“We know it’s a boy! [We] are trying to come up with some names that we can agree on,” Ortiz, 40, shares in People Magazine.
They’re desperate for a name.
They did so well with big sister Paloma Louise. ”It has to be Spanish, but something non-speakers can pronounce without mauling,” Ortiz explains. “Suggestions? I’m open.”
Ana, we hear your call.
Did you have to contend with two languages when naming your baby? Is it important to you that the pronunciations are similarly in both languages? What are your favorite boys’ names that work in English and Spanish?
Abel
Adrian
Agustin
Anselmo
Baltasar
Calixto
Ciro
Claudio
Elias
Felix
Gustavo
Hector
Hugo
Ignacio
Joaquin
Julian
Lorenzo
Luis
Mateo
Nico
Octavio
Oscar
Rafael
Ruben
Sebastian
Simon
Tadeo
Tristan
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d suggest Omar.
You should mention that her daughter’s name is Paloma Louise so people can choose based on what flows the best.
I didn’t? Will fix that!
Ugh! My husband is Colombian, so I understand the difficulty!
Because Ortiz starts with an “O” and an “or” sound, so many fantastic Spanish names will not flow easily. Also, if she doesn’t want non-Spanish speakers to butcher pronunciation, she may want to avoid names that start with “R.” There are so many R names I love that I can’t roll yet!
Names I think may flow well are:
Tomas
Paz
Gabriel
Miguel
Angel
Esteban
Hernan
Carlos
Pascual
Saul
I’m thinking something with 3 syllables (to play off Paloma’s beautiful lilt) and possibly something with a nature meaning since Paloma means “dove.”
Also, I was curious to see if Ortiz was her married name or not. Turns out it’s not…her hubby’s surname is Lebenzon. So, no worries on the “o” endings! Here goes…
Already mentioned:
Agustin (LOVE LOVE LOVE)
Anselmo
Sebastian (although when said in Spanish, this has 4 syllables)
Tadeo
My suggestions:
Alvaro
Elio (means sun)
Ernesto
Leandro (means lion-man)
Teodor
From your list, I think these would work really well with Paloma:
Oscar
Rafael
Felix
Hugo
Ruben
Sebastian
Lorenzo (Enzo is a darling nn…or perhaps even on its own?)
Others:
Gabriel
Luca
Armando
Arturo
Augusto
Bruno
Bernardo
Clemente
Domingo
Gustavo
Ivan
Javier
Leon
Maximiliano
Ramon
Santos
Nico, Oscar and Sebastian. Done.
My husband and I are in a very similar boar. He’s Indian and I’m Midwestern. We’re having a boy, and I promised him an Indian name if we ever had a boy. However, how a name is pronounced by me vs. him is soo different! Whenever we see a name or his mother calls with a selection, I have to remind them to say it how I would with my accent! They have flourish, I have long “o”s! Now, we’re chosing an Indian name that works with an American nickname. He’ll be able to jump between cultures without a hitch!
Matias – ‘toy enamorada con etse
Emanuel
Of those already mentioned I LOVE:
Oscar
Javier
Sebastian – nn Seba
Ruben
Hugo, Oscar, and Luis are my favorites. Aurelio would be dramatic and bold, and sounds at home with Paloma.
I think Abram is the perfect spanish/english boy name!
We’re expecting a boy this fall. I’m in LOVE with Felix but the boy-toy isn’t so keen. We’re Canucks in Mexico with French family so we want something that fits all three languages and I think Felix is Purrrrfect! ;o)
Our daughter’s name is Stella (a long love of mine) and although it gets butchered into Estela (which I’m not keen on), I had to accept that as I have always wanted to use the name.
This time around the boy-toy wanted something French and Felix is a top 10 contender in Quebec so it’s perfect, no?
Julian is his pick (both on the list).
Oscar and Octavio are two other great names.
Nestor (actor from Lost)