Honest opinion on name Luca

[viola28]

I love the name Luca for our baby boy. I'm Italian and my husband is English and we live in the UK. We've got a few months left to decide.

What do you honestly think about this name? My mother-in-law says that because it ends with an -a it sounds like a girl's name, and yet in Italy it is the most masculine name I can think of!

I am not English so I don't have a clue what the name "luca" might sound to an English ear. I find it adorable, but i wouldn't want to ruin my child's life just because i really like that name.

His middle name will be James, after my husband.

Honest opinions please, I won't be offended. Thanks

I love it. My husband is Italian and didn't like it. I still pine for Luca 5 years on

Do it, it's just such a gorgeous name.

Love it

Sounds fine to me - its pronounced with a hard 'c' isn't it, that sounds masculine.

I think its beautiful.

Having said that, I think many older people might hear it and think of the song Luka by Suzanne Vega, in which Luka is female (I think!).

But honestly, don't let that put you off. You know your Italian culture and if it's a name you love then I say use it.

oh I see, I didn't know there was such a song. That could explain...

Love it. Becoming a lot more popular as well. I know of at least 4 little Luca's in the past 2 years!

I love Luca/Luka. I always thought it was a boy in the song.

Suzanne Vega, in which Luka is female (I think!)

No Luka is a boy and it's a very sad song about child abuse. But I do like the name for a boy.

It's really cute! But quite difficult not to pronounce an "s" at the end for Lucas. Which is also very nice.

Because you're Italian you'll know it's just about the most popular name at the moment for boys.

We are falling over them. If that doesn't bother you......

I thought it was "Her name is Luka, she lives on the second floor"...Have I been hearing it wrong all these years?!

I do find the Brits use of the name a little bit Romeo Beckham IYSWIM? It doesn't come over as particularly classy when yelled across Asda.

I am a snob btw.

Really like it - know a Luca

I have a luca, haven't met another yet and get lots of nice comments about it, once I have corrected them that its not lucas! We have Italian and irish ancestry and went through all the names but liked luca best.

I was going to say 'it's a lovely Italian name' (before I saw you were a lovely Italian).

Not girlish at all. A lovely name. I've come across a few, all boys. Tell your MIL its that or Andrea and watch her face!

I'm not so keen on that one. But there are a lot of really nice Italian names. I knew a Salvatore once but I expect that's probably really old fashioned these days.

I know a teenage Luca with Italian and English parents. I think its a great name, and he's a great lad.

I like it - there's two in my street though - toddler age and not Italian...

I think Luca is a lovely name if you are italian, which you are! Really does not work on children with no italian heritage at all though - I find this a little bizarre and there are a few around at the moment.

I would definitely see as a boys name though!

thank you so much for all your opinions, i am getting a better understanding now and lots of reassurance. Thanks!
Yes, Luca is an extremely popular name in Italy (like James, or Jacob), that's why I never thought of it as a female name!
My MIL says to think about an English name too, that doesn't end in a vowel: I like Liam very much (very easy to pronounce for Italians), but Luca is just where my heart lies...

Nah, go for Luca. Your MiL is being daft.

There are loads and loads of Lucas around here, I'd put it in the same category as Oscar, a name that suddenly became very trendy.

I have to admit I do find it very odd when children without any Italian heritage have the name. But it's a fab name for those that do.

Is it the only male Italian name that ends in 'a'? Actually I just remembered Nicola can be a man's name in Italy but can't think of any others. Interesting anomaly!

I love it because my German friend has the most adorable and sweet natured 2 year old boy with that name.

No, it's not the only one. Italian male names ending in -a are very few, all related to religion or the Bible, but interestingly, they are among the most popular names (all ranked among the first TEN most popular names in Italy), they are:
ANDREA (stress on the -E-, third most popular name in Italy)
MATTIA (fourth most popular name)
LUCA (tenth most popular name)

Then there are others, very popular, but mostly in the South, such as NICOLA (stress on the -O-) and ELIA (stress on the -I-).
Finally, there are some very rare ones, such as GEREMIA and ISAIA.

Also, I've just listened to the song you all mentioned, Luka, by Suzanne Vega, it's a lovely (sad) song, and it's definitely about a boy.

I knew an italian lady who's PFB is Luca, it's lovely (he will be 12).

...what's "PFB"?