The pangalan or first names in Tagalog can be different from the naming conventions in Western countries. As a basis, the locals usually want the names to stand out or reflect a deeper meaning, so most of these may sound religious, interesting, or very traditional.
In addition, a massive number of Philippine names are derived (or at least a variation) from Spanish and English. This makes it almost impossible to distinguish if the name “Joseph” is Filipino, Mexican, or American! Let’s get to know more about Tagalog in this post today!
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10 The Oddest First Names In Tagalog
If New Zealand has “Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii” and the UK has “Cyanide,” the Filipino people also have some of the best meaningful names you will never forget.
1. Dhrecxzeus
While you might think that this first name is just a random combination of letters, Dhrecxzeus is actually inspired by the Greek God “Zeus” and the name of the kid’s father, “Dhrecxiar.” Career-wise, the name certainly packs a punch as it sounds glorious or something that is out of historical movies set in Ancient Rome.
2. Sincerely Yours ‘98
The name Sincerely Yours ’98 may seem funny, but it actually symbolizes that the kid is the family’s last child. To make matters extra interesting, this same family also named their children Macaroni ’85 and Spaghetti ’88.
In one interview from Rated K, the family shared that the names may sound a bit funny, but it has tremendously helped them fit in with society and land a job. In the same interview, they also mentioned that the siblings would not change their names if given a chance.
3. Dzwyrgh
Looking for a Filipino name that is practically made of consonants? The siblings Dzywrygh, Djknyll, and Pzxydynn will seriously make you think twice! The siblings shared in the same video interview that their names may be difficult to pronounce, but these helped them gain more friends and have other people remember them right away.
4. Hitler Manila
Among the most challenging things that a new family has to face is how to name their child appropriately. For one lucky guy out there, he was brought to life and christened as Hitler Manila. Based on BBC reports, his name is indeed memorable enough, but it has caused cultural misunderstanding.
When Manila exposed his name while he was in Germany, the people looked at him with tense reactions as they couldn’t believe that anyone would be named Hitler Manila.
5. Ghrowizard
This name from the Escobar family in the Philippines does not have any meaning, but it is still catchy. The bearer of this name states that he loved it because it made a mark on everyone he met. In addition, he finds the questions about his name quite entertaining, which is why he will not change his name even if given a chance to do so.
6. Yghngjhyll
This name is related to stenography and is popular due to its all-consonant form in the Filipino alphabet. Based on this lucky person’s social media account, the pronunciation of his name is “Eynjhyll.“
7. Fort McKinley
This name was given to a bright young boy whose father served as an AFP personnel in the Philippines. His father was stationed at Fort William McKinley, where he got fond memories as a soldier.
8. Godis Withus
This is basically “God is with us,” but when it is spoken with a heavy Bisaya accent, the pronunciation can be Godis Withus. This Catholic name may sound weird at first, but it has helped the child in terms of finding comrades, as people are naturally drawn to someone who seems unique!
9. Dipsy
A popular name for the Teletubbies, there are reports saying that a Filipino kid was named as such due to the popularity of the TV series.
10. Drink Water
Drink Water is a name that will never make you forget to drink. Based on interviews, the mother named the kid since it reminded her of what she felt while she was carrying her child: always in need of water!
Are you enjoying this post so far? If you want to learn more Tagalog, the Ling app can help! I promise, you will have fun while learning languages! For now, let’s move on and discover more first names in Tagalog.
Popular Filipino Baby First Names
In the Philippines, choosing a baby’s first name is a special thing. Common Tagalog names for boys and girls are picked with a lot of love, often having a beautiful meaning or a story behind them.
First Names In Tagalog For Boys
The names of boys in Tagalog are really cool! Some are old names that have been around for a long time, and others are new and creative. They all have special meanings that are important to Filipino families.
First Names In Tagalog For Girls
For girls, the first names in Tagalog are pretty and often have a nice sound to them. They might come from nature or have a religious meaning. Filipino families think a lot about these names and what they mean when they choose them for their daughters.
Notable Filipinos With Interesting Names
Some famously distinctive names among Filipino public figures and celebrities include:
- Boxer Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao.
- Former Philippine President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte.
- YouTube singing sensation Christiana “TNT” Tiongson.
Their well-known nicknames add flair to their unconventional given names. When your moniker already stands out, you might as well embrace it as an expression of individuality!
Nicknaming Traditions In The Philippines
Many Filipinos adopt new nicknames later in life as well:
- Elders take on Aling or Mang as polite terms of respect.
- Short versions provide natural name shorthand – “Dig” for Rodrigo or “Conching” instead of Concepcion.
These nicknames represent:
- Terms of endearment.
- Markers of changing social status.
- Easier shorthand references.
They capture the affectionate nature that is integral to Philippine naming.
How Do You Say First Names In Tagalog?
The Tagalog word for the first name is just the same as asking for the Tagalog word for the name. With that, you can just say pangngalan
When you’re asking someone their first name, just ask this question word in Tagalog, Anong pangalan mo?
Other Vocabulary And Sentences For First Names In Tagalog
First names can be hard to remember, right? So we’ve come up with a few practice sentences in Tagalog that will work best for your memory retention.
Frequently Asked Questions About First Names In Tagalog
What Are The Modern First Names For Filipinos?
There were reports during the pandemic that Filipinos named their children Pandemica, Aztra, Lockdown, and even Quarantine! Although many of these may sound really odd or weird, there are many Filipinos who choose modern first names similar to these.
Some of them are Wolf, Zid, Xyca, and even fictional names from popular dramas and anime like Galadriel, Khaleesi, or even Naruto or Akira. You may find this way of naming Filipinos a bit eccentric but believe me, many Filipinos are finding more creative ways of naming their kids!
Why Do Some First Names Of Filipinos Sound Spanish Or American?
Most Filipinos have Spanish or American-sounding first names because of the influence of their immediate family, who also got their names from the colonization history of the Philippines. Most of the older Filipinos will have Spanish-sounding names like Herminia, Merciditas, Alberto, and so on. However, there are also Gen-X, middle-aged Filipinos, whose names are Robert, Ben, Jack, William, etc., due to the American colonization.
As mentioned earlier, there are many Filipinos who are changing this traditional way of naming their children.
Do Filipinos Use Other First Names Aside From Their Given Name?
If you’re wondering what are the common Tagalog names of Filipinos, it’s Jacob and Althea. But there are also other nicknames that Pinoys use, and most of them are commonly known by that name instead of their given name. A few examples of Filipino nicknames are:
- Ricardo – Rick, Chard,
- Bernard – Nard, Bern
- Carlos – Caloy, Carl
- Leonora – Lena, Lea, Leon
- Francisca – Sisa, Frans, Franny
Most of the nicknames now have different letters or modernized ways of arranging the spelling of the given names. There are many nicknames that just come from their registered legal name. However, some Filipinos also tend to differentiate their nicknames from their real name. For example, if you are named Angelo, people can just call you a random name, like Berting.
Unusual Naming Practices In The Philippines
Of all the names globally, Filipino names can be considered some of the most fascinating due to their distinct bizarreness at times. In fact, who would ever believe that there are babies from here whose names are HTML, Covid Bryant, Pretty Nice, and Coviduvidapdap?
Mind you, these are 100% real first names given to Filipinos and are printed on their national birth certificate! Somehow, these names are testaments to how humorous the locals are and the lengths they will go through to make sure their child’s first name will be one in a million!
Cultural Significance And Identity
As mentioned by the Wall Street Journal, these strange names are not just given for the sake of attention. They also ensure that it stays unique to prevent future problems when dealing with identification checks.
This shift in naming form is also prevalent in other countries because unique names are harder to confuse, making future transactions easier.
So that’s it for our look at first names in Tagalog, which are really something special. They’re like little stories all by themselves, telling us about the people and the place they come from. It’s pretty amazing to think about, and it makes every name you hear from the Philippines kind of a mini adventure.
