Chico

[Caballero]

¿Es Chico también un nombre?

This implies that it is:

Muchas gracias por dejarnos quedarnos con Ustedes. Juan y yo tuvimos un tiempo increíble en New York y fue genial conocerlos a ambos y a Chico! Gracias también por todas las cosas que nos dieron para el apartamento. Esperamos verlos de nuevo muy pronto.

[aleCcowaN]

Yes, Chico is a name like Chuck, not like Charles. I think it doesn't come from other name like Quico comes from Federico or Pepe from Pedro. A good example is an old Argentine singer, Chico Novarro, whose real name is Bernardo Mitnik Lermann.

[Caballero]

Oh ok, that's pretty cool. But does that mean that it sounds like you're addressing the other person as "Boy!"?

And is Chica also a name?

[pinosilano]

Chico Buarque de Holanda, su nombre verdadero es Francisco.
No sé si en Brasil a todos los Francisco los apodan Chico o es sólo referido a este artista por su cara y modos de "buen chico". Entonces sería un "mote".
Quico o Kiko lo conozco también para los Enrique y Pancho para los Francisco. A los José, Pepe y a los Pedro, Perucho.
Gullermo = Memo.
Patricio = Pato.
José Patricio, típico doble nombre que durante un periodo era muy común entre los "jaivones" (Highborns) chilenos, PepePato con su Volvo rojo. Me refiero a la mitad de los años '60, del siglo pasado.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Caballero

Oh ok, that's pretty cool. But does that mean that it sounds like you're addressing the other person as "Boy!"?

And is Chica also a name?

I'm not sure as Chico is not common here. It sound like Caribbean Rim or at least tropical/subtropical to me. I don't think they are addressing a person as a "boy". At most "the youngest" or "the shortest", but I don't think this either.

I've never heard of a person named "Chica".

[Caballero]

How about Nacho? I just saw this bilingual children's book in the store entitled "Uncle Nacho's Sombrero". I almost burst out laughing. Is that a real name too?

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Caballero

How about Nacho? I just saw this bilingual children's book in the store entitled "Uncle Nacho's Sombrero". I almost burst out laughing. Is that a real name too?

Yes it is. Short for Ignacio.

[Caballero]

Oh wow. I'm going to change my name to Ignacio so people can call me Nacho.

[pinosilano]

Originally Posted by Caballero

Oh wow. I'm going to change my name to Ignacio so people can call me Nacho.

Luís = Lucho
Patricia = Paty
Eugenio = Queno
Fernando = Nano
En Italia es más compleja la cosa:
Giovanni=> Vanni=> Vannino=> Nino=> Ninino.
Cosimo=> Cosimino=> Mino=> Mimino.

[Caballero]

Originally Posted by pinosilano

Luís = Lucho
Patricia = Paty
Eugenio = Queno
Fernando = Nano
En Italia es más compleja la cosa:
Giovanni=> Vanni=> Vannino=> Nino=> Ninino.
Cosimo=> Cosimino=> Mino=> Mimino.

Yes, but those aren't as neat because they don't sound like nachos.

Nano is definitely a dimutive, in more ways than one.