto quando escrevem o nome sem o acento. [name_u]Como[/name_u] eu disse em outro fórum, escrever “Goncalo” ao invés de “Gonçalo” é como escrever “[name_f]Kara[/name_f]” ao invés de “[name_f]Sara[/name_f]”. É um erro de escrita tal a ponto de não bater mais com a pronúncia. E simplesmente não dá pra esperar que o mundo se familiarize com a ortografia e os nomes portugueses. Mas, sim, como eu moro no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m], eu vou tentar deixar pra lá, e dar pros meus filhos pelo menos um nome com acento. Talvez até os dois, se eu realmente conseguir deixar pra lá (o fato de os estrangeiros ignorarem acentos). [name_m]Al[/name_m]ém disso, sim, “[name_m]Sim[/name_m]ão” seria a escrita correta. “[name_m]Simao[/name_m]”, pronunciado dessa maneira, soaria “simau” (“si-máu”). “[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]” também deveria ser “Cecília”. Boa sorte em aprender português! Precisando, só falar.

8

Hello, @ashthedreamer! Thank you for answering. My children would grow up in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], as I have no plans of moving out (you never know, though, our current political situation is quite messed up). Yea, that’s one thing I’m considering–giving one accentless name, and one with accents. It’s just that I really hate it when diacritics are dropped. As I said in another forum, writing “Gonçalo” like “Goncalo” is pretty much like writing “[name_f]Karah[/name_f]” instead of “[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]”. It’s misspelled to the point it doesn’t match the pronunciation anymore. And I really can’t just expect the world to be familiar with Portuguese names and ortography. But yea, since I live in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], I’ll try to get over it, and give my children at least one name with accents. Maybe both, if I really manage to get over it (the accents being dropped by foreigners). Besides, yea, “[name_m]Sim[/name_m]ão” would be the propor way to write it. “[name_m]Simao[/name_m]”, if pronounced like it’s written, would just sound like “see-MAH-oo”. “[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]” should also be “Cecília”. Best of luck on learning Portuguese! Should you need anything, feel free to PM me.

[name_m]Ol[/name_m]á, @ashthedreamer! Agradeço a resposta. Meus filhos cresceriam no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m], sim, não pretendo me mudar (mas nunca se sabe, a situação polítical atual nossa tá osso). [name_m]Sim[/name_m], isso é um negócio que eu tô considerando–dar um nome com acento, e um sem. É que eu realmente detesto quando escrevem o nome sem o acento. [name_u]Como[/name_u] eu disse em outro fórum, escrever “Goncalo” ao invés de “Gonçalo” é como escrever “[name_f]Kara[/name_f]” ao invés de “[name_f]Sara[/name_f]”. É um erro de escrita tal a ponto de não bater mais com a pronúncia. E simplesmente não dá pra esperar que o mundo se familiarize com a ortografia e os nomes portugueses. Mas, sim, como eu moro no [name_m]Brasil[/name_m], eu vou tentar deixar pra lá, e dar pros meus filhos pelo menos um nome com acento. Talvez até os dois, se eu realmente conseguir deixar pra lá (o fato de os estrangeiros ignorarem acentos). [name_m]Al[/name_m]ém disso, sim, “[name_m]Sim[/name_m]ão” seria a escrita correta. “[name_m]Simao[/name_m]”, pronunciado dessa maneira, soaria “simau” (“si-máu”). “[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]” também deveria ser “Cecília”. Boa sorte em aprender português! Precisando, só falar.

9

[name_m]Hi[/name_m], @lu_brasil!

You’re right, I wasn’t really taking into consideration that even in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] people may mess this up. Maybe I really should work on getting over it–it would be a shame having to give up on certain names just because it’s going to be misspelled sometimes. Ugh. Won’t be too easy, though. But I really appreciate your answer, that’s an interesting point of view, indeed.

10

Yea, I’ll try to get over the fact that they will drop their accents abroad. Not going to be easy, though. I think even “translating” the name (“[name_m]John[/name_m]”, “[name_u]Jean[/name_u]”, “[name_m]Gian[/name_m]”) would be easier for me than seeing “Joao”. It’s just really bad. Lol. Thank you.

11

I don’t have any time left right now to answer @luneth and @roseofjune, but thank you both for answering, though! Also helpful!

12

[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I’m [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] and I have the same problem.
I’m portuguese and I have thought about this a lot too.

I do think whichever name a person has, the world around can adapt to it if they work on it. I’m a firm believer that the person makes the name but I also can see that there are some aspects that just aren’t pratical.

There are names that I like that have “ç”, “é”, “ã”, “ê”, on them, and because of that I know I wouldn’t want to use them.
Then, there is also the pronounciation… There are names I love when said in portuguese, but that would be almost impossible for a english speaker to pronounce correctly…

When thinking about all of this I tried to find names I liked, that existed in portuguese (also because here in Portugal we have a really strict list of approved names and spellings), but were also “international” names like [name_f]Eva[/name_f] or [name_f]Camila[/name_f], that didn’t have any accentuation like “Amélia”.

Overall, I think it’s a personal choice that won’t ruin your kids’ lives by any means… It’s all about preferences. I’m leaning towards using more of a “international” name for my kids but I will only really know what to do when the time comes, and I really have to name them.