7. Chat - names

[vodafone128]

1 – In Portugal usually the names are pretty commons.
We usually have a combination of two names and it’s common to know people with the same combination.
Pedro, António, José, João, Maria, Carla, Paula are very common names for instance.

2 – My family name – Silva, is considered the most common in Portugal.

3- Since we usually have a combination of two family names in Portugal, the first one (my mother’s) – Domingues, is very popular in Galicia, from where it comes. The last one – Silva, nowadays is very common in the entire country, though its origin in the North of the country.

4 – My family name is geographical, thus it does not mean anything related to professions.
Although there are other names related such as Carpinteiro (carpenter), Trolha (mason), Sapateiro (shoe maker).

5 – Foreign names are not very popular among Portuguese.
The one I even remember is Elizabete.

6 – Usually when we meet someone we use the first name and last family name.

7- We may use just the surname, but always with a title (Sr.-Mr, Sra – Ms). I think only in the army the surname alone is used. Is very rude to speak to someone without a title, only in very familiar context.

8 – In Portuguese we may use as affectionate pet names: querido, amor, rolinha, fofinho/a.

[Julio]

1- There are many common names in the place i come from.
2- I think my family name is not as common as other names, but isn't rare and some famous people in spain use the same name.
3- I'm not sure about my family' name comes from. Once somebody tell me that the name of my family comes from the north of spain, but i'm not sure about this.
4- In the place i come from, many family names mean somethig. the name of my family is not an exception.
5- there are some family names from otrher countries used here, i can't remember none of them right now
6- when people meets someone at first time,usually use first name in a casual situation, and use the family name if the situation is serious or professional.