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 😂)

As a Scot I'm happy when people use Scottish names, long live my culture.

I raise an eyebrow at MacKenzie as a girls name because it Mac means son of but at the end of the day it is meant as a compliment.

I suspect the vast majority of Italians would be pleased you were using an Italian name.

(Also in terms of cultural appropriation they actually invaded and subjugated the English!)

Francesca Vera Jean sounds lovely. I've known a variety of Francescas who've used a variety of shorternings Fran, Cesca, Frankie and it seems to suit them all, its a classic, versatile name.

I sort of want to like Brooke and Paige but they feel a bit dated

@Amdone123

Francesca. Love it. Don't like Brooke and whilst Paige is nice sounding, it's a bit dated.

I agree. Francesca is the best name but Francesca Vera Jean is a real mouthful.

No contest

Francesca is beautiful, classic. Shorten to Fran, Frankie Frank, Cheska

Paige and Brooke sound like 1980s soap stars

Francesca, but actually think Vera Hean sounds nice by itself (sorry not read the full thread).

Paige and Brooke seem very 90’s, Francesca is pretty though.

All three names are lovely. I feel they have different vibes.

Francesca - classic, timeless
Paige/Brooke - more modern,

I feel that Francesca would go best with your middle names

itwillallbeokay

Do you have Italian heritage? As I mentioned before Francesca is an Italian name.
As someone of Italian heritage I would find it (culturally) in bad taste for someone with no Italian heritage to use that name.

I am also of Italian heritage and would agree with this. I would assume you were Italian and find it strange/pretentious if you're not, even if you did go on a trip to Italy. I know it's not a popular opinion on here but just being honest. There are names that would be seen as really strange to use if you're not of that heritage or culture so I don't know why Italian (and French/Irish to be fair) names are always seen as fair game in the UK regardless of any connection.

I didn’t realise Francesca is an Italian name.

It’s in the top 100 names, so fairly popular in UK also.

@YoniAndGuy

As someone of Italian heritage I would find it (culturally) in bad taste for someone with no Italian heritage to use that name.

Wtf, Francesca?! Um... I know three, one is Scottish, one English and one is from Slovakia.

Francesca is indeed an Italian name by origin, but it is now and has for a long time been as international a name as Anna.

As a pp said, it would be like a Jewish person being affronted at the use of an old Testament name.

But do you know all 3 of these people well? Do you know if they definitely don't have any Italian heritage?

@Tallybeebloom

itwillallbeokay

Do you have Italian heritage? As I mentioned before Francesca is an Italian name.
As someone of Italian heritage I would find it (culturally) in bad taste for someone with no Italian heritage to use that name.

I am also of Italian heritage and would agree with this. I would assume you were Italian and find it strange/pretentious if you're not, even if you did go on a trip to Italy. I know it's not a popular opinion on here but just being honest. There are names that would be seen as really strange to use if you're not of that heritage or culture so I don't know why Italian (and French/Irish to be fair) names are always seen as fair game in the UK regardless of any connection.

I've been quite clearly told by people on here that it is not acceptable for me (as someone who has Italian heritage) that I am wrong to have this view. So I have had to accept it:

@Ineedaneasteregg

As a Scot I'm happy when people use Scottish names, long live my culture.

I raise an eyebrow at MacKenzie as a girls name because it Mac means son of but at the end of the day it is meant as a compliment.

I suspect the vast majority of Italians would be pleased you were using an Italian name.

(Also in terms of cultural appropriation they actually invaded and subjugated the English!)

But that's your view as a Scottish person and people using Scottish names. I've given my view on Italian names as someone of Italian heritage. I've been told I'm wrong to have this view.

@anyoldtime

Do you have Italian heritage? As I mentioned before Francesca is an Italian name. As someone of Italian heritage I would find it (culturally) in bad taste for someone with no Italian heritage to use that name.

I know quite a few men/boys named Francis and not one of them has Italian roots.

Francis isn't an Italian name. Francesco is.

Francesca is nice. I don't like the other 2 much. Very American sounding to me.

I've been quite clearly told by people on here that it is not acceptable for me (as someone who has Italian heritage) that I am wrong to have this view.
So I have had to accept it:

I'm in Scotland and there's a huge Italian community, the majority of Italians I know here roll their eyes every time someone with no background gives their child an Italian name, it's something I've heard talked about a lot.

The thing is, it's a reflection of our own heritage and a connection to our background and culture. When non-Italians use Italian names it feels like they're encroaching on that.

Francis isn't an Italian name. Francesco is

I never knew that. I always thought it was a Catholic Italian name. It’s a popular name here (Ireland).
Yes I see now what you mean ie naming a little boy Francesco would give the assumption of Italian heritage. I’m still unsure about Francesca though because like Gabriella, they are more mainstream names. The reason for that could be because people use far ‘riskier’ girl’s names than boy’s names.

Some Irish names have become very popular outside of Ireland. I wouldn’t be offended by it except when they misspell the name. I probably would assume I suppose that the child’s ancestors had some connection to Ireland. Likewise I have used an ‘English’ name ie it’s roots are from the UK simply because I like the name. I’m more likely to raise my eyes when I hear a name like Brooke or Paige as they are American sounding names and I’m far more likely to meet a Francesca than a Brooke or a Paige in my day to day life.

I knew a few Francescas in the UK when I was growing up and think it's lovely.

I raise an eyebrow and generally advise against using a name which has not yet completed the cultural crossover iyswim? (Luca for example, or Amelie)or when people like the sound of an Italian name but don't realise that in Italy the only people wearing that name are either 98 or been named after their grandma, but Francesca has been used in Britain for donkeys years and nobody would bat an eyelid.

So can an Italian not use an English name then ?

@Geamhradh

I knew a few Francescas in the UK when I was growing up and think it's lovely.

I raise an eyebrow and generally advise against using a name which has not yet completed the cultural crossover iyswim? (Luca for example, or Amelie)or when people like the sound of an Italian name but don't realise that in Italy the only people wearing that name are either 98 or been named after their grandma, but Francesca has been used in Britain for donkeys years and nobody would bat an eyelid.

Except people do bat an eyelid. It has not culturally crossed over.

@Tallybeebloom

*I've been quite clearly told by people on here that it is not acceptable for me (as someone who has Italian heritage) that I am wrong to have this view. So I have had to accept it:*

I'm in Scotland and there's a huge Italian community, the majority of Italians I know here roll their eyes every time someone with no background gives their child an Italian name, it's something I've heard talked about a lot.

The thing is, it's a reflection of our own heritage and a connection to our background and culture. When non-Italians use Italian names it feels like they're encroaching on that.

But according to people on here this is not an acceptable view. Also people are saying that Italians do not hold this view. As someone from an Italian background I would say they do and some of the Italians you know also who hold this view. But I have basically been shouted down for expressing this and told that view is wrong.

@Thewinterofdiscontent

So can an Italian not use an English name then ?

I would find it strange if an Italian (living in Italy) with no English background gave their child an English name. So would a lot of Italians.

Of course it has.
If you read the history of the name in Britain it's been used for centuries, not decades, though it reached its peak popularity in the 1970s. Which d'oh, would be why so many posters on this thread have known several.
It's been in the top 100 girl's names in Britain for 40 years and thus, "is an accepted classic along the lines of Georgia and Imogen"
Were the OP to suggest Sterpeta or Ezilda, it might be reasonable to ask, but Francesca? To suggest a British person using the name Francesca is cultural appropriation shows a) you don't understand cultural appropriation b) you don't know about the history of the name in Britain.

Francesca 100%

I would find it strange if an Italian child, in Italy, had an English name that HAD NOT MADE THE CULTURAL CROSSOVER, yes. And in fairness, I can't think of many that have, if any.
I do know Italian children with no connection to Britain called Kevin and Jordan and yes, it makes me roll my eyes.

Francesca by a long way, Brooke second.