Luciana

[Salmonpinkcords]

Is it too much? I had vetoed it but due a shortage of other names it comin back into play. DH really likes it but I’m just not sure if it’s too much.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Very nice name, OP.

Am assuming it's pronounced Loo-see-AH-nuh?
(Or is it sometimes Loo-chee-AH-nuh?).

Plenty of scope for shortenings/NNs too.

[Salmonpinkcords]

I think we would be pronouncing loo-see-an-nuh

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Well, it's a definite yes vote from me. Extra bonus point as more unusual than Lucia, a name I love.

[allegretto]

I know someone called this but she says Loo - chee- ana.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

I'd caution against using anything you're not really that keen on yourself, though, which you say in your original post.

Do you want a few alternatives?

[scrivette]

I like it.

[SuperBeagle]

Much prefer Lucinda, and it won't have the conflicting pronunciation issue.

[GoingCrazy21]

I would always pronounce this Lu-chee-ana, I think you would get a lot of people saying this. Otherwise, nice name.

[17caterpillars1mouse]

It's beautiful

[pipilangstrumpf]

Loochiana here too, like Luciano.

[MollyHuaCha]

I like it. There will be general pronunciation divides with this name: Loo-see-an-na, Loo-see-aah-na, Loo-chee-aah-na etc.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

It really is Loo ch Iana.
It's Italian so most people will say the ch.
Nice name though!

[Salmonpinkcords]

Yes Zuzu I would love some alternatives - baby due week!

The issue with pronunciation does bother me a little

[MollyHuaCha]

Ooh next week, exciting! Let us know what you decide.

Fwiw lots of names have various pronunciations, you just tell people how to say it when you first meet them:

Eva (Ay-va/Ee-va)
Alicia (Al-ee-see-a/Al-ee-sha)
Esme (Ez-mee/Ez-may)
Sara (Sair-ah/Sar-a)
Helena (Helen-a/Hel-ay-na/Hel-ee-na)

[LinoleumBlownapart]

It's Latin so it can be loo-see-an-nuh. I prefer that to the Lu-chi-ana Italian pronouciation. If you think it's too much you can always have nicknames Lucy, Lu-Lou, Lou, Lucia, even Ana. You might find it suits her and grow to love it. I have a child with a similar name, I wasn't convinced but DH loved it. When the baby came along, nothing else fitted. Now I love the name.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

Most people don't speak Latin in every day life!

[Tuo]

I hate to be a pedant (actually, I don't, it's my default setting, sorry!) but if it was Italian it'd be pronounced loo-cha-na (i.e. 3 syllables, not 4 as described above).

I'll throw in an off-the-top-of-my-head suggestion, if you like the Italian-ish feel but don't want the hassle around pronunciation. What about Fulvia? Pretty, unusual, but pronounced as written.

[AnneOfCleavage]

Tuo Fulvia sounds and looks a bit lot like vulva so wouldn't go with that.

Alvia
Alvivia
Vivia
Alvira are all nicer imho.

OP Luciana is a gorgeous underused perfectly easy to pronounce name once you've chosen your pronunciation of it. My DD has a name that can be pronounced many different ways but we've said how we like it and never had a problem ever. If someone says it wrong DD gently corrects them or I do if said to me and it's never been a problem.

[Tuo]

I had literally never thought of that.

I do agree, though, that once you pick a name and agree on your pronunciation of it it's generally not a problem. My DD has a name that's written exactly as pronounced (so I thought would be unproblematic) but is often mis-heard as a more common name. She just says 'Sorry, actually it's [name]' and mostly that's all there is to it.

[daisypond]

I naturally would say Loo-CHA-na. I find Loo-see-ah-na a bit flowery.

[AnneOfCleavage]

Tuo

I agree as my DD has an S is her name that can be pronounced as an S sound or a jzuh sound. Also an A that can be pronounced Ay or Ah so a double whammy. Never had a problem, much like your DC.

[allegretto]

The person I know with this name in Italy is actually Romanian so maybe that's why she pronounces it with 4 syllables?

[SloanePeterson]

Similar but more lovely imo is Lucina

[loobybear]

If I read if on a school register would presume the child was Italian and would pronounce it Lu-cha-na. I have known a Portuguese and a Spanish girl who both pronounced it Lu-see-ana. I can't imagine it going great with many British surnames to be honest.

[Salmonpinkcords]

I think it goes fine with our Surname to be honest but I’m still not 100% convinced. However right now we have nothing else!