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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls names that would work in English and have a vaguely Italian/Spanish feel

88 replies

shreddies · 29/05/2008 16:33

Like
Anna
Isabel
Rosa
Maria
but not those
any ideas?

OP posts:
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RiojaLover75 · 29/05/2008 20:18

Christina

GreenElizabeth · 29/05/2008 20:17

Staranise, Celia is lovely. Would that be Thelya in Spain.

Love Inés. Gorgeous. So chic.

GreenElizabeth · 29/05/2008 20:14

Also, Lucia which can be Loosee-a, Loochee-a or LooThee-a.

Do you have a sexy sur name such as Piaccentini for example??
Allegra Johnstone - Poncey
Allegra Piaccentini. Oh.My.God.

bodiddly · 29/05/2008 20:14

I know a Rosalia who is called Lia and think that is a pretty name!

GreenElizabeth · 29/05/2008 20:11

Ooh yes, I love Gemma. I prefer Jemma short for Jemima, but Gemma/Jemma gorgeous.

I also love Sílvia and Lídia, Giulia, Gabriela, Susannah/Susie, Allegra? I know Allegra is a bit ooh la la in UK but I love it.

Anna - how about Susannah or Johanna or Giuliana or Annabella
Isabel -
Rosa - Rosalía?
Maria - Mariella or (LOVE this) Maribel

staranise · 29/05/2008 19:51

My daughter is called Ines (pronounced ee-nes), which I love but now we live back in the UK it is always mispronounced and I hate having to explain it all the time. But I still love it

Spanish names that work in English:

Isabella
Sofia
Leona
Silvia
Mariella
Alejandra
Andrea
Cristina
Claudia
Stefanie
Marta
Celia
Laura
Nuria

I like Montserrat (Montse for short) but it's probably a little OTT for the UK

xingxang · 29/05/2008 18:05

Mila

Blueskythinker · 29/05/2008 17:58

I would have adored Mercedes. DH wouldn't let me though.

Romy7 · 29/05/2008 17:37

Anya
or Anja

AdamAnt · 29/05/2008 17:30

Esmeralda (I love this name!!)

cyteen · 29/05/2008 17:28

Susanna!

CescaD · 29/05/2008 17:27

My daughter is Paloma (which has been suggested already). I love it, but it gets a lot of blank stares, pursed lips and "oh, how... unusual" in Supermarkets, and "Palermo? Like the place in Italy". NO! As in Spanish for Dove. Pablo Picasso and David Bailey both have daughters with the name so I didn't think people would have such problems with it. (Lets not even discuss my mother-in-law's problems with it)

My name is Francesca and apart from having to spell it a lot, people seem to get it.

I love Miranda, Marisa, Lucia and Allegra but other MNers may wince at the poncefactor

Obviously Isabella is very fashionable at the moment and very pretty.

Claudia and Anna work in pretty much any European language which is handy.

At the Spanish playgroup I go to the popular names are more English sounding- like Matilda and Annabelle.

JessJess3908 · 29/05/2008 17:19

Katerina with Kat or kate or katie for short.

I love it - had a baby doll alled katerine which i was bought on holiday in spain. DP and i are both too english to get away with it.

Original poster
shreddies · 29/05/2008 17:08

Thank you there are some really lovely names in there - it's not for me, it's for a stuck friend. Shall pass them on. Any more?

OP posts:
TheApprentice · 29/05/2008 16:45

also Gemma is an Italian name

TheApprentice · 29/05/2008 16:44

My brother and his Mexican wife named their daughter Natalia. Strictly speaking Russian, but very popular in Spanish speaking countries I believe, and works well in English too. They also considered Emilia, which is lovely too I think.

solo · 29/05/2008 16:43

Mercedees

Ellbell · 29/05/2008 16:43

Alessandra
Angelica
Arabella
Angelina
Angela
Barbara
Chiara
Clara
Carla
Daniela
Elisa
Eva
Emilia
Francesca
Franca
Flora
Graziella
Gabriella
Giovanna
Giuseppina
Ilaria
Laura
Letiz ia
Maria
Mariella
Matilde
Maura
Nora
Olivia
Petra
Paola
Sonia
Silvia
Sofia
Sara
Tiziana
Vanna
Valeria

Just off the top of my head !

Of course, depending on taste, you could go for something really 'classy' like Ferrari or Lambrusco.

WendyWeber · 29/05/2008 16:42

Well, from the Eleanor thread you could have Elena?

Anna8888 · 29/05/2008 16:40

Claudia

Anna8888 · 29/05/2008 16:40

Livia

fransmom · 29/05/2008 16:40

was going to say francesca but am biased

wessexgirl · 29/05/2008 16:40

My Spanish friend would have had Cristina for a girl, which I really like.

hanaflower · 29/05/2008 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anna8888 · 29/05/2008 16:39

Francesca
Flora