Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Would you call your daughter Valentina?

69 replies

KatieG1987 · 05/02/2015 12:32

As the title suggests - first or middle name? DH and I really like it but not sure if people will think it is too poncy or WAG(y) ? DH grandmother is French and really struggling with a french name but love this.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Sunnysideup5883 · 06/02/2015 19:27

I like it. Also clementine

GingerLDN · 06/02/2015 15:34

Sorry I forgot to add - YES to Valentina as a middle name, it wouldn't be shortened and it's really pretty, and you can afford to go a bit fancy in middle names I think (smile)

GingerLDN · 06/02/2015 15:32

I love it but really don't like Val or Tina so no.

Zsazsabinks · 06/02/2015 11:09

We always call her Winnie but I expect when she's older she'll want to be Freddie or Freda. Only reason we avoided Freddie was because she looked so much like a little boy when she was born, even though she had loads of hair! She looks a lot like a cross between DH and my FIL, so Freddie made it look like we'd wanted a boy and been disappointed!

RL20 · 06/02/2015 10:40

Wow I like it. Wouldn't have thought of it either and could be shortened to lots of different names x

SirVixofVixHall · 06/02/2015 10:36

Zsazsa-I love Winifred, it is my mother's middle name . i thought of it for dd2 but it didn't work with her other names.

Zsazsabinks · 06/02/2015 10:11

That's the reason to give them the full name. I have a Winifred...so Valentina has a lot less to worry about! lol.

reuset · 06/02/2015 09:53

Firstly it may not be shortened at all,

I did say that Wink

Nina is a distinct possibility.

Though they, the wearer of the name, might like Val or Tina! In spite of the bestower's intentions when choosing Valentina for them. Grin

Zsazsabinks · 06/02/2015 09:47

Why do people always say that?

Firstly it may not be shortened at all, secondly 'Nina' IS a frequent and accepted shortening of any 'ina' name thirdly, you have some control over what things get shortened to, i.e., you introduce yourself as 'x' rather than full name shortened to 'x'. Finally, if anyone was rude enough to simply assume your name was shortened to Val you can correct them.

reuset · 06/02/2015 09:43

Len or Lenii might be nice (though is it really considered nice Confused) but it's not the most natural shortening. Unless you have particularly strong accent/emphasize the 'len' part

But we all know Valentina, if shortened at all, will be Val or Tina.

SnowWhite33 · 06/02/2015 09:33

Very nice!
not just Italian or French, it is quite popular Russian name ( nn Valia after the first woman cosmonaut en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova) as well as in Spanish speaking countries.

Zsazsabinks · 06/02/2015 08:06

I really hope mine's shortened to Lennie/Lenny/Leni. It's a play on my maiden name (can't tell you the actual name because I'll our myself) and I've only got girls so couldn't give my Father's name or get away with using my maiden name as a middle name.

I think it's beautiful. Go for it, as a first name too!

isthisjustfantasy · 06/02/2015 00:35

I would have used it but DP said no. Don't like any of the nicknames though so would have asked people not to shorten it.

Noimaginationfornewname · 05/02/2015 22:40

Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault's daughter is called Valentina. I like it.

bienemaya · 05/02/2015 22:37

I really like it and know a little German Valentina!

BikeRunSki · 05/02/2015 21:15

Is she due on Feb 14?

Nn could also be Leni.

MrsBungle · 05/02/2015 21:12

Lovely name. I know a 6 year old Valentina and her name is never shortened.

TRexingInAsda · 05/02/2015 21:07

I have a Russian friend called Valentina. It's a lovely name.

Sonoma · 05/02/2015 21:06

A french friend of mine has a Clemence which I love! more traditional though.

Sonoma · 05/02/2015 21:06

Makes me think of Brandon Flowers and the girl who does the dirty on him ("Me and Valentina went down to the chapel and the gates were shut..."). but I guess there is a song about every name, somewhere!

OTheHugeManatee · 05/02/2015 17:52

I wouldn't, but it's a pretty name.

Strokethefurrywall · 05/02/2015 17:52

Thanks squoosh - I didn't like Val or Tina either but DM is Lenore and her nickname was Leni and I thought it would fit nicely. Was gutted that I wasn't able to use it but overjoyed that I got to use my favourite boys name instead.

I swear, if I have a 3rd and it's a girl, she's probably going to end up with 6 names so I can use all the ones that I like.

squoosh · 05/02/2015 17:44

Oh Leni is a lovely shortening.

Strokethefurrywall · 05/02/2015 17:40

Oh my God, what is it with baby name threads today? I just posted on the Darcey thread as that is what DS1's name would have been if he was a girl and Valentina would have been DS2's name if he had been a girl (nickname Leni like my mum)!

Alas I don't think I'm destined to get a Darcey or a Valentina Sad

Zsazsabinks · 05/02/2015 17:04

You can also shorten it to Nina and Lennie.