filipino names
@masterviajero (697)
Philippines
May 25, 2007 3:24pm CST
im not making fun of this, but it seems filipinos have the most unique names in the world, or not? some names are derived from patron saints, favorite celebrities, grandparents, days of the week or months born, or just anything thats close to the parents of the child..
and when it comes to family names, we have the best in the list.. names like dimayuga or dimaguiba.. i know that we were given a chance to choose family names before, but why didnt they change them?
so what's the most unique name name, either first or family name, you have encountered? as for my name, i only know 4 person with my name (after a saint)..
2 people like this
2 responses
@Withoutwings (6992)
• United States
30 May 07
I only know one Filipino and his name is Eric... Not so unusual.
2 people like this
@tala91285 (1074)
• Philippines
27 May 07
I'm the only one I know who has my name. I don't think we have the most unique names because we're mostly Christian and Muslims here in the country so we have common names with those of other countries. Although there are some exceptions to that (like me ehehe).
As for the "truly Filipino" surnames, like other people from ancient times, I think they started out as first names made describing the person who would own that name. Like "Batumbacal", maybe the first Batumbakal was a blacksmith. "Dimaguiba" must have been a person who was very strong or something. It probably became surnames when the Spaniards came and the natives were baptized. They had to have proper, Christian first names so the natives' (head of the families, especially) original names became their surnames and were also given to members of their family.
I'm sorry for the very long speculation ^_^
1 person likes this
@masterviajero (697)
• Philippines
28 May 07
thank you for the response.. now you got me curious with your name.. lol.. you might be correct with our surnames. there might reasons they choose them.. but ours are really quite unique and sometimes funny, actually.. i remember watching on television a family with the surname "dimagahasa" or something! people make jokes with it that almost all members of the family had already legally changed it.. but yeah our surnames are "truly filipino!"
1 person likes this
@tala91285 (1074)
• Philippines
28 May 07
Oh yes, truly Filipino names ^_^ Well... I think Africans have unique names too (no offense!). Although, I don't think they find anything funny when they hear the names of their fellow Africans.
Filipinos on the other hand, students especially...upon hearing the name "Bagonggahasa", the whole classroom erupts with laughter.. I'm guilty of that too ;_;
