JESUS, MANUEL, SALVADOR YAN NATIVIDAD

Why are some Chamorros named after Jesus?

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BANK OF GUAM FOUNDER
Jesus Sablan Leon Guerrero

CHAMORRO PRIEST

Father Jesus Baza Dueñas

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BELEMBAOTUYAN MASTER

Jesus Crisostomo

The Spanish stand out as the only Europeans who take the name of Jesus as a personal, or baptismal, name.  The neighboring Portuguese often add the name of Jesus to theirs', but it comes out as Maria de Jesus, or Pedro de Jesus.  The Portuguese don't have "Jesus" as a stand-alone, personal name.  But the Spaniards have no hesitation at all giving a son the name Jesus.


Some (not all) American missionary priests after World War II had a problem with Chamorros giving the name "Jesus" to their baby boys.  Instead, they suggested naming the baby "Jesse."  Thus, we have many fathers named Jesus having sons named Jesse.

Perhaps most Chamorros named Jesus were so-named because their fathers were named Jesus, or some other male relative.  A few were named Jesus because they were born on (or close to) Christmas day, when Jesus was born.

CHU / SUSA

The nickname for Jesus is Chu.  Other forms are invented based on Chu, like Chumbai.  The female form of Jesus is Jesusa.  From that we get Susa, and some women become Susan!

MANUEL and SALVADOR

Besides Jesus, there are two other names that stand for Jesus.  Jesus is also called Emmanuel, and the Spanish form of that is Manuel.  Jesus is also the savior, salvador in Spanish.  Chamorros would say Manet and Satbadot.  One family is known as the Atdot family because their patriarch was named Salvador.

The female form of Manuel is Manuela, and from that we get Lela' or Lelang. 

Again, sometimes a boy was named Manuel or Salvador because they were born on, or near, Christmas day.

NATIVIDAD

But the women had a third option besides Jesusa or Manuela.  It's Natividad, which means "birth" in Spanish.  From that we get Da' or Daling.  But, if you wanted an Americanized pet name, that would be Naty or Natty.  I'm going to a party today hosted by one Naty.  Yes; she was born on December 26 and named after Jesus' birth.