Choosing a name from a different culture?

[Daffydillo]

DH has suggested Luca, I do like the name but can’t get past it being Italian and we have no Italian link.

Does it matter?

No I don't think it matters at all. It's a nice name.

There’s a Luca at DS’ nursery, and I’m not aware of any link with Italy for them - it never occurred to me tbh. I really like the name.

I prob wouldn’t use something myself that was relatively unheard of outside of its cultural origin, but something like Luca is a known, “normal” enough name for me to not think anything of it.

Luca is being used everywhere, and is quite popular. No-one seems to be worried about its Italian background so I think this has really crossed into general usage.

Luca is pretty mainstream these days, I think you’re fine.

It depends.

Choosing a name from another European culture varies from the utterly unremarkable eg. Sophie, to the 'that's a bit odd but whatever you're into' eg. Etienne. Basically it depends on how long the name has been commonly used in the country your child will be brought up in.

It's when people start dipping into non-Caucasian cultures that it seems very strange indeed eg. a white British couple calling their child Krishna or Quang.

Luca is fine. The Suzanne Vega song would be more likely to put me off rather than the lack of Italian connections.

I was given a name from another culture, named after someone of that nationality that my parents knew, but no other (family) connection or heritage.

On balance, I'd say don't do it. People assume things, ask a lot, or sneer.

I said this on another thread recently but I find it quite cringy when someone gives their child a name that is obviously from another culture as I find it is usually either prententious or an attempt to be 'different'. I know it's getting more popular but I still find it weird if I meet a child with the name Luca who isn't Italian because it is so obviously an Italian name.

I think Luca is fine. Thirty years ago, Francesca was thought a bit odd to use for non-Italians - totally normal now. I think Luca has already reached "normal" among children.

It's similar enough to Lucas to not need much spelling it.

I'd think you loved ER. Although I might then ask if it's with a k.

As others say Luca has probably crossed over the same way Sophie did long ago, and is in pretty general usage. As Mallardia says the "My name is Luka* song about domestic violence would put me off more than the fact it's originally Italian - but I was put off a lit of names due to associations with characters in books and songs, most people seem unbothered..