Would you call your daughter Valentina?

[KatieG1987]

As the title suggests - first or middle name? DH and I really like it but not sure if people will think it is too poncy or WAG(y) ? DH grandmother is French and really struggling with a french name but love this.

It's a nice name, but I used to know a dreadful girl called Valentina which puts me off a bit!

Lovely name. Was on shortlist for DD, but didn't sound quite right with our surname.

It's a lovely name but it's a bit too long for everyday use and I really dislike Val and Tina as nicknames.

My dd has a friend called Valentina. I love it.

She does get called Vee though, so be prepared for shortened versions.

It would end up as Val or as Tina.

I love it. Unfortunately, it sounds like a combo of my and DHs surnames so can't work for us. Otherwise I would have liked it for a girl.

Yes!!!

Makes me think of Valentino Rossi - and I'm a fan so while I wouldn't necessarily use it myself I do like it.

I also think that a little toddler Val would be offbeat cool.

I do like it but it is a "big" name that would suit a raving extrovert so I wouldn't use it in case the child was shy.

Absolutely, it's lovely.

Unless your surname is Vickers or Vaughan etc

My DH is also french and his Grandmother was called Valentine. I think it's better as a middle name as I don't like Val .
Valentina is more Italian imo.

Valentin as a boys' name is quite common in France. I know one whose nickname is Tintin.

my son's middle name is Valentino , he was born on 14 feb last year !
I am half Italian but it was my DP that suggested it . We love it and my Italian relatives call him by this name and not his first name which is very English ! ( I think they find it easier to pronounce )

I quite like it but think of it as Russian more than Italian. It wouldn't necessarily have to be shortened - I don't know a Valentina but I know two Gabriellas, one who gets shortened, one who doesn't, by her own request.

Yay! First woman in space! Go for it OP!

I really like it and wanted to call dd it but dp said no.

I think of it as Russian too.

It's a bit frilly/twee for my taste, but I don't think it's poncy. If you like it, use it!

Only other thing is the popularity issue (if that bothers you), I keep seeing this name pop up on here so it may be becoming trendy.

I intend to! When she -bloody well decides to- arrive! Due any day.

You can also shorten it to Nina and Lennie.

Oh my God, what is it with baby name threads today? I just posted on the Darcey thread as that is what DS1's name would have been if he was a girl and Valentina would have been DS2's name if he had been a girl (nickname Leni like my mum)!

Alas I don't think I'm destined to get a Darcey or a Valentina

Oh Leni is a lovely shortening.

Thanks squoosh - I didn't like Val or Tina either but DM is Lenore and her nickname was Leni and I thought it would fit nicely. Was gutted that I wasn't able to use it but overjoyed that I got to use my favourite boys name instead.

I swear, if I have a 3rd and it's a girl, she's probably going to end up with 6 names so I can use all the ones that I like.

I wouldn't, but it's a pretty name.

Makes me think of Brandon Flowers and the girl who does the dirty on him ("Me and Valentina went down to the chapel and the gates were shut..."). but I guess there is a song about every name, somewhere!