Thoughts on the name Giovanna?

[Sophiet1908]

Gia for short as I think it's bit long to say every time

Beautiful

lovely

Love it

Lovely.

Beautiful - and Italian (such a lovely, musical language).

Depends on how you would say it. I don't like Jee-oh-varn- na. Joh-vah-na I love, it was my grandmas middle name. I did think about it for dd2 but the mis pronunciation would annoy me too much.
I have an unusual Italian name and it causes grist confusion.

Was on my short list if I had a girl

Lovely if you're Italian. Would find it slightly random if you're not.

Lovely but only if you're Italian
I am very English, White, freckley and could not get away with being called Giovanna

Doesn't matter where you're from or what origins you have (or how white and freckly you are!) - it's a lovely name.
Why not have a name that is from another culture?

I like it

I like it :)

I don't think it matters if you aren't Italian. My mother is and I want Italian (or at least names that sound nice in Italian) for any child of mine (the one we picked for DD is not uniquely Italian, for example).

But if somebody saw a child of DH and mine?

they'de be quite pale, most likely won't speak Italian... But that wouldn't keep me from using a name I love.

It's a really lovely name!

I also like Giuliana :)

Hate it, what a mouthful

It is very very old fashioned. It's like calling your child Doris, or Ethel.

I think it does matter for some foreign names that you have some link, otherwise it sounds a bit random as others have said.

She'd also have a lifetime of people arguing over the pronunciation, however you would pronounce it, how people think it's pronounced and how Italians actually pronounce it!

I think it's lovely.

I love Gia.

I suspect you're going to pronounce it your own way lol.

In Italian it's pronounced Jo-vanna. With an emphasis on the 'van'.

Are you going to go with Jee-ah-vanna? Jee-ah for short?

I prefer jo-vanna, but jee-ah for short

I think it's lovely

I like it

Remember if you do meet any Italians they'll think her name is Giacinta, as Gia is short for that, not Giovanna.

Deciding on short forms before the child is born is a bit of a minefield anyway, as either the child will decide their own, or their schoolfriends will. Gianna or Vanna or just Gio will be what any Italians will come up with.

Love it...I know a lovely Giovanna so I may be biased. She is always known as Giovanna though, never been shortened.

I think its lovely!

Lovely name. I'd say Jo-vanna

It's really nice but I do find it very Italian and as someone above said, it's quite an odd choice if you're English. How about Julia?