In the US, you would still have the sal as cliched Italian guy's name problem, because really, who actually goes by Salvatore on an everyday basis? It isn't really Salvatore that's the issue, it's Sal, and using Sal all by itself doesn't do anything except most everybody will just assume Salvatore is his name anyhow.
You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts. -- Daniel Patrick Moynihan