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Baby names

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Original poster

Are these names too pretentious?

38 replies

HeadFairy · 12/06/2009 11:18

Carlotta
Giovanna

??

To be fair to me, I do have an Italian father and and Argentine mother, and dh's parents are both Italian. We do have Italian surnames (both my maiden and married names are on ds's birth cert) and I have a French first name, dh has an Italian first name, ds has an Italian first name.

But really we sound English, live in England, have British passports (dh does have an Italian one as well and I can have Italian and Argentine should I choose to)

Too pretentious to have such foreign names for someone who will be born and grow up (in all likelihood) in the UK?

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Original poster
HeadFairy · 12/06/2009 12:01

I found it hard growing up in the 70s with an unusual name, but I think unusual names are much more common now so I don't think children will feel awkward in the same way. I have benefitted quite a few times from my name, mostly from men who get quite excited by a foreign name - for some reason the think I'll be some tempestuous firey Latina - which of course I am

OP posts:
OrangeFish · 12/06/2009 11:58

I was thinking more about your surname rather than the one of a potential husband.

If they go well together go for it, it is not bad at all to have a touch of exotic to a name, them are more memorable and help people to remind your name (great for a professional career, not so good if she joins the maffia )

Original poster
HeadFairy · 12/06/2009 11:52

Sorry Orangefish, meant to reply to you. When you mean possibility of an English surname, do you mean when/if she marries? She could always be rebellious like me and not change her name

Both names sound great with our surname, Giovanna with our surname sounds particularly exotic, makes me think of Gina Lollobrigida

I get people always assuming I'm fluent in French and Spanish, now it's pretty good but I'm by no means fluent. Perhaps we'll have to make sure our children speak Italian as they will have such resolutely Italian names and they won't have to perpetually disappoint people when they say they only speak English. It's always the first thing people ask me!

OP posts:
Original poster
HeadFairy · 12/06/2009 11:49

It's funny what you say about Giovanna being an old ladies name Bucharest, I had a childhood friend called Giovanna and she was very very beautiful even at 12 years old, and was terribly exotic. I was slightly inspired by her. She could always be Jo if she wanted to Anglicise her name.

Carlotta - well that's just a cheeky one of mind because if she was Lottie, it would really rhyme with my surname. I'm less sold on that one, but it is pretty.

A third choice for me is Alice. Much more trad, pretty though I think. Works really well with our surnames.

OP posts:
OrangeFish · 12/06/2009 11:42

Giovanna is beautiful, we have 2 in the family and no relation whatsoever with Italy. They seem to be coping fine with it. Apart of possibly having a british surname do name and surname sound well together?

DS has a french name and a surname that although not french may be easily confused by one. He is fine, apart of some parents and GP trying to practise their French with me (ha ha ha!) things are ok...

Disenchanted3 · 12/06/2009 11:37

Sounds like a car manufacturor & an ice cream brand.

Sorry.

differentID · 12/06/2009 11:35

perfectly acceptable given the family connections. I know a baby girl born to a non British mother and a Welsh father who has been given the name Giovanna.

mrswoolf · 12/06/2009 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

funnypeculiar · 12/06/2009 11:28

Given your heritage, absolutely not pretentious at all - in fact I think you would be missing an opportunity if you used a boring English name
I also prefer Carlotta

docket · 12/06/2009 11:26

Not pretentious at all given heritage. I prefer Carlotta personally

Hassled · 12/06/2009 11:26

No, given your respective backgrounds, regardless of your Britishness now, they are fine.

Carlotta, as I was reminded on the Malory Towers thread, was the exotic girl from the circus in the Enid Blyton books - people might think of her, but she was a nice character IIRC.

Bucharest · 12/06/2009 11:25

Not pretentious at all, as you have the background.
I like them both, although be warned, Giovanna is very old lady, (dp who is Italian always laughs at me when I say I like it)

Technoprisoners · 12/06/2009 11:22

Would be pretentious without the Italian surname and background; with it, they are divine

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