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Baby names

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

Original poster

Italian/English names

53 replies

chewbacca83 · 15/07/2018 19:33

I'm married to an Italian and we have our first baby due in October. We have a few boys and girls names but would love any more suggestions/opinions. They need to work in both languages i.e. phonetical. Some boys italian names sound like girls names in the UK. I.e. Gabrielle, Andrea

Girls: Vanessa, Francesca, Mary/Maria, Sofia
Boys: Matteo, Massimo (Max), Noah.
Thanks!

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Original poster
chewbacca83 · 17/07/2018 12:49

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 16/07/2018 12:47

I love Lucia

Also like Gabriella and Stefania

I like Noemi but the Noemi I know does get mistaken for Naomi a lot which is probably highly irritating. Kids are fine, it’s adults that get it wrong!

LeeMiller · 16/07/2018 12:39

We are in the same situation, except living in Italy, whereas I think you might be based in the UK.

You've had some lovely suggestions but I'd avoid names starting with Gi as ime English speakers often pronounce the 'i', and something like Cesare will defintely get butchered! Lots of Italian names that sound nice to British ears are very very old-fashioned for Italians, or have very strong regional associations (e.g. Ciro), but if your husband is Italian you should be able to avoid those issues - or you might not care if you live in the UK.

Matteo and Sofia are super popular for Italian babies, Massimo is very nice. I love Lorenzo as a name with a similar feel to Leonardo, also Leandro. Tommaso and Alessandro work in English with obvious English nn. Maria is classic though I might assume you were fairly Catholic. Italians might say 'marry' instead of Mary, though they'd probably just automatically Italianise it to Maria (this happens constantly with my name). Francesca is beautiful and gives a choice of nn too. Lucia is 'Lucheea', I think it's easy enough once you know but people would probably need telling the first time.

Recently born babies I know with easily pronouncable names are Valentina, Eleonora, Ginevra, Greta, Frida and Viola, and Pietro, Edoardo and Federico.

SwingingCrane · 16/07/2018 11:03

Is Noah spelled Noa a girls name in Italian. It is in Spain very much a girls name. Might be something to consider.

Amalfimamma · 16/07/2018 00:25

Hi, I'm Irish, married to an Italian and living in Italy. If your other half is from the south hell probably be aware of the family politics of using family names so as not to offend anyone, if you both don't care if advise going for a double name.

My kids (because I live here and for no other reason ) have an Italian first name and Irish second name. I would have ignored the Italian first name had I not witnessed the bullying from adults, teachers and kids towards kids with "strange" (Ie non Italian first names).

My advice, if you live in the UK go for whichever name and spelling of the name, you wish. If you live in Italy, do a traditional first and second name to keep everyone happy

slinkysaluki · 16/07/2018 00:14

Sorry 🙄. Domara for a girl and Dante for a boy

slinkysaluki · 16/07/2018 00:11

I like Arlo for a boy too

slinkysaluki · 16/07/2018 00:09

Lucia is nice for a girl, I met a Ciro in Italy, I'd not heard it before.

mikado1 · 16/07/2018 00:08

I know it's Spanish but can't think of Italian version and in case it's the same/similar, Santiago- love this.

mikado1 · 16/07/2018 00:05

Love Francesca, Sofia and Stella.

Also
Federica
Flavia
Felicia
Marianna
Irene

Luca
Mauro
Matteo

sandgrown · 15/07/2018 23:58

Lorenzo, Alessandro, Valentino, Gabriele (it is not pronounced like Gabrielle) Cesare. Gina,Cinzia, Romana or Roma, Alessia.

Royallypissedoff1 · 15/07/2018 23:58

Adrina
Amanta
Carrabelle
Cattia
Cesca
Dianora
Editta
Gia
Giada
Glada
Guida
Lanza
Liona
Maddelina
Marcellina
Marina
Miabella
Oria
Perla
Piera
Pila
Poesia
Rosabella
Rosaria
Rosina

Royallypissedoff1 · 15/07/2018 23:47

Cesare
Giovanni
Guiseppe
Giorgio
Angelo
Agusto
Alfonzo
Alonzo
Carlo
Caspari
Deangelo
Elio
Ezio
Federigo
Figaro
Gaspare
Guido
Kason
Lazaro
Oliviero
Orsino
Raul

gwen25 · 15/07/2018 23:32

How about

Luna
Celeste
Gianna
Aurora
Georgia
Natalie
Denise
Emilia
Amanda
Eva
Laura
Claudia

Boys

Nathan
Ethan
Gabriel
Samuel
Thomas
Nicholas
Alex
Kevin
Walter

holycityzoo · 15/07/2018 22:13

My family are Italian these are some names we chose for our 4dc and some we considered

Lucia
Anna
Sofia
Valentina
Maria-Grazia
Daniela
Natalia

Luca
Matteo
Rocco
Vito
Antonio
Vincenzo (enzo)
Nico

oakthorn · 15/07/2018 22:03

P.s I love Pia and Rafael

Ticcinalong · 15/07/2018 21:42

I love Valentino for a boy!

oakthorn · 15/07/2018 21:24

My name is vanessa and surprisingly it is hardy ever shortened. Only by family who shorten it to Ness

TatianaLarina · 15/07/2018 21:18

Pia
Cosima
Gianna
Raffaella

Sebastian
Roman/Romano
Raffael/o
Cosimo

Original poster
chewbacca83 · 15/07/2018 21:08

Lots of great ideas though guys thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
chewbacca83 · 15/07/2018 21:07

I love Valentina but it's my husbands ex's name! Might be weird haha. I do think Francesca is beautiful. I do love Vanessa though NN Nessa or Nessie

OP posts:
LulusMiniEgg · 15/07/2018 21:03

I have a Francesca and everyone comments on what a pretty name it is. I’ve not met another Francesca her age either (16 months) so hopefully it’s not too popular. We often shorten it to Cesca (that’s what our 3 year old DS calls her) or Frankie. She’s a cheeky little monkey that one so Frankie suits her well!

Flamingosnbears · 15/07/2018 20:56

Girls
Julia / Gulia
Anna
Sofia
Isabella
Eva
Teresa

Boys
Michael
Rafael
Matteo
Leonardo
Robert
Francis

misstilly · 15/07/2018 20:39

I have an Italian husband and our short lists were Rafael, Santino, Rocco and Leo for a boy. Seraphina, aurelia and raffaella for a girl. I love Valentina and alessia but couldn't use them!

WaxOnFeckOff · 15/07/2018 20:35

Ezra?