Arguments about Italian baby boy name

[yarrow89]

I'm English and my partner Italian. We're keeping the Italian surname, and my OH wants to have an Italian first name to match. These are his criteria:

• 2 syllables, potentially 3 if it's not too obvious
• Max 6 letters
• Italian and not 'old fashioned sounding'
• That he doesn't know anyone with that name
• That there's no one famous with that name
• That it works in both English and Italian

..... So that leaves like 3 names in the world, all of which he's vetoed. The only name he likes is Luca and my best friend (whose husband is Spanish) has decided to name her baby, due 2 weeks before mine, Lucas. My friend said she would probably change the name if we named it the same and I know she would be upset, so I really don't want to call it that. My alternative names Alessio, Rocco, Elio, Leo and Matteo have all been vetoed. What the hell do I do, he hates everything but doesn't come up with alternatives. We're arguing about it and it's getting me down.

It's so rude to come on a thread like this and call the poster's partner a prick etc. I guess those doing it think they are being all hard, feminists, showing solidarity. You're just oafish.

I’m another who thinks he needs to be thinking up names if he doesn’t like your suggestions, but then my DH was terrible at it (luckily we had some we agreed on).

Not sure what is modern and what would be seen as old fashioned, but...

Carlo
Gino (not putting longer versions as your DH said he didn’t want long names)
Camillo (longer but mentioned as I had an Italian friend in school with this name and love it)
Ilario
Leone
Marco
Raul

Don't go for Nicola or Andrea, whatever you do. You obviously want names that 'work' in both languages and cultures, so you really can't give your son a name that is known as a girl's name in the UK (even though it is pronounced differently) - especially as he's likely to have a British accent if he grows up in the UK.

Obviously, it's up to the individual couple to decide, but I thought it was customary in mixed nationality families to give the child a first name from their mum's cuture if they're having their dad's surname (or vice versa) - deliberately to reflect and acknowledge their dual heritage.

If your family names are Leandro Giuliani, Sarah Higgins and Enzo Giuliani, you will always sound like the odd one out - and many people would wonder (even ask you) if you're actually his mum; however, if your family is made up of Leandro Giuliani, Sarah Higgins and James Giuliani, it's obvious to everybody that you're a mixed nationality family unit.

I do like Ezio. Makes me think of the character from Assassin's Creed.

Daniel?

What about Lucas rather than Luca
Gianni
Marco
Riccardo ( although my nephew is Riccardo and we always call him Ricky - reminds me of Bianca on Eastenders screeching 😂

I know children called the following (all with very 'Italian' surnames)

Leo
Luigi
Marco
Fabio
Georgio
Nico
Enzo

Ezio? I’d tell him he doesn’t get a say unless he’s more helpful, he seems too controlling

If the surname is Italian I wouldn’t go ‘double Italian’ to be honest. Why not reflect the mums culture and make sure he won’t spend a lifetime of ‘yes my English is good...’ and ‘no my Italian isn’t brilliant’ (in Italian). If you call him, say Alexander, he will probably get called Sandro by his Italian family anyway.

We didn’t go ‘full monty’ with ds for this reason!

At school DS’s class was very french (just the way it was). I remember a mum saying to her child ‘oh is that Serenityson?’ And her son saying ‘non Maman, s'appelle Serenityfils!” (In a very french accent - you had to be there)

I think Yarrow is a fantastic name. nn Yasha

My 4yo DS is called Enzo. We always get compliments on it!

Tell him if he doesn’t pick something you also like soon you’ll call the baby Stan and he can lump it. Or whatever the equivalent for lumping it is in Italian.

What jumps out from your post is that he is laying down rules - you do not have to go along with this, you aren't married and can name the child what you like. That is the starting point. Now obviously since you're in a relationship you want to compromise and please eachother, just make sure that works both ways. Having a baby can be a time when couples end up in very traditional gender roles, even when they didn't intend to!

My vote is for Cesare. And it's final

Giulio? Davide? Carlo? Niccolò? Renzo?

I love Enzo!

So many rules I’ve forgotten them already! Lots of the Italian names mentioned and which sound lovely to U.K. ears are very dated in Italy.
Small Italian boys I know are called
Niccolò
Tommaso
Zeno
Pietro
Diego
Edoardo
Amedeo
Giulio
Jacopo
Lorenzo
Lupo
Filippo
Samuele

Isn't Enzo short for Lorenzo, ie not a name in itself?

How about Luciano? It can be shortened to Luca, Luco or Luci.

Why is baby havinf Italian surname and first name when you’re English? Do you not want your heritage to be reflected too?

Dfuc. This doesn't bode well.

@midsomermurderess

Isn't Enzo short for Lorenzo, ie not a name in itself?

Yes. Or Vincenzo.

I think Enzo would stand fine alone. Like Max or Sam.