I once knew a guy named Maria

Question

He was a bit of a jerk. But apparently it is not uncommon for men from South American countries to be named Maria. I wonder why that is? Have you ever met a man named Maria? I have.

jejeje, made me laugh, what does being a jerk got to do with the name, jejejeje - 00494d19, Mar 4, 2011

Answer 1

María is indeed a relatively common name in Latin America, although it is usually part of a compound name, such as "José María" or "Pedro María".

Likewise, it is not uncommon for women to be called José, again in a compound name such as "María José". I know both José Marías and María Josés.

So, is it some kind of homage to an ancestor? And is the male name Guadalupe a similar situation like María? - cristalino, Mar 3, 2011

Egualmente en Mexico. - pacofinkler, Mar 3, 2011

Answer 2

It's not uncommon to hear José María (Josemari), Luis María, etc. Likewise, women could bear male names such as María Jesús, María José.

Answer 3

So, is it some kind of homage to an ancestor? And is the male name Guadalupe a similar situation like María? -

It is a homage to the Catholic holy figures. People will baptize their children with the name of saints and holy figures for a number of reasons:

1. Because they were born on the day of the saint. Every day in the Catholic calendar is the day of a saint or several saints. Thus, June 24 is the day of St. John, so people may call their kids Juan or Juana. September 12, St. Mary; March 19th, St. Joseph, and so forth. You can see the whole list here.
2. In order to gain the favor or the protection from the namesake Saint.
3. Because they're devout to that particular saint.
4. Because of a promise made to that saint.
5. Because it's a tradition in the family
6. Because they happen to like the name.

An homage, shirley? - afowen, Mar 3, 2011

That depens on whether you pronounce the *hache* or not, luv. - Gekkosan, Mar 3, 2011

Zacto, an omage, or do you say hom-ij me duck? - afowen, Mar 3, 2011

Answer 4

I've read that the gender of names change.

Shirley and Marion are now girls names as far as I am concerned yet John Wayne's real name was Marion and Big Daddy's Shirley.

*can change - afowen, Mar 3, 2011

Answer 5

One of my cousins (a girl) is named María José.

And I don't know him personally, of course, but I know of this famous Spanish football player, ex-madridista, named José María Gutiérrez Hernández, commonly known as 'Guti' .

They're not common names but they aren't that uncommon either. People don't find them strange or funny, they're just regular names.

Answer 6

I used to sing this to the guy: How do you solve a problem like Maria Good stuff.

Answer 7

Using Maria as a man's name is not restricted to the Spanish speaking world.

Carl Maria von Weber was a German composer Carlo Maria Giulini was an Italian conductor

I suppose nowadays, parents are more likely to call their son Marius.

Answer 8

So, is it some kind of homage to an ancestor? And is the male name Guadalupe a similar situation like María?

Well, no , I don't know anybody male who is called Guadalupe, it is the combination of Jose and María that works.

They're not common names but they aren't that uncommon either. People don't find them strange or funny, they're just regular names.

Oh, nooo, in Spain, every other guy is called José Maria and Jesús MaríaVery common indeed!