Allesandra??

[Em1503]

Our baby girl is due soon and we are struggling to decide on a name! DH's mum passed away recently so he wants her name (Sandra) to be in there somewhere. We were thinking of changing it slightly and having Sandy as a middle name but DH really likes Allesandra as a first name. So.... Thoughts?? Or altrenatives?? Current first name favourite is Olivia.

So... Olivia Sandy or Allesandra something?? Other suggestions greatly welcome!!

[guineapig1]

Olivia Alessandra is lovely, you can still use Sandy as a nickname

[AuntieStella]

I'd spell it Alessandra, and think it's a lovely name.

Do you have any names on your side of the family that might go nicely in the middle?

[AMillionNameChangesLater]

My friend from uni was Alessandra, we called her Ssandra. Lovely name

[Oblomov]

but its just an unusual spelling if Alexandra. please don't do this. she will spend her whole life spelling out her name to people.

[Em1503]

Oops, that's how I meant to spell it (Alessandra). I believe it is a name in its own right, just can't decide if I like it or not! Not sure if it's a pretty name or a bit of a mouthful! It would probably get shortened to Ally or something, don't really like Sandra.

[IkeaFurnitureAssemblyChampions]

It's not 'an unusual spelling', it's an Italian name (a lovely one).

[Em1503]

No I don't really have any names from my side of the family that I'd want to use as a middle name, so it would be whatever we wanted.

[WolfMoon]

DH's sister is Alessandra, she gets Alessi. It's a lovely name.

[meditrina]

If you don't really like Sandra, then I think going for Alessandra is a really good choice, as MIL's name is right in there, but there is such great nn potential you'll never need to call her exactly the same.

I'd stick with an Italic/classic name in the middle. How about: Maria, Julia, Fabia, Luisa (or Louise)?

[LadyRochford]

Lovely name, I like it much better than Olivia (although that's nice too).

[alita7]

Less used than the very popular Olivia which is good :)

how are you saying it? Aless an dra or aless arn dra?

[burgatroyd]

Love it! Flowery without being Ott! How about Melisande or Corisande? Sandrine? Cassandra, Zandra? If Zadie Smith can z up Sadie then you can z up Sandra!

[Jumblebee]

Love love love it!

Kind of wish I could have another baby girl so I could make her that...

Love the Alessi nickname as well!

[Jumblebee]

*name, not make!

[DaffodilsandTruffles]

Very pretty.

Passes the high court judge test too.

[Winnie101]

What a beautiful name!

[Rosie29]

That's a lovely name! Olivia is nice too but Alessandra is fab !

[FatalCabbage]

I know an Alessandra - her little sister calls her Sandra but otherwise she gets her full name.

I like it in general, and in particular in your circumstances.

Olivia is very popular, approaching overused. Sandy is awful.

[FourForksAche]

lovely name.

[HollyBen]

Alessandra is much nicer than Olivia imo. How about Alessandra Olivia?

[cheesecakemom]

Olivia Sandra / Sandrine / Alessandra

[ANM07]

Love it and much nicer than Olivia!

[Em1503]

This is the general feeling I get off everybody, that they love the name! Maybe it needs time to grow on me more, I know DH would love to use it. I'm not against it, it just wouldn't be my first choice - I think the sandra part of it sounds old fashioned?!? Am I just being silly and thinking about it too much???

[AuditAngel]

DS is Alessandro Valentino, although we use Valentino as his given name, Tino for everyday. I was spluttering when someone suggested it was a made up name!

I also really like Luisa (DD2's name)

[Graciejoylove8]

Alessandra is lovely.
How about Alessandra Olive? It flows really well having a single syllable middle.