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Baby names

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

Original poster

Italian baby girl name

89 replies

Sez90 · 10/01/2025 17:10

My mum is Italian but I was born in England, I have just found out me and my partner are having a baby girl and want to keep tradition by calling her an Italian name, but the issue is the Italian names are so old fashioned and they just don’t have the same ring to them in English. I really like the name Gia, pronounced Gee-ah but this is not used in Italy and the full name is Gianna pronounced Ja-nah… I’m so stuck, any help on Italian names that don’t sound so old fashioned in English and still sound really pretty. Please help!!!

OP posts:
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mathanxiety · 10/01/2025 18:51

Alessandra
Angelina
Matilda
Silvia
Eloisa
Fiorella
Lia
Leonora
Rosa
Serafina
Vita
Annina
Eliana
Stella
Flavia
Mariana
Livia
Evelina
Luisa
Zita
Elena

kalokagathos · 10/01/2025 18:48

Valeria?

kalokagathos · 10/01/2025 18:47

Klaudia
Sofia (is a Greek name) but famous actress was Sofia Loren

AnareticDegree · 10/01/2025 18:43

Also Elisa,

Lucrezia

petitdonkey · 10/01/2025 18:42

Lydia is beautiful and pronounced the same in English.
I love Claudia but with the Italian ‘cloud’ pronunciation- in the UK you’d have to accept that many people would use ‘claud’
ginevra is lovely and unusual but easy to pronounce

mathanxiety · 10/01/2025 18:38

Barleysugar86 · 10/01/2025 17:46

Was going to say Lucia myself but see it's already been said. i worked with a Lucia and the name always seemed so pretty and strong on her. You could have Cia as a nickname which is very similar to Gia.

Chia pet as an affectionate nickname.

MyMagicStars · 10/01/2025 18:37

Simona
Elena
Eleonora
Anna
Giovanna

AnareticDegree · 10/01/2025 18:35

Elena

Francesca

Isabella

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 10/01/2025 18:33

Giulia is lovely too.

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 10/01/2025 18:32

Francesca

Valentina

NovemberMorn · 10/01/2025 18:31

Sophia
Sylvia
Francesca

BestestBrownies · 10/01/2025 18:29

In a parallel universe where I married my Italian best friend's brother, our kids would have been Ilaria (nn Aria), and Vittorio (nn Vito).

I also love Gaia, Elena, and Azzura

Original poster
Sez90 · 10/01/2025 18:26

According to Google these are the most popular girl names in Italy at the moment Aurora, Ginevra, Vittoria, and Giulia.
I have a cousin called Giulia who isn’t the nicest of people and worried Vittoria will be called Vicky in English although no issues with these names I feel like I’m being overly picky.. I liked the name Azzurra until I asked some close English relatives to say it and it doesn’t have the same prettiness as it does with the Italian accent. I also like Chiara and Lucia but names DH does not like! He likes Alessia but I went to school with an Alessio and he always had snot bubbles and it just reminds me of that!!

OP posts:
Nextyearhopes · 10/01/2025 18:25

I love Ilaria and Giulia

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 10/01/2025 18:24

Vittoria
Vanessa
Daniela
Valeria
Adriana
Matilda
Monica
Lea

Viavita · 10/01/2025 18:18

Love Lucia.
And Claudia ( Cloud - dia ).
I like Gabriella, too.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 10/01/2025 18:13

Anna or Elena.

Offredismysister · 10/01/2025 18:13

Claudia
Valentina
Suzanna

Girasoli · 10/01/2025 18:12

Other way round....Italian Lucias are pronounced Lu-chia (and often go by Chia).

@@FlowersOfSulphur makes a good point. Most of my suggestions are my mid-30s cousins! (Beatrice and Aurora are little girls I know)

PosiePetal · 10/01/2025 18:11

Bianca, Sienna, Maria, Francesca

FlowersOfSulphur · 10/01/2025 18:08

garciacherry · 10/01/2025 17:28

Lucia

(pronounced Lu-chi-a )

Isn't Lu-chi-a the Spanish pronunciation? I thought Italian Lucias pronounced it Lu-see-a.

Anyway OP, have a look at Italian names that are popular with parents who are naming their babies now, otherwise you risk landing your DD with the Italian equivalent of Kate, Sarah or Nicola - perfectly nice names, but ones that people associate with the previous generation.

And definitely don't call her Pippa if she will be spending any time in Italy!

Normallynumb · 10/01/2025 17:54

Ciana is key ah nah
I've just checked and it's a form of Giana
I think Gia on its own is nice so if you like it, just use that

Porkyporkchop · 10/01/2025 17:47

Anna

its so elegant.

Barleysugar86 · 10/01/2025 17:46

Was going to say Lucia myself but see it's already been said. i worked with a Lucia and the name always seemed so pretty and strong on her. You could have Cia as a nickname which is very similar to Gia.

Gowlett · 10/01/2025 17:40

Gia is lovely, just itself.