To wish people were more positive about my baby's name? <kind of serious>

[Truntscump]

DH & I loved the name Luca for a girl throughout my pregnancy. I know it's generally used as a boy's name especially in Italy but her middle name is Rose and I love that it means 'light'.

Anyway, my dear mum very sadly died last summer of Leukaemia and my (usually lovely) Granny (aged 96 and grieving) first said that Luca reminds her of the phrase 'dirty Luca' then a week later she asked if it was too late to change the name beaches it reminds her of Leukaemia.

I was so upset, my baby (3 weeks old) really suits her name and I love that it's a bit different but now I can't stop thinking about the link to Leukaemia :(

[LonelyImSoLonely]

Some people here are being quite harsh since you've already named your baby.
Many posters have commented that they know baby girls with the name Luca, so that's not an issue.
I wouldn't have thought if the leukaemia link either, I think your grandmother was cruel to say that and put it in your mind. I would tell her how hurt you are and you can't change your bavies name.
Unless you want to change it, but don't just for that reason as you'll always regret it if you love the name and it suits her

[Dahlietta]

OP - Are you Italian? My work colleague called her DD Luca - it's pronounced Loocha as it's Italian not Luke-ah and it is a girls name in Italy, just one not we've heard of in the UK. If you pronounced it the way Italian's pronounce their words then you get the Cha sound. So nothing like leukaemia. Will assume you're not Italian otherwise you wouldn't be posting this. blush

No, a 'c' before an 'a' in Italian is a hard sound i.e. a 'k' so Luca is pronounced Luke-ah. If she's pronouncing it with a 'ch' you need to put an 'i' after the 'c' to soften it i.e. Lucia. Loo-cha is how you pronounce Lucia in Italian.

[EatsShitAndLeaves]

I think it's wrong to suggest changing a child's name after they have been given it. So it that respect YANBU.

Having said that, when you choose a name that's a bit unusual (for whatever reason) then you should be prepared for some people to be a bit by your choice.

In the end though it's your call.

I'd say her name is Luca, it will always be so. Please respect that and think about the positive connotations of it i.e. "Light".

Btw is Luka not the female variation of the name? Suzanne Vega and all that....could be wrong and can't be bothered to google

[WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn]

Luca is actually a really lovely name for a girl. I think Luca Rose sounds great. It will be her name. No child will think twice about it and once you have introduced her to an adult then they will also just see it as her name. I am a teacher and I have had this happen with far more unusual names as Luca. Once they've been in my class a few days the name just becomes their name and nothing else.

[WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn]

than Luca...

[Dahlietta]

Suzanne Vega's song is about a boy!

[Strongmummy]

Your gran was pretty harsh, but on the basis she's grieving I can understand. Personally I think YABU on the basis it's a boy's name and the female equivalent in Lucia (meaning light).

[FannyUmbongo]

It's up to you what you call your daughter.

If you still like it, keep it.

[Danglybits]

Dahlietta yes, in general, but surely Lucia is pronounced "Loo-chee-a" as in the song "Santa Lucia"?

[orangepudding]

I wouldn't have made the connection between Luca and leukemia, now your granny has pointed it out it's hard not to.

I would switch around her names. Rose is a beautiful, strong name - Luca is a boys name.

[EatsShitAndLeaves]

Dahl - wow

I've listened to that bloody track loads and always assumed it was about a woman not a boy.....

[MarmiteDoesYouGood]

Look! A rose!

[Dahlietta]

Dahlietta yes, in general, but surely Lucia is pronounced "Loo-chee-a" as in the song "Santa Lucia"?

Yes, I think most people do. I was really combatting pp's assertion that Loocha is how Italians pronounce Luca, because it isn't. Italian pronunciation is pretty straightforward (unlike English) and I presume if they're calling her 'Loocha' they're spelling her name Lucia. In English of course, it's often pronounce Loo-see-a.

[Dahlietta]

Dahl - wow

Haha, I wasn't totally sure until I googled it and found the quotation I posted above! (I think I'm getting overinvolved in this discussion...)

[AcrossthePond55]

I love the name!

I say this as someone who's own mum is 94; don't change the name of your child for the sake of someone who is 96 years old. Your Luca will be around a lot longer than Granny!

[NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom]

Yeah I agree if you choose a name that's a bit different then you can expect some responses to be on the negative side...
That said I wouldn't associate it with Leukemia, on a girl or a boy.

[MarmiteDoesYouGood]

In English of course, it's often pronounce Loo-see-a

As it is in Portuguese and Spanish too.

[Dahlietta]

Shouldn't it be Loo-thee-a in Spanish...? (Stepping away now!)

[SouthWestmom]

Marmite and dahkietta have covered everything I wanted to

[PrettyDarnQuick]

Luca is beautiful for a girl OP.

Reminds me of Susanne Vega

[MarmiteDoesYouGood]

Shouldn't it be Loo-thee-a in Spanish

Depends on where you are! In most (if not all - I'm not an expert) of South America, no.

[BertrandRussell]

"Reminds me of Susanne Vega"

What, the heartbreaking song about the abused little boy?

[SummerHouse]

I think it's beautiful. Who cares if its considered a boys name by anyone. Its a word. It has no gender.

[mrsBeverleygoldberg]

I've never heard of that phrase and I'm really worldly.My mum made comments about ds1's name and we ignored her and no one else had thought the same as her. It annoys me when people think they can make horrible comments about names for babies. You love it, so use it. It sounds like you chose the name with a lot of thought.

[BertrandRussell]

It's a word- which is making a grieving woman miserable. And which now has associations the OP can't shake.