A couple of Catalan tourists, Gerard and Mireia, wanted to baptize their third child, whom they named “Alguer Miquel”, in the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The ceremony last Sunday, officiated by the parish priest Don Angelo, in an intimate and emotional atmosphere, as Joan-Elies Adell, cultural director of the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia in Italy, tells us.
"The decision to call the child "Alguer" is a clear tribute to the city that, despite the geographical distance, keeps alive the Algherese variant of Catalan and a strong Catalan identity . This choice is particularly felt by Gerard and Mireia, who have visited Alghero and Sardinia frequently for their holidays. The choice of the name Alguer is therefore linked to the many beautiful moments spent here, strengthening a deep emotional bond with the island. The name Miquel was not chosen by chance: he is in fact the patron saint of the city of Alghero, but also of Vic, the city where the mother comes from ", reports Adell.
Interestingly, the choice of the name Alguer for a Catalan baby resonates with an emerging trend in Catalonia, often little known in Sardinia. “In 2023, 28 newborns with the name Alguer were registered in Catalonia. This figure is part of a growing trend: between 2020 and 2023, a total of 146 newborns were named Alguer, which indicates a significant increase in the recent popularity of the name,” concludes Joan-Elies Adell.