Maybe got it down to 3 girl names

[Sansa87]

We are due in three weeks and have really been struggling with names.

I think we’ve got it down to three names that we both like.

Francesca,
Paige,
Brooke.

Middle name is Vera Jean after grandmothers.

Opinions, (please don’t be too brutal 😂)

What a strange turn this thread has taken. So someone of Italian heritage may assume a child named Francesca may also have Italian roots and if the subject was broached, and the theory was dismissed, might think it odd? How many times in the child's life would that happen, realistically and why should the parent feel awkward anyway...very bizarre reason for not naming your Daughter a name you like. I think Valpolicella has a nice ring to it, Val for short..or would that be offensive? 🍷🤭

@Thatoldchestnutagain

What a strange turn this thread has taken. So someone of Italian heritage may assume a child named Francesca may also have Italian roots and if the subject was broached, and the theory was dismissed, might think it odd? How many times in the child's life would that happen, realistically and why should the parent feel awkward anyway...very bizarre reason for not naming your Daughter a name you like. I think Valpolicella has a nice ring to it, Val for short..or would that be offensive? 🍷🤭

If you want to name your child after a red wine then that is up to you.....

@itwillallbeokay

"I don't know ask Greek people. The name Sofia has been used in Italy, Morocco etc for over 100 years so is quite established there."

As has Francesca in the UK!

[quote CeeceeBloomingdale]@itwillallbeokay

"I don't know ask Greek people. The name Sofia has been used in Italy, Morocco etc for over 100 years so is quite established there."

As has Francesca in the UK![/quote]
No it hasn't. If Francesca has been used in the Uk it has been mainly used by people who have Italian heritage.
Not many people use the name Sofia spelt that way in the Uk either ( they would usually have Italian, Arabic heritage).

Anyway it's up to the OP if is she wants to use the name. Completely up to her. But just be aware that some Italians may not view it as culturally appropriate if she has no Italian heritage.
But obviously it's the OP's choice.

This argument is idiotic! In 2019 in England alone, there were 491 baby girls named Francesca. If you can provide your research in where you have interviewed every one of these families to discuss their Italian heritage then go ahead ...

Also your argument over the spelling of Sofia is redundant. Again, in 2019, 1688 baby girls were named Sofia with that exact spelling.

You've got no right to assume anyone's heritage and it's time to give up the argument as your making yourself look like an idiot at this point

How can you possibly know that Francesca “has been mainly used by people who have Italian heritage”?

Please use whichever name you want OP. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and enjoy your baby girl.

If Francesca has been used in the Uk it has been mainly used by people who have Italian heritage

How on earth could you possibly know this?

@CatkinToadflax

How can you possibly know that Francesca “has been mainly used by people who have Italian heritage”?

How can you not know? There is a higher chance that people of Italian heritage would have used the name. Same as there is a higher chance that someone in England that has named their child Aine or Seamus is going to have some sort of Irish heritage.

@FirstTimeMumma2021

This argument is idiotic! In 2019 in England alone, there were 491 baby girls named Francesca. If you can provide your research in where you have interviewed every one of these families to discuss their Italian heritage then go ahead ...

Also your argument over the spelling of Sofia is redundant. Again, in 2019, 1688 baby girls were named Sofia with that exact spelling.

You've got no right to assume anyone's heritage and it's time to give up the argument as your making yourself look like an idiot at this point

I don't have to prove anything. It is very likely they would have had some links/Italian heritage. Not all of them as there are always exceptions as with everything.

Goodness me. Utterly bonkers.

@FirstTimeMumma2021

This argument is idiotic! In 2019 in England alone, there were 491 baby girls named Francesca. If you can provide your research in where you have interviewed every one of these families to discuss their Italian heritage then go ahead ...

Also your argument over the spelling of Sofia is redundant. Again, in 2019, 1688 baby girls were named Sofia with that exact spelling.

You've got no right to assume anyone's heritage and it's time to give up the argument as your making yourself look like an idiot at this point

Your point makes no sense. Just because all those babies were called Sofia it doesn't mean it isn't the Italian/ Arabic way of spelling it.

Definitely go with Francesca if it's your favourite

I knew 3 in the Midlands in the 70s-90s, none with Italian heritage. It crossed over decades ago

Can't think of many 'completely English' names
Surely all names if you go back far enough originated in other countries!

@itwillallbeokay - fine for you to feel how you do, but not ok for you to presume all people of Italian heritage feel the same (I don't know any who do) or that most people in the UK who name their daughter Francesca are Italian (the ones I know are not)

I think Paige is a nice name in itself, if slightly dated (it has very 90s vibes), but I think it sounds very clunky with Vera Jean.

Brooke is dated too (80s/90s) and is what I think of as a typical 80s ‘mean girl’ name (along with Tiffany, Amber, Heather etc).

Francesca feels quite timeless and slightly exotic with its Italian roots. I think it’s very classic and elegant sounding and works well with your chosen middle names.

I know a few Francescas. But not one of them has Italian links (some are even related to me!)

But then, looking at the top ten Baby girls names in Italy from 2020, only 3 names are Italian in origin. The rest are Greek, French, German, Hebrew and Latin.

Oh and one, Alice is English. So why is it okay for Italians to use a name of English origin but not okay for English people to use a name of Italian origin. Maybe all those Italians calling their children Alice should have asked us English people what we think before they used that name on their children? Or maybe, we should just accept that names don't belong to people / a country. They might originate there but most names are internationally used.

www.thelittleitalianschool.com.au/blog/top-10-italian-baby-names

@jackstini

Definitely go with Francesca if it's your favourite

I knew 3 in the Midlands in the 70s-90s, none with Italian heritage. It crossed over decades ago

Can't think of many 'completely English' names
Surely all names if you go back far enough originated in other countries!

@itwillallbeokay - fine for you to feel how you do, but not ok for you to presume all people of Italian heritage feel the same (I don't know any who do) or that most people in the UK who name their daughter Francesca are Italian (the ones I know are not)

It hasn't crossed over just because you think it has. I'm not speaking on behalf of all Italians just as I'm sure you are not speaking for the whole of the Uk. There have been many people (of non Italian heritage) on here that have said that Italians should not feel this way about Italian names. So because I've been told this then I need to accept this. I will ensure that I speak to my family and all other Italians that I come in contact with that our views on this are 'laughable' 'wrong' and 'to get over it'.

The several Italians that have come on here have also expressed how they feel about non Italian names. They are also wrong as well I guess. Thankyou for educating us on how we should feel about our culture.

@itwillallbeokay Well records show it has been used and not the heritage of those families so you have no proof of that. Nor can I see why it matters so much to you what someone else you don't even know names their baby.

[quote sarahpee]I know a few Francescas. But not one of them has Italian links (some are even related to me!)

But then, looking at the top ten Baby girls names in Italy from 2020, only 3 names are Italian in origin. The rest are Greek, French, German, Hebrew and Latin.

Oh and one, Alice is English. So why is it okay for Italians to use a name of English origin but not okay for English people to use a name of Italian origin. Maybe all those Italians calling their children Alice should have asked us English people what we think before they used that name on their children? Or maybe, we should just accept that names don't belong to people / a country. They might originate there but most names are internationally used.

www.thelittleitalianschool.com.au/blog/top-10-italian-baby-names[/quote]
They don't pronounce Alice the same way as us.
It is pronounced the Italian way. Just as people in the UK could use the name Francis instead of Francesca.

Or John instead of Giovanni

Or Mark instead of Marco

[quote sarahpee]I know a few Francescas. But not one of them has Italian links (some are even related to me!)

But then, looking at the top ten Baby girls names in Italy from 2020, only 3 names are Italian in origin. The rest are Greek, French, German, Hebrew and Latin.

Oh and one, Alice is English. So why is it okay for Italians to use a name of English origin but not okay for English people to use a name of Italian origin. Maybe all those Italians calling their children Alice should have asked us English people what we think before they used that name on their children? Or maybe, we should just accept that names don't belong to people / a country. They might originate there but most names are internationally used.

www.thelittleitalianschool.com.au/blog/top-10-italian-baby-names[/quote]
The article you've posted just reinforces why Italian names are so important to Italian people and how it reflects their culture.
Thankyou for posting it.

Please tell us what a name has to do, in your opinion of course, to “cross over”? And how can you prove that it hasn’t?

This thread is completely nuts 🤣🤣

OP name you child whatever name you like best. Pay no attention to craziness

@CatkinToadflax

Please tell us what a name has to do, in your opinion of course, to “cross over”? And how can you prove that it hasn’t?

You tell me.

Nice try at turning your argument round. I don’t know - I’m asking you because it’s the point that you are making again and again on this thread. So....?

@itwillallbeokay

"The article you've posted just reinforces why Italian names are so important to Italian people and how it reflects their culture.
Thankyou for posting it."

So how does this explain using an English name? Alice is in the top 10 names used in Italy last year. How does an English name reflect Italian culture? Please do explain...

Chiming I'm here as a British Francesca who (coincidentally) went on to learn Italian and now has many Italian friends and colleagues - I've never experienced the slightest negativity towards me having an Italian name. It's a good icebreaker and I've simply explained that for whatever reason it's a popular name in the UK even for those without Italian ancestry. Although they find it slightly curious, none of them bat an eyelid and I've certainly never had any mention of cultural appropriation

If you feel insulted by my name, you're entitled to your opinion, but I can't say I understand why you would waste your energy on being professionally offended by such a non-issue...