Bilingual Names

Certain names are spelled, if maybe not pronounced, exactly the same in two languages. The speakers of a certain language usually have names that do not exist in another language. Even when the name has a common root or refers to the same historic or religious figure, different languages will spell and pronounce the name in a unique way. Thus a name with identical spelling in two languages May Be of interest to parents of Third Culture Kids, or Immigrants.

Examples of differentiated spelling

Children named after Alexander, Saint Alexander, or any other Alexander are known as:

  • Alejandro in Spanish.
  • Alexandre in French.
  • Alessandro in Italian.

Or variations thereof.

Some languages don't have this or other names. This is the case with many Chinese names that are not translatable into English.

Exotic naming

Along with the comparatively slow changes in child-naming customs, many parents throughout the world give their child a name that does not have a common translation in their own language, sometimes as an aspirational gesture.

Examples of Rarely used Bilingual names in English and Spanish

  • Aaron (rare in both Languages)
  • Abraham (rare in both languages)
  • Bruno (identified with the Italian language both in English and Spanish)
  • Caleb (rare in both Languages)
  • Crispin (rare in both Languages)
  • Hugo (identified with the French Language both in English and Spanish)
  • Jon (rare in both Languages)
  • Joshua (rare in both Languages)
  • Leon (rare in both Languages)
  • Levi (rare in both Languages)
  • Mario (identified with the Italian language both in English and Spanish)
  • Noel (rare in both Languages)
  • Oliver (identified with the German language both in English and Spanish)
  • Roman (identified with the French Language both in English and Spanish)
  • Saul (rare in both Languages)
  • Tobias (rare in both Languages)
  • Xavier (rare in both Languages: associated with the French and Catalan)

Examples of Commonly used Bilingual names in English and Spanish

  • Adrian
  • Benjamin
  • David
  • Daniel
  • Felix
  • Gabriel
  • Isaac
  • Ivan
  • Julian
  • Martin
  • Oscar
  • Sebastian
  • Ruben
  • Samuel
  • Simon
  • Victor

See also

  • Alexandre#Variants and diminutives
  • Adrian
  • Benjamin (disambiguation)
  • David (name)
  • Daniel (name)

References

  • Freakonomics Revised and Expanded: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt