10 Rare First Names In Tagalog: Odd And Funny Names

First Names In Tagalog

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!

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. 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! It’s free to use, and you can get it from Google Play and the App Store. I promise, you will have fun while learning languages! For now, let’s move on and discover more first names in Tagalog.

Odd First Names In Tagalog - A photo of young people raising their hands

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 NameMeaningSound
BernardA Western name usually spelled backward by Filipinos
RizalinoA variation for Dr. Jose Rizal’s name
John MarkCombines two Gospels from the Bible
JoshuaA name referring that God is salvation
DaniloTraditional Tagalog version of the name Daniel
CrisantoThe Tagalog version of “Christ”
NathanielGift of God
MakisigTagalog word which means strong
JejomarCombines Jesus, Joseph, and Mary
AlabTagalog word which means ablaze

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.

First NameMeaningSound
MaryMother of Jesus 
AngelHeavenly being
AmihanNorthwest wind
MariaLatinized version of Miriam 
MaricarCombination of Maria and Carmen
Jasmine National flower of the Philippines
PrincessRoyal daughter
BituinStar
MarikitTagalog word which means beautiful
DiwaGift from God

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.

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!

First Names In Tagalog Popular baby names

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.

Updated by: Jefbeck

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