Baby name - change it or lump it

[Nkmama15]

I loved the sound of my daughters name but suddenly I became very aware others didn’t share this love. People reaction shouldn’t bother me , but it does. I wanted an old fashioned Italian name but I think I went too old lady and the Italians seem to think I’ve named my beauty happy baby an ugly name. I feel sad I named her with a ugly name when she is so beautiful.
I wish I had stuck with the originally name we picked and not changed at last minute. Reason I didn’t go with the original name was I was worried about both my daughters with names beginning with V.

I keep telling myself every day that’s her name and to get over it but when I see the originally name anywhere my heart sinks a little...

How can I get over this sinking feeling of regret. I don’t even like calling her by her name.My baby is now 6 months.

Thanks

P.s.
We names her Marina but I think she should have been Valentina...just feel as I didn’t stick to it as that’s the name I referred to when I was pregnant.

We are London based and I work with quite a few Marina’s but I’ve found people outside of London have never heard of it

It’s been quite lovely to see so many people love the name. My older daughter calls her Mimi, Minnie Mouse, Mia , RINA!!

I suppose it’s also the fact I’m
Not having any more children and I as this sadness about not using the name Valentina...

Look at the end of the day if you feel that you will regret not changing her name to Valentina, then just change it now whilst you can.
One of my friends called her DD Meghan but after 3 months changed it to her original idea of Grace. Grace really suits her.
FWIW both Marina & Valentina are lovely so perhaps you could rename your DD Valentina Marina or Valentina Marine or even Valentina Marin?

Marina is a really beautiful name. My earliest association is a mermaid character in 'Stingray' (kids' puppet programme like 'Thunderbirds'). There was also a Princess Marina married to one of the Queen's cousins.

Do you have Italian connections? Even if you do, you don't live there so what does it matter what they think. Even if Italians believe it to be 'old lady', it is certainly not considered that in the UK, and in Italy it may well come back into fashion as old lady chic, like Elsie, Florence etc over here.

I do like Valentina, but like pps say, it doesn't lend itself to great nicknames and is just not as gorgeous as Marina.

Both Valentina and Marina are beautiful names! If you already have a dd with initial V, Marina is the better choice

I much prefer Marina and the nn Mimi is cute. I’m really not keen on Valentina.

Marina is lovely and much nicer than Valentina.

Hi,
Yes my husband is Italian - his parents like the name - they are in their 70s/80s...
My understanding from this Italians is it’s a odd name for a baby to have . I suppose like you say we have the trend of calling our children Betty, Evelyn, Ivy etc and it’s chic.
My older has a bit of an old lady name , always mispronounced by English but adored in Italy. I don’t know why I’m so bothered - I chose it because I like it and thought sounded nice with surname etc and also with her sisters name.. her middle name is Clara. My husband didn’t like this but I wanted for middle name for family reason. He doesn’t care to change the name but wants an easy life. Said, can’t we just NN her Valentina and keep Marina as her formal name!
We call our older one Poppy sometimes - no reason for it - wasn’t even a name on my list then. She responds to Poppy, lulu, Vee and Pippi! Ha!

I love Marina and I prefer it to Valentina (which I also like a lot, though). Names can have a very different feel and vibe in different countries as well as across generations.

OP, I'm pretty sure we have mutual friends in real life (I think we're from the same home town beginning with H). If you are who I think you are, both your daughters have stunningly beautiful names and Marina is a lovely choice.

Marina is beautiful! DD is helping me choose baby names for people this morning and she says she prefers marina too

I grew up with a Marina. Her mum was our very lovely (Italian) R. E teacher. Marina had four younger, very cute brothers.
It's an absolutely beautiful, classy name.

Love Marina and it's nns. Valentina is also pretty but I don't like the nns. Also, as Valentine's Day is so big in UK it just seems to me that the name would always be linked to that.

Both names are quite unusual in Italy at the moment. Marina is more common in the over 50s but I think it is a great name - don't change it! Valentina almost always gets shortened to Vale which I don't really like

Could you not just add Valentina into the name as sounds like you desperately want it there somewhere. Maybe Marina Clara Valentina . Or if you dont want three names maybe compromise and change Clara to Valentina. So Marina Valentina .

I know a little Marina, she's beautiful and really suits her name. Her dad's family are also Italian.

I also know a Marina in her 50's whose family are Scottish Gaelic and her name suits her too lol!

But it's how you feel, we can't force your feelings. If your oh is on board then so what you both feel is right for your baby, without considering outside influence. You never know, she may change it herself to something different completely when she is older!

Love Marina. I would keep it.

I too prefer Marina to Valentina. Both are nice. Mimi is cute. Val isn't.

Marina is much nicer.

Marina is a beautiful name.

Change it if you want, but do it for yourself and not because of other peoples opinions. There will always be negative comments about any name you can think of!

I have a new little niece called Marina - she's half Italian. I think it is gorgeous op. Valentina is also lovely but I dislike the shortenings.

In my experience , Marina doesn’t get shortened and is still satisfyingly unusual.