Says you. You think the kid’s classmates are going to hold back?
I know someone who goes by the name Timon. Having previously only been aware of the Spanish name Timón, as in the Timón and Pumba of The Lion King, I called him that when I first met him. He somewhat wearily corrected me and told me his name should be pronounced to rhyme with Simon. And he will be no doubt doing this the rest of his life.
I would think better of the choice if your last name were Spanish or Italian - so that even though you’re making a new first name, it would still “fit”. But if your other child’s name is Darcy, I’m getting visions of a moniker like Tiano McDuff, which IMO sounds goofy rather than cool.
If you really like the name, why not use it as a middle name? Then your son isn’t necessarily stuck with the name if he finds it aggravating.
I like it. (Of course, I didn’t notice the resemblance to piano. But there are worse words to resemble.)
Also, I was going to write about how it sounds similar to the Portuguese for “I love you”, and then I googled “ti amo” because I couldn’t remember the exact Portuguese and apparently, it is actually Italian for “I love you”. Maybe that’s a bonus for you, I just thought you might want to know.
I think its horrible, but its your kid. We choose to torment ours in ways the neighbors won’t notice and that several trips to the therapist may manage to get them through. I suppose going to court for a name change is easier than the therapist.
If you like the second half of “Cristiano”, perhaps a good compromise would be to name him Cristiano, and then call him Tiano for short.
That way, he’ll still have a “full” name, for job-hunting and stuff like that; and you can still call him what you want. And when he goes to school, he could always go by Cris. Also, I think kids are a little less likely to tease you about a nickname if they know it’s short for a “regular” one.
The reason I ask is that I am looking for things that I would not have thought of. I do not care if people like or dislike the name.
I would never have thought that people would think it rhymes with ‘piano’ unless I had posted here. I can always spell it ‘Tiarno’.
I am looking for things like 'Do not call him ‘Tiano’. That is Cantonese for ‘crapweasel’.
If you do not know Cristiano Ronaldo, then google him. He is the best soccer player in the world.
Calling my son Cristiano is an option. But I do not like the nickname ‘Chris’ or ‘Cris’.
I’m with other posters that think you shouldn’t use the demunitive as the real name. Christiano and call him “Tiano” and if it ends up everyone else calls him “Cris” or “No” or something else so be it. I really do like names that also have a demunitive.
Since my first name according to the US census is 99%+ used for females, and it sucks ass to have a first name that you really don’t like and get teased with even when you’re 45, I’d also advise that if you’re hell bent on Tiano, then maybe that should be the middle name with a “normal” first name.
Yep, I also think Tiano Piano is gold for some elementary school friends.
BTW, in case you’re wondering, it means nothing in Mandarin. I’m not sure about Cantonese, and with all due respect to Canto speaking Dopers, but the Cantonese have the ability to make almost any name profane. It’s a special skill.
I would opt for using Cristiano and then calling him Tiano if you want to. However, you will have absolutely no control over what nicknames he dreams up for himself, nor what other people choose to give him during the course of his life. Some things you just have to live with.
I’m sure when my parents named me Sionell, they didn’t expect anyone to call me Nellie. It happens. I don’t care, neither did they.
Another vote for using Cristiano and then shortening it however you like. Of course, I have an oddly spelled name, so perhaps that’s impacting my opinion. However, I think Tiano is lovely and could see it being a big plus if your son someday likes going the hugely ‘unique’ route.
Unfortunately, I’m recently learning on our very open-minded of boards, that apparently conformity is something more prized than I realized. So maybe you should discount my take on things…
I like it. I also think consulting with people on baby names isn’t a great idea and asking on a message board is probably a really crummy idea. Who wants to hear people dump all over a name you like?
From your other thread, it sounds like you want more than I liked it/didn’t like it, so:
The rhyme with piano didn’t occur to me because I read the name as “Tee-ah-no,” and I didn’t recognize it as the second half of Cristiano because I don’t hear that name very much. I actually prefer Tiano to Cristiano, and I disagree with the people suggesting the full name Cristiano. If you like Tiano, just go with that. It’ll stop everyone from calling him Cris, and maybe it will stave off the people who think it’s pretentious to use an unusual nickname. (See also- Topher for Christopher.)
Honestly - my first reaction was “pretentious.” I agree with everyone here saying to go with Christiano and use Tiano at home. And this is coming from someone that did name her kid something weird.
I know you don’t like the nickname Chris, but what if he does? And if he does turn out weird like use, he’ll keep right on with Tiano.
It’s an atrocious name. Sorry, but you may as well be told now; it’s ghastly.
Like it or not, 90% of the English-speaking world will think it rhymes with “piano” and technically they’re not wrong until corrected, because that IS the way you would assume to pronounce those letters in that sequence, at least in English. So your kid will be called “Tee-AAH-no” for the rest of his life. 75 years or more. Hope he likes it because it’ll be said that way for the entire time.
The other consideration you should bear in mind is that it will become very, very dated. The current trend of making up baby names (as well as converting last names into first names) is probably not going to last, and so in a generation little Tiano will have a name that will be the thematic equivalent of the 70’s/80’s California names for girls (Jennifer, Tiffany, Brittany, etc.)
The usual diminutive of “Christiano” isn’t “Tiano”. In Portuguese, a nickname is created by adding either “inho” or “inha” to all or part of the first name… my mother, for example, is Teresa to the world at large and Teresinha to friends/family. The soccer player Ronaldinho is Ronaldo by birth.
I’m still not sure how you plan on pronouncing it. With a Brazilian accent (ie. tshee-ah-noo)? With a Portuguese accent (ie. tchee-ah-noo)? Neither?
For the record, it’ll still rhyme with “piano” if you pronounce both in Portuguese.
But it ain’t my kid… so please name him as you please. I’d still recommend on going with the full version of the name (Christiano) and nicknaming him as you please (Tiano)… less trouble for him.
Your child, tiny and cute and adorable and dear to you as he/she may be, will one day be an adult. Your child will then be an adult saddled with, dare I even suggest hampered by, a cutesy name. No one wants to take financial advice from “Irelynd Monet”. No one will ever vote for “Catatonia Calliope”. Employees will blow off any threats coming from “Adecin Shai”. With that in mind, please name your child accordingly.
(all names in this post taken from Baby’s Named A Bad Bad Thing, purportedly actual name suggestions found on baby naming message boards)
