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.

I'm with the French convention on this: C'est la maman qui decide!

You're carrying the load, getting everything stretched out of shape, suffering the indignities and symptoms and you'll be the one labouring to bring the child into the world. You get to choose.

Why not give DH a menu of choices that are all acceptable to you (ignoring his ridiculously narrow parameters) and let him have his pick from those? After all, it's not as if he's come up with any suggestions himself!

Why does he get to call the shots. Either give him a shortlist of three for him to choose from or tell him to give you a list.

Or tell him when he squeezes a grapefruit out his dick he can demand as much as he wants, until then, zip it

My friend was married to an Italian man who said it was traditional to name the first born son after the Italian grandmas father. (Still with me?) She has an 18 year old Vincenzo who doesn't call himself that now.
Note the HAD.

Edoardo. Edo for short.

Dario
Alessandro
Leonardo
Alessio
Mario
Massimo
Fabio
Fabrizio
Matteo

Sorry I haven't replied until now but I've been reading all your comments and I love them! There's some great name suggestions.
@Girlzroolz you really made me laugh, you're so right!
@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll Amazing username. I was/am worried like you say about being the 'odd name out' when it comes to writing our names together or when we travel, will people question me about not being the mother? My name is very obviously English. It's not custom in Italy for women to take the partner's surname when getting married so I don't think I would get questioned there, but maybe returning to the UK I would? Not sure if anyone else has had this experience.

Anyway, the latest news is.... I cried and complained and gave him an ultimatum saying if he doesn't start to compromise I would name it one of the English names I like (Harry, Alfie, Eric, Elliott). In the end, he decided to go with one of my names... Leo!!
Literally never thought picking a name would be so stressful.

Enzo

Or Nico

Is this your first baby? If so I would let him watch you give birth and then try telling you what he wants 😂

It took us the full six weeks to name both of our children because of cross-cultural name choosing issues!

Excellent compromise! Make sure he sticks to it!

My advice is don’t talk about it until the baby is here. It isn’t worth the argument.
Or both get the app where you swipe left or right on baby names, and get a notification if you get a name match.
Good luck x

Glad to hear your latest update, OP! Leo is a great choice!

This kind of behaviour in husbands really makes me crabby, as I have been there. I compromised so much with my first childrens' names, as he just said no to everything I suggested, and as a result I've ended up with name regret. Why did I have to be the only one to compromise?

With my last child I just said, 'This is my favourite name and I'd love to use it. If you can come up with anything better I'm open to discussing it.' He didn't have a single idea, and I got to use my favourite, which he was fine with. I wish I had stood my ground more with the first kids.

I always wanted a Pietro (my grandfather was Italian) but my DH has said we're too far removed to use an Italian name. Such a shame. Might try and sneak a middle name. Lots of Vittorio popping up in the family tree .

Leo is great, easy to spell, easy to say.

Never underestimate the power of short easy names when your child is learning to read and write. One of my friends in high school said she was convinced she was stupid because it took her ages to learn to write her name, she was a a Philomena and was in a class of Julie and Janes.

What about Fabio?
It has a 'Theo' sound to it which is a popular name in the UK.

I also like Alessio, Lorenzo, Enzo, Giorgio and Francesco.

Hope that helps!