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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Boys' names that work well in English and Italian

62 replies

mariposa1 · 03/03/2014 22:00

Expecting DS2 any day and struggling to think of names which fit the above criteria.

Italian names which I like (Luca, Matteo) are 'too popular' for Italian DP.

His current favourite is Niccolo, nickname Nico. I am leaning towards Oscar. Can anyone suggest any others which might work?

It doesn't have to be an Italian name as such - more 'European' I guess. DS1 is called Raphael and that's a perfect example of the kind of name we're looking for!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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Original poster

mariposa1 · 11/03/2014 12:02

I think Lorenzo is now second choice after Nico. We like both, but, according to DP, Lorenzo is a 'bit of an old man's name'

DP actually seems to favour English names over Italian ones - seems such a shame when the italian ones sound so beautiful to me!

If we go down the 'English' route, I still want Oscar (although apparently there are Oscars in Italy, I don't think of it as an Italian name at all!)

OP posts:

yummymango · 10/03/2014 20:55

My husbands family is Italian - we have an Alessio in the family which is nice. Enzo is usually short for something like Lorenzo or Vincenzo.

I love the name Aldo, our neighbours in Sicily have a little boy called Aldo and he is very cute. We also have:

Daniele
Antonio
Angelo
Giorgio
Claudio

YoHoHoandabottleofWine · 08/03/2014 22:02

Lorenzo really is a gorgeous name. And Enzo is such a cool nickname. If you can't have a Luca, then if I was you I would definitely have a Lorenzo.

Good luck! Wishing baby a safe arrival.

Original poster

mariposa1 · 07/03/2014 12:12

amandine7 yes sorry I meant I didn't want two Ninja Turtle names - I didn't realise they were still popular but apparently they are (and they're bringing out a new film this year!). Shame as I really love Leo.

DP is really not a big fan of Luca, he seems to be the only one as everyone else I know loves it.

flipflops I really do like Lorenzo and all the nickname potential...

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amandine07 · 07/03/2014 09:24

Just to add about Luca- I've never met or heard of a female Luca here in SE England.

I've only met boys called Luca...no girls, hasn't crossed my mind that it could be for a female.
One of my good friends has a gorgeous son called Luca.

amandine07 · 07/03/2014 09:21

I love love love Luca!

You mention the teenage mutant ninja turtles connection with Leo...Raphael was the turtle in the red bandanna!

I think you meant you don't want 2 turtle names as opposed to just the one.

flipflopsonfifthavenue · 07/03/2014 08:13

Following thread with interest! I am English but was born and raised in Italy and always wanted an Italian element to my children's names. DS is Edward, but we call him Edo a lot of the time, short for Edoardo. I always wanted a name that you can easily say in Italian. Am just pg with DC2 so looking out for some tips ;)

Likewise there are so many names that sound better in Italian - I like Alexander, but I LOVE Alessandro. And don't get me started on girls names that are things of beauty in Italian... Beatrice, Gaia, Federica, Agnese...

I like Salvatore too - Salvo for short.

Francis/Franceso? Frank/ie for short?

Lorenzo is a lovely name - my nephew is Lawrence and we call him Loro, although in Italy it is shortened to Lore or Lollo.

I like Niccolo too. Beware Nicola though, for obvious reasons. Same with Andrea.

(just noticed someone else has said the same thing above..)

MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 07/03/2014 06:26

Giovanni, Gio for short?

Oriunda · 07/03/2014 06:03

Alessandro usually gets shortened to Alex, Sandro or Ale, not Aless.

KingCrimson · 07/03/2014 02:29

I like Luca, but it often seems to be used as a girl's name in England, so I'm not sure it's a good choice.

Mandy2003 · 07/03/2014 02:09

Bruno is Italian too.
Also Francesco.

Theas18 · 06/03/2014 23:12

Nico is nice.

Not alessandro please. You don't want to be a teenage called Alice!

dustwhatdust · 06/03/2014 23:03

Frederico
Alberto
Tomaso
Lorenzo

UnfinishedSentenc · 06/03/2014 21:37

Valentino
Roman
Rocco (my fave)

Original poster

mariposa1 · 06/03/2014 21:18

I agree, there are so many nice Italian names that it make it hard to choose. Top choice still Nico but really like Lorenzo and Alessio. Still like Giacomo, Luca and Matteo but don't think DP wil go for any of them.

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow so hoping baby makes an appearance soon. I don't think we'll make a final decision until after we meet him, so I'll come and update the thread then :)

Thanks again for all the great ideas.

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NigellasDealer · 06/03/2014 19:48

Giacomo/Jack?

cingolimama · 06/03/2014 19:46

I love so many of these names! Love love love Nico, and Marco and Luca. I notice that you like the shorter Italian names of two syllables. So I only have one to add:

Renzo

Congratulations!

Mandy2003 · 06/03/2014 19:41

Giovanni (Gio) means John in English.

fuzzyduck234 · 06/03/2014 19:38

Our neighbours have 3 boys with italien names, they are Luca, Sav and Alessandro (Sandy) and the dad is Enzo!

GimmeDaBoobehz · 06/03/2014 19:36

I mean not overly popular in England, obviously.

Also, some other suggestions that may be less popular or slightly different:

Beppe
Lothario
Luciano
Raul

GimmeDaBoobehz · 06/03/2014 19:19

Antonio
Marco
Teo
Leonardo
Luca

I like Marco and Luca best such lovely names that are Italian but not overly popular and they are also easily spelt in English.

Nico is nice too, but a bit harder to spell for some as there are other variations fairly popular.

BNmum · 06/03/2014 15:55

Freddie/Frederick/Federico
Ottavio nn Otto
Rocco
Felice/Felix - I think it means happy
Mattia
Tobia

ohmymimi · 06/03/2014 14:39

Aldo, Bruno, Franco.

Oriunda · 06/03/2014 12:02

Niccolo/Nico) best then as pronounced same in both tongues (more or less). The one I know is a Conte so nice aristocratic name!

Original poster

mariposa1 · 06/03/2014 11:13

It's so funny how names travel.

All the 'English' names which DP likes are inspired by American TV programmes he watched while growing up, or Hollywood actors (eg Dylan, Luke and Brad) whereas names that sound good to me (eg Oliver) just don't work at all in Italian...

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