Dda

March 22, 2024 6:37 AM

I met a hispanic gentleman from the old word named, phonetically, DEE-dee-ay. What can you tell me about this name?

How is it is spelled? Is it a proper name or a nickname?
He is from southern Texas/NM.

posted by falsedmitri to Writing & Language (8 answers total)

Best answer: Probably Didier?
posted by Sweetie Darling at 6:40 AM on March 22 [16 favorites]

I can't reconcile him being from the "Old World" and TX/NM, but it sounds like his name is Didier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier
posted by tmacdonald at 6:40 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]

Didier?
posted by unknowncommand at 6:40 AM on March 22

Didier
posted by caek at 6:40 AM on March 22

Response by poster: Oh, I supposed it is possible that French influence from Louisiana made it that far west.
posted by falsedmitri at 6:59 AM on March 22

I can't reconcile him being from the "Old World" and TX/NM

This may be a slightly muddled description of Hispanos and Neomexicano Spanish.
posted by zamboni at 7:06 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]

I know people named Didier in Chile, so it's not far fetched that it made it to Texas.
posted by signal at 7:57 AM on March 22 [4 favorites]

Best answer: And adding to above answer: i knew people from Argentina named Didier.
In French it would be more like 2 syllables DEED-YAY.
posted by rainy day girl at 10:32 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]