In addition to all of things that our Anglo peers need to take into consideration when it comes to naming their baby, Latinas have a host of other issues to think about. Some of our concerns seem pretty amusing when you see them in writing, but I remember totally stressing out for months over the name decision. Here are 10 considerations that are typical to Latinas who are trying to name a baby born here in the U.S.:
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1. It's a tradition to name our baby after a family member. My mom and I are both named Lucía, after my abuela. So the three of us all share the name: Lucía! Although I love the name, I just couldn't have another Lucía so I named my daughter after one of my sisters (Carolina) and asked my other sister to be her madrina so she wouldn't be offended that I didn't give my daughter her name!
2. Latinas need to consider names that Americans can pronounce. I married a gringo, so giving my kids a name that his family (as well as my Spanish-speaking familia) could pronounce was crucial. My husband's aunt passed away thinking my name was Lucille because she just couldn't say Lucia!
3. We feel the need to have both cultures fairly represented. This is what my gringo and I decided to do. We have used an American and a Latino name for both of our kids as a compromise. Our daughter's name is Carolina Anne and our son's name is Michael Renan (his middle name is for my dad!).
4. Prominent, Christian figures are key influences when it comes to naming our kids. Tell me of a Latino family that doesn't have kids named after religious icons like Jesus, Angel, Maria, Jose or one of the many santos we credit with having performed various miracles like protecting or saving family members.
5. Naming babies after the main characters of a popular novela. I actually considered naming my daughter Esmeralda, after Lupita Ferrer's character in a novela that I was infatuated with! I have primos and friends who were named after novela characters that were popular at the time they were born!
6. Latin babies end up with far too many names. By the time we are done with all the above considerations plus the tradition of carrying on the paternal and maternal surname plus prepositions like "de," our poor babies end up with so many names that they get butchered (as mine does) by the Department of Motor Vehicles or credit card companies. I would stick to a combination of 4 names and surnames, max!
7. Consider the nick names that come once your baby is named. How many of us don't even use their real names?! My name became Lucita (to differentiate me from my mom and abuela
8. Politically incorrect terms and terms of endearment that do not translate into English. Some of us don't use real names nor do we use nick names but rely mostly on terms like gordita, negrita, flaca, cielito or* corazón*. So why should we even stress over what name to give them! Image via Corbis
