Is it pretentious or somehow wrong (foreign names)

I've always wondered about this. I love loads of Russian and Scandinavian names and Italian too. We appropriate food, culture, design from these places so why not names? The only reason I didn't is that I thought my dd might get bored of every conversation beginning "so, dp you have Russian heritage?" and her having to say no every time and getting a look. As if the birthplace of her great grandmother is relevant to anything at all, least of all what names you are "allowed" to use. Fwiw my surname is decidedly French sounding but the reason why is lost in the mists of time. Apparently this would make it "ok" for me to choose a French name. What tosh. In the end I chose a Welsh first name and a germanic/Scandinavian middle name. I am not Welsh but meh.

But the parents would seem to me nuts if they chose a name like "Shizuka" (Japanese) or Ng-Trang (Vietnamese) or Dilnaz (Kazakh) without their being cultural appropriation.

This - I am astonished by people who choose names that are waaay out and only likely to cause confusion. Some names translate/scan better than others. On this occasion it seems a fine choice though.

oh ffs, They love Italy, they love the name Carlotta. I dont see any problem here at all.

Italy is bloody next door but one. She should totally go for it

I thought of Malory Towers too!

I don't see the big deal and think the 'cultural appropriation' comment is laughable. Are the parents of all Sophies and Leos also appropriating someone else's culture? If I was your friend I'd tell the other stickybeak couple to feck off.

What's inappropriate is the couple thinking they have a right of input into naming someone else's baby.

I really don't see the fuss. I can't see an issue with using a foreign name at all.

"you-neeq" name

It's not pretentious. I'm not sure I'd even register that Carlotta is Italian, it wouldn't make me think of any nationality particularly. I recently met a baby called Innes. I wondered if there was a Spanish connection, the mum said there wasn't and that was that. I didn't then think she was pretentious for using a Spanish name although she has no Spanish connections. I'd use a "foreign" name with no connection in a heartbeat before a you-neeq name. As other posters have noted there are also plenty of "foreign" names which are now so common that no one would comment "are you Italian/Swedish/Irish/Samoan" etc. Moral of the story - don't tell anyone the name before the baby is born...

Tell them to call her Darrell or Felicity instead. She might then become head girl or lead the lacrosse team.

(another Mallory Towers fan here)

Carlotta is grand.

Love the charge of cultural appropriation though-very funny.

What horrid silly friends

I thought of Malory Towers too!

I think it's a beautiful name and think the friend was extremely rude.

Are you going to show your friend the thread Riviera?

So we all have to james, Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, Henry etc. Unless we are card carrying (insert nationality or religion here).

Carlotta is quite nice. Different but not crazy.

I have more problem with using say Muslim or Irish names if not of that faith/extraction. But that's just personal taste.

Me too em

Why is caking an English child Carlotta, anymore inappropriate that calling it one of the many Hebrew or Irish names that are commonly used? At least Carlotta is more phonetic to the English speaking ear than Siobhan, Niamh or even Isaac.

Oh please let the offended woman be Helen.
Carlotta barely registers on the foreignometer.

Thanks em I knew it had horsey connections.

The only issue with Carlotta is that she'd be wilful and strong and ride horses bareback and regularly run away from her boarding school was it only me who thought of Malory Towers?

Becoming a mum for first time I have noticed ppl with weird name options to the one chosen. Imo the parents have the right to choose and others must respect this.

I do feel people are far too opinionated when it comes to the name. Call them what you want at the end of the day, they are your babies forever

one must not be influenced by what others have to say about your chosen name, just laugh it off no matter how annoying it can be

Carlotta is lovely and I don't think you need to have an Italian connection for the name!

Carlotta is lovely. People are rude.

Definitely NOT cultural appropriation.

We know English people with a daughter called Jelena (with the Eastern European 'y' pronunciation). They chose it because they liked it, no connections at all. They constantly have to correct people but still love it - why on earth not?

Thinking about it though, I am always a bit confused by parents with no Irish connections choosing Caoimhe or similar. Not sure why that's different though!

Carlotta is lovely.

Carlotta is a lovely name.

I think it depends on the name. Also female names of foreign origin don't sound quite so 'odd'. So Isabella , Anastasia and Maria sound fine but Giovanni, Vladimir and Didier do sound a bit funny to me.

Carlotta is lovely.

Her friends just seem a bit rude but are intitled to their own opinions too. But who cares. If we all did what seemed popular with people around us we'd all be so vanilla