names and nicknames

[blanche]

Hi,
here you are my apreciations about the qüestions of the names.

1. What are common names where you come from?
The common names here in my city are related with natural phenomena, whit our history or are simple names like monosyllables or niknames. Some examples: Are very commons Ona, wich means wave, or Mar wich means sea, in the first group. The second group: Roger or Arnau wich are ancient names from the fathers of our country. And the last group, the simple names, you can hear often names as Pol, Max or Biel wich are nicknames of Hipòlit, Màxim or Gabriel.
2. Is your family name common?
Not to much, is not a strange family name but is not common.
3. Does your family name tell you anything about your family (e.g., where you come from)?
Yes, of course. In my country you can know the origin of your family by the name. But nowadays with the immigration the names are quite mixed. I think in one generation we’ll lost this capacity. The whole world will concern all the places in the world. I mean that fantastic.
4. Some English names refer to trades or professions, such as Butcher or Baker. Does your name mean anything? Are there any names in your country that do?
Yes, there are a lot of family names who refers professions and handcrafted words, such as “flaquer” or “forner”, wich means both baker. There are many names who refers to natural thinks like parts of the forest or trees, like “Figueras”, “Ger”, wich means fig trees or cranberries.
5. Are any names from other countries popular in your country? Which ones?
There is a lot of names who have the origin in the rest of comunities of the country, as Martinez, Fernandez, Lopez. There are typical Castilian names. My name is a Castilian one but not so common, Torre, wich means tower.
6. In your country when you meet someone for the first time what name do you use? How do you know when you can use their first name?
We use allways our first name. Some times when the situation is very formal or in some professional cases we use the family name or the complet name, I mean, first and family name.
7. In your country do you ever use surnames without a title (e.g., Mrs or Mr)? When could you do this? Why would you do it?
We don’t use practically never the titles. Rarely we introduce some one with Mrs or Mr, just in very formal or tense situations.
8. There are common pet names in English that show affection, such as honey, darling or pet. What words are used in your language?
We don’t use pet names. We use often short names or diminutive ones, for example, from Maria, Mari, from Carme, Carmeta or from Ana, Anita.

[Lucy (tutor)]

Hello Blanche,

Thanks posting such thoughtful answers to the noticeboard. It's interesting to read what you say about names.