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Baby names

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Original poster

Alessia? But we’re not Italian

29 replies

OneMoreCoffee3 · 27/04/2026 13:26

Looking at girls names for my fourth, we don’t know the sex. We heard the name Alessia when watching a free diving documentary a few years ago and have toyed with it. Baby will be ethnically Chinese/ Irish mixed and raised in England

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Brodo · 02/05/2026 20:43

We have an Alessia in my husband's family and also a male second cousin Alessio, they are both called Ale for short ( like Alex without the x) which is the usual way to shorten it in Italy. It's a lovely name, so why not use it!

TheBirdintheCave · 02/05/2026 13:53

Zennia · 30/04/2026 15:55

I think it's a lovely name. I don't think it's a big deal that you don't have Italian heritage. Francesca and Gemma are Italian names too and that didn't stop Irish and British parents in the 1980s/90s from giving those names to their daughters. Italian names are not unknown in the Irish community because of religious connections anyway. My own name is technically Italian too but commonly used in English - Italians I meet sometimes tell me that I have an Italian name, which is nice!

Yes, we found our daughter’s name on my family tree. My nanna’s aunt was Marcella and she was Irish. We figured it must have been a religious choice.

Zennia · 30/04/2026 15:55

I think it's a lovely name. I don't think it's a big deal that you don't have Italian heritage. Francesca and Gemma are Italian names too and that didn't stop Irish and British parents in the 1980s/90s from giving those names to their daughters. Italian names are not unknown in the Irish community because of religious connections anyway. My own name is technically Italian too but commonly used in English - Italians I meet sometimes tell me that I have an Italian name, which is nice!

Giraffehaver · 27/04/2026 22:22

Yes lovely

Supersimkin7 · 27/04/2026 20:56

Hmm. Baby not Italian or a cleverly designed fruit bowl - I’d avoid. Hints of spudulika.

Turnitoffnonagain · 27/04/2026 20:50

How about Eilish? Similar, but Irish. (I think).

Calliopespa · 27/04/2026 20:46

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 20:03

@Calliopespa, Of course. It wouldn't put me off but I'd bear in mind that it might happen.

Yes

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 20:32

lljkk · 27/04/2026 20:22

me too and ... I doubt AR esp. identifies as Italian. You can deffo use this OP.

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She has Italian heritage. "Russo is of part Italian descent – her Sicilian grandfather ..."

lljkk · 27/04/2026 20:22

Tellmetomorrow57 · 27/04/2026 15:42

I think of Alessia Russo (good association!) and I think it's a lovely name

me too and ... I doubt AR esp. identifies as Italian. You can deffo use this OP.

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 20:17

TheBirdintheCave · 27/04/2026 20:04

My daughter has an Italian name and we haven’t been asked this yet. I don’t think it’s a given :)

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I didn't say it was a given. I'd not ask if the name was something like Francesca but I would if it was Giulietta.

TheBirdintheCave · 27/04/2026 20:04

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 15:49

It doesn't matter but you'll be asked if there's an Italian connection.

My daughter has an Italian name and we haven’t been asked this yet. I don’t think it’s a given :)

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 20:03

@Calliopespa, Of course. It wouldn't put me off but I'd bear in mind that it might happen.

user2848502016 · 27/04/2026 20:01

It’s pretty, I wouldn’t assume it was Italian. I also knew an Alessa which is nice too

Calliopespa · 27/04/2026 19:57

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 18:24

Maybe I'm just unusually prone to minding my own business, but I would never say "OH?? Luca" You must be Italian then?"

I often ask. I wouldn't ask about Luca because it's so popular but I'd ask a Giovanni or Federico.
I wouldn't say 'You must be Italian then?', I'd say 'Oh, are you Italian?'

Well, I guess even then, she only has to say "we just liked the name."

I wouldn't let it put you off OP. It's a good name: not too odd, not too common.

Original poster
OneMoreCoffee3 · 27/04/2026 18:35

Yes, Ah-less-ee-a, stress on the less. I don’t mind Ally or Less/Lessie. Whatever she likes.

It’s been reassuring that many people wouldn’t think of it as odd on a Chinese/ Irish heritage person I’m the UK

OP posts:
RandomMess · 27/04/2026 18:31

Alyssa is very similar and lovely too.

7238SM · 27/04/2026 18:28

I love it. TBH, I didn't know it has Italian links. I worked with a Polish lady and her name pronounced the same way, but I think spelt differently.

Is it pronounced A-less-ia?

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 18:24

Maybe I'm just unusually prone to minding my own business, but I would never say "OH?? Luca" You must be Italian then?"

I often ask. I wouldn't ask about Luca because it's so popular but I'd ask a Giovanni or Federico.
I wouldn't say 'You must be Italian then?', I'd say 'Oh, are you Italian?'

xOlive · 27/04/2026 18:18

Beautiful name.
I heard the most insane name the other day of an older lady, beautiful name, I’ve never heard it before and I was told her parents picked it from a TV show.

Calliopespa · 27/04/2026 18:16

It's lovely.

Quite honestly, I don't understand all these comment about people asking why a child has a name from another culture, particularly in such a global world as we now live in. Maybe I'm just unusually prone to minding my own business, but I would never say "OH?? Luca" You must be Italian then?"

I know one mum who was English but pronounced her son's Leonardo with a heavy Italian accent but that was just odd because she'd be talking away with a very Home Counties accent then suddenly drawl out a very Italian "LAAAAAY -oh NARR- Doh" then straight back to English in the very next word. But other than saying it with a theatrical foreign accent, I think foreign names can perfectly happily be used.

Xmasallergies · 27/04/2026 17:29

It’s fine to use

zebrastripesarefun · 27/04/2026 15:51

Beautiful name Won’t necessarily be shortened.

HugoThatway · 27/04/2026 15:49

It doesn't matter but you'll be asked if there's an Italian connection.

GrueyTwoey · 27/04/2026 15:44

I love it.
My daughter has an Irish name and we have no Irish connections, I don't think it matters.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 27/04/2026 15:42

I think of Alessia Russo (good association!) and I think it's a lovely name