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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts about these girls names?

81 replies

beachbum85 · 19/10/2024 23:56

My partner and I are expecting a baby girl, sister to Leo. He's Italian, I'm from another Mediterranean country, and we live in London, so we want an international name that goes well with his Italian surname. Not too long and no middle names.

Shortlist includes Sofia, Elisa, Nina, Giorgia, Zoe, Vera, Martina, Ana. Thoughts?

And what else might we like? We can't use Mia/Mila, Sara/Zara, Emilia, Ella, Nora, Luna.

Thanks!

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sidebirds · 15/03/2025 19:46

Congratulations 🥂. Nina is a beautiful name

Carouselfish · 15/03/2025 19:35

Gianna! Silly autocorrect! Or Giada.

Carouselfish · 15/03/2025 19:33

I like all yours except Martina and Vera which both seem quite frumpy. What about Gia/Gianni? I like Giorgia very much.

user1492757084 · 15/03/2025 01:10

I love Leo and Nina.

Great choice.

LadyGAgain · 14/03/2025 22:58

Congrats OP. You've chosen well!

EcruCardigan · 13/03/2025 07:31

Name was chosen several weeks ago.
Congratulations @beachbum85 . Lovely choice.

Hattie907 · 12/03/2025 23:07

Love Gia and Cosima - and Sofia and Zoe from your list.

MedusaAndHerFavourites · 12/03/2025 22:47

I really love Nina, Zoe and Anna.
Such simply and beautiful names that will never be dated or naff.

Onlyvisiting · 12/03/2025 22:43

beachbum85 · 19/10/2024 23:56

My partner and I are expecting a baby girl, sister to Leo. He's Italian, I'm from another Mediterranean country, and we live in London, so we want an international name that goes well with his Italian surname. Not too long and no middle names.

Shortlist includes Sofia, Elisa, Nina, Giorgia, Zoe, Vera, Martina, Ana. Thoughts?

And what else might we like? We can't use Mia/Mila, Sara/Zara, Emilia, Ella, Nora, Luna.

Thanks!

I like zoe best, not keen on Vera or Martina (both old fashioned to me) but all the others are fine imo.

MaltipooMama · 09/01/2025 11:32

I like all your potential names but Elisa is my favourite I think

DitzyBee · 09/01/2025 11:24

Love Nina, beautiful little girls name.
Have you considered the name Gianna? Or Chiara. Both much loved Italian names.

JonsMaria8 · 07/01/2025 03:03

Sofia, Martina, Anna and Nina are all beautiful

Nextyearhopes · 07/01/2025 00:39

greengreyblue · 20/10/2024 21:28

Please remember that your son's name stands alone and has nothing to do with your daughter's name .

Except on the Christmas card ehh hahaha
FWIW I totally agree with you. Ever seen the issue with names having to match - they may end up living hundreds of miles apart.

My favorite Italian names for girls are Ilaria and Guilia/Julia

Juliagreeneyes · 07/01/2025 00:32

Sorry just saw your update! Nina is a lovely name! Congratulations!

Juliagreeneyes · 07/01/2025 00:31

Sofia, Elisa, Nina, Giorgia, Zoe, Vera, Martina, Ana

I’m not fond of Ana (will get misspelled in the U.K.); Vera here still sounds very old-fashioned (pensioner age), and Martina’s a bit old-fashioned too (1980s…)

Giorgia will get spelt and pronounced as Georgia and that’s been a very popular name here for a while now - probably starting to date a little.

Zoe is nice and there are fewer around, but it’s not an especial favourite of mine (ditto Nina).

Sofia and Elisa are the nicest of your list IMO - and as Sophie/Sophia is very popular here, I’d go for Elisa as a little more unusual. Elisa is elegant and very pretty!

LadyGAgain · 07/01/2025 00:00

Congratulations! A beautiful and timeless name. Super trendy too. Cuddle her tight

Copperoliverbear · 06/01/2025 23:42

I already know a young brother and sister called Zoe and Leo the names go lovely together and they really play lovely together and really love each other.
I know that won't probably help you make your decision but just thought I'd mention it.

NeedSomeComfy · 06/01/2025 22:46

beachbum85 · 20/10/2024 08:50

Thanks everyone!

My doubt with Ana (surname starts with D) is that back home they'll pronounce it as 'un-nuh' whereas I would just like 'ah-nah'. It's my last living grandmother's name though, so we think that would be nice...

Some nice suggestions to add there, especially Eva. Thank you!
Unfortunately we also can't use Cora, Marina, Valeria, Vittoria (amongst the last of 2 large families and many of our friends to have kids), I can't pronounce Aurora although I really like it 😅, and Anglo names like Kate, Tess, Elaine combined with the surname sound strange.

Keep them coming! 😊

Are you portuguese? The pronunciation differences between the portuguese and the British/Italian Ana are really not that big and I wouldn't let it put you off using the name if you like it.
(I speak as a British Anna living in Portugal who gets both variations of pronunciations, but I'm so used to it I don't even notice it any more).

ETA... Oops I see I'm too late! Congratulations anyway!

redtrain123 · 06/01/2025 22:39

Congratulations! And thanks for the update.

WhereIsTheSnowItsNotHere · 06/01/2025 22:36

Anya is a Spanish version of Ann. Aria is also nice.

Pajami · 06/01/2025 22:36

Congratulations on the birth of Nina!

ChocoChocoLatte · 06/01/2025 22:30

Nina or Alba

sel2223 · 06/01/2025 22:28

Congratulations and welcome to the world baby Nina!

Moreteaandchocolate · 06/01/2025 22:21

Congratulations! Lovely name!

Original poster
beachbum85 · 06/01/2025 22:17

Just to update... our daughter was born a couple of weeks ago and we settled on Nina 😊 We were going with Sofia up until the end but, somehow, my partner (who suggested it in the first place) kind of went off it. I had a slight preference for Sofia throughout but like both names, and I think Nina suits her well, so all is good and everyone is happy! Thanks for all your comments and advice xxx

OP posts: