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Baby names

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

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Original poster

English/Italian names for boys

61 replies

Whichnamepls · 11/01/2021 04:57

We are expecting a little boy in a few weeks and are stuck on names. I'm English and DH is Italian so ideally we would like one which works in both languages.

We are hoping to avoid one which will be mispronounced all the time as we live in an English speaking country.

This is our list so far:

Giacomo
Giorgio
Niccolò
Leo
Massimo
Raffaele

And, randomly, Henry - which seems to be the only English name we can both agree on.

Any thoughts on these names or other suggestions?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mathanxiety · 13/01/2021 20:06

Damiano
Agostino
Santiago
Carlo
Dario
Amato
Cosimo
Elias
Lazaro
Primo
Cristian
Stefano
Arturo
Ignazio

AussieSue · 13/01/2021 17:23

Riccardo?

KirstenBlest · 13/01/2021 17:19

I think Sting (musician, used to be in The Police) has a DS called Giacomo. Once you get that it is italian, it shouldn't be a problem, but at first people will say Jacko-mo or Jack-OH-mo. I think it is more JAH-co-mo. I might be wrong

And people will write it Gacomo. Trust me, they will.

Original poster

Whichnamepls · 12/01/2021 19:55

Hi everyone, thanks for all the suggestions. I have run them past DH but we still can't make a final decision. We will have to wait until the baby comes now I think and hope that seeing him helps us decide.

So many great names suggested. It's true though that a lot of them don't sound quite right in an English accent and I don't want to be the one mispronuncing it (my DH's family already laugh at how I say his name ) Some I just can't imagine myself shouting across the playground without sounding ridiculous!!

I love Giacomo (with nn Jack) but just think I might be landing my son with a name no one can pronounce correctly unless they've come across it before. I also love Raffaele (Rafa/Raffy) but the last e is pronounced so have some reservations whether it sounds a bit feminine. I know it shouldn't matter but I don't want him to get picked on at school!

There are some names which have been suggested which DH wouldn't go for as they are more popular in the south of Italy.

Matteo is nice too but so seems popular amongst Italians or mixed couples living in an English speaking country. I know a few already which puts me off.

OP posts:

Girlyracer · 12/01/2021 19:20

Massimo
Valentine!

Chilldonaldchill · 12/01/2021 19:12

I really like Giacomo. I know one who's about 19 who occasionally goes by Jack.

BrightonR · 11/01/2021 21:55

I actually also love the name Livio. Easy to say in both.

KrakowDawn · 11/01/2021 21:51

Enzo
Nico
Ettore

Firebird83 · 11/01/2021 21:28

Alessio?

DennisTMenace · 11/01/2021 20:53

I love love love Giacomo, but if you are worried about mispronounciation in English, then it is pretty likely. I can just see him hearing Gee a como every time he gets a coffee.

Also big fan of Matteo and Luca.

Onward · 11/01/2021 19:46

My favourite Italian boys name is Matteo

BrightonR · 11/01/2021 19:41

My boyfriend is half Italian and has an Italian first name (Michele) and a very Italian surname. He has banned us from naming our children anything Italian as he has an identity crisis feeling more affinity with where he grew up and where his mum is from than the Italian side.

Nevertheless I love Matteo, Vincenzo and Domenico!

APurpleSquirrel · 11/01/2021 18:05

I know a little boy called Raffaelle, everyone calls him Raffy - he is half Italian also.

Stefano
Marco

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/01/2021 17:49

My favourite Italian boys name is Matteo - and it is becoming quite widely used now in English speaking countries (so I don't think there would be pronunciation/spelling issues?) But I also like the more trendy Elio and Nico too.

mathanxiety · 11/01/2021 17:02

I suspect that Leo and Massimo are the only two that wouldn't be mispronounced/ interpreted as girl's names.

Suggestions:
Corrado
Vincenzo
Leonardo
Marcello
Aldo

Possibly old mannish though.

Fifthtimelucky · 11/01/2021 16:00

Antonio is probably my favourite. You could also try:

Lorenzo
Franco or Francesco
Guiseppe
Giovanni
Claudio
Sylvio
Luciano
Alberto
Alfredo

Spaghettiamaretti · 11/01/2021 15:42

I have a Luca. We wanted an Italian name as FIL
Side of the family are from Sicily. DP picked Luca, I picked Gabriel. DP won that intense game of
Rock Paper Scissors.
I do love the name Luca though.

DotDotDotDotDot · 11/01/2021 14:42

Luca is my favourite Italian boys name. Leo works well but agreed it’s very popular. Perhaps Nico or Elio?
I didn’t realise that Raffaele was the male Italian spelling, is there any difference in pronunciation out of interest? I love the nicknames for this though, Raf, Raffa, Rafi.

TheySeeHerRowling · 11/01/2021 13:29

I like
Cosimo
Donato
Raffaele
Gabriele
Cristiano

MrsB2019x · 11/01/2021 13:27

I know a Domenico who has English parents but Italian heritage - goes by Dom for short

DacwMamYnDwad · 11/01/2021 12:50

Giacomo - fine, but the Gi will get written as a J
Giorgio - fine but it will get written as Gorgio
Niccolò - fine
Leo - fine but very popular
Massimo - fine but will be Mass
Raffaele - will get said as Rapha-yel.

Suggestions:
Enzo
Bruno
Nero
Enrico
Luigi

bert3400 · 11/01/2021 06:07

Dario is a lovely Italian name and no issue with mispronunciation.

BasiliskStare · 11/01/2021 05:59

Hugo ? or is that more spanish ? Luca I think is very popular ( friend of mine has a nephew called that - she is Brazilian but Spanish speaker so possibly again more spanish ) - so I think Bruno is nice & Marzio , Marco , Matteo

Original poster

Whichnamepls · 11/01/2021 05:49

@WhatILoved So true! They all sound much better with an Italian accent. I'll run the suggestions past DH tomorrow and see what he thinks.

I love Alessandro but sadly a cousin is already named this.

OP posts:

WhatILoved · 11/01/2021 05:37

I also have half Italian kids and we discounted all the Gi ones as lots of people mispronounce using hard G. Stand in an open space and find it which names don't sound too silly in an English accent when shouted out

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