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Baby names

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

Original poster

Italian Baby Girl Names?

41 replies

charlottetaylor93 · 11/09/2018 21:01

OH and I struggling to decide on name for first daughter! He is Italian so name has to work in English and Italian. Middle name is definitely Daphne for family reasons. Top contenders are-

Valentina (OH's fave)
Eloisa (I love this - too weird though?)
Cordelia
Aurora
Beatrix

Thoughts and suggestions please!

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MarshaBradyo · 16/09/2018 14:32

Valentina is gorgeous

Dandybelle · 16/09/2018 14:30

Rafaela. My DD made friends with a little Italian girl on holiday called this, it so suited her. They called her Raffie for short.

Sungura · 16/09/2018 14:20

I was going to suggest Gabriella, too. I have a cousin who used it as a middle name for her little girl. It's so pretty.

RickOShay · 16/09/2018 13:57

Ginevra also lovely

CarrieBlu · 12/09/2018 00:36

Vincenza?

Goostacean · 12/09/2018 00:31

My DH likes Valentina too, although he has a Spanish-speaking background. My problem with it is that I don’t like Val... or Tina!

I like Eloisa, partly because I have met a lovely one. And Cordelia is beautiful!

What about Anna?

shirleyschmidt · 12/09/2018 00:29

Gabriella
Carlotta
Annamaria
Federica
Elisa

Starryskiesinthesky · 11/09/2018 23:44

Names of people of Italian descent I know are:
Anna
Antonia
Selena
Lucia
Nadia

Pitapotamus · 11/09/2018 23:33

Sofia or Lavinia or Arianna would be my favourites!

Timpani · 11/09/2018 23:30

I love Valentina.

StrikingMatches · 11/09/2018 23:28

I was coming on to suggest Valentina! So pleased it is already on your list.

snop · 11/09/2018 23:27

The first name I though of is top of your list, I love Valentina

passwordfailure · 11/09/2018 23:20

I met an Antonella recently, I love it. Also Lucia.

TempsPerdu · 11/09/2018 23:04

I met a little Valentina the other day who went by the nn Vita. Gorgeous name.

RavenWings · 11/09/2018 23:00

Honestly I'm an Irish person and I know a few Chiaras - used to work with one. Pronunciation was never an issue ime, people knew it wasn't Ciara.

willisurvive3under2 · 11/09/2018 22:58

Eloisa and Beatrix are not Italian. It's Elisa and Beatrice - pronunciation is tricky so be aware!

Chiara and Gioia are a nightmare to pronunce for English speakers.

Cordelia is very old fashioned in Italy.

Valentina is fab, we wanted it for our DD but used it as middle name as we didn't like the NN options in English.

Penelope and Carlotta spring to mind.

RedDwarves · 11/09/2018 22:53

I like Valentina best from your list.

But my favourite Italian names are Chiara and Isabella (Bella).

Glumglowworm · 11/09/2018 22:52

Aurora is my favourite from your list

Also

Lucia
Noemi
Stefania

Mummyamy123 · 11/09/2018 22:51

These names are so pretty!

My son has a friend Aurora nicknamed Rory which I love!!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 11/09/2018 22:49

Luciana or Lucia are my favourite Italian names. Also Sophia.

How about:
Ariana
Marcella
Fiorentina
Raffaella
Paola
Silvia

Original poster
charlottetaylor93 · 11/09/2018 22:46

Glad you like Valentina! Lots of people giving it a positive response which is pushing it up in my ranking. Think Chiara would be hard because my family is Irish so they would assume Ciara for spelling although it's a beautiful name

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charlottetaylor93 · 11/09/2018 22:44

I love Eleonora! OH not so keen but maybe can budge him... Ditto I adored Serena but he says everyone will think of Serena Williams (I think that's a good thing personally!) will also run Clara by him as that's lovely and similar-ish to Cordelia

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LeeMiller · 11/09/2018 22:34

Valentina - beautiful. The obvious nicknames in English - Val/Tina - are less so, so I'd pick and promote an alternative nn (the Italian ones I know are Vale, but you could have Leni or Vivi)
Eloisa - nice, but there are lots of little Ellies and Ellas around
Cordelia - ok
Aurora - fine
Beatrix - nice, but the Italian pronunciation would be a bit different.

I also love:
Eleonora
Clara
Diletta
Francesca
Greta
Gaia
Ginevra
Matilde
Alessandra
Arianna
Viola
Serafina
Serena

Kewqueue · 11/09/2018 22:16

I've never come across Eloise or Beatrix in Italy but I like them both. I also like Liliana, Ada and Elettra.

EMS23 · 11/09/2018 22:13

Elisa
I'm Elisa Margaret - named after my Nonna and my Grandma - Italian and Irish respectively.

From your list, I love Eloisa .