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 😂)

@Geamhradh

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.

I think it's you who needs to look up cultural appropriation. If a culture/group of people tell you that something is not appropriate/ they are uncomfortable with it then really their views should be listened too and not dismissed.

I’m kind of saddened to hear that Italians frown on Italian ‘name appropriation’. I know a few Francescas, aged 9 to 60, and of course eleventy zillion Olivias.
I didn’t realise it annoyed anyone.

Blimey, I honestly never expected to cause this much drama over our name choices 😳

I went to school with three Francescas (1 in my year group) I’m 33 now. I just really like the name, I think it’s beautiful, I like that it can be shortened in various ways, & it reminds me of the waitress who was the first person who found out we were going to try for a baby.

I almost feel guilty for liking it so much now. Frankie was definitely my favourite of the three. 😢

Apart from anything, the majority of Italian names won't be pronounced correctly by non-Italian speakers, including Francesca (the - e- sound is different). Italians would be judged equally by Italians and non-Italians if using British names (which does happen but not that often) partly because they have zero cultural connection, and also because they tend to pronounce the name incorrectly and it sounds silly to those who know how it should sound.

Isn't Gemma Italian?

There was about 12.4 million of them born in England in the 80s.

@Sansa87, don't be upset. Francesca is lovely, it's classy and elegant and the story of why you like it is great.
Sitting here in my southern Italian house, surrounded by my southern Italian family, and teaching 300 southern Italians a week, (including about 20 Francescas- it's not as popular here as it used to be) I can promise you, no Italian in the real world would ever be offended by your choice.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Isn't Gemma Italian?

There was about 12.4 million of them born in England in the 80s.

Oh don't! Somebody's really going to get their knickers in a twist if you tell them that! (Ssssh, yes, it is )

@Tallybeebloom

Apart from anything, the majority of Italian names won't be pronounced correctly by non-Italian speakers, including Francesca (the - e- sound is different). Italians would be judged equally by Italians and non-Italians if using British names (which does happen but not that often) partly because they have zero cultural connection, and also because they tend to pronounce the name incorrectly and it sounds silly to those who know how it should sound.

A lot wouldn't be, no. The difference between an Italian /e/ and an English /e/ is negligible though. We did an acoustics experiment in my university department on the length of Italian v English vowels, and while the /I/ is markedly different in length, /e/ isn't.

Geamhradh

dictionary definition of cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures

Can you really say that a Brit naming their child Francesca is cultural appropriation given the definition above?

@Sansa87

It really isn't you causing any drama

It is a perfectly nice name, as over 100 people have said.
Only one person is objecting, and only one causing any drama.

Names only cross cultural divides because people use them out of their original context.
When enough people do it it becomes normal and no one comments on it.

Names and language evolve all the time.

Also the Roman's have invaded, occupied and enslaved parts of the UK population. The UK hasn't done this to any part of Italy.
It is pretty much the opposite of cultural appropriation, maybe delayed Stockholm Syndrome?

Honestly OP it is a lovely name and perfectly normal for the UK.

Francesca is in a different league by miles... go with it ignore the rather strange polarised view.

As an example my daughter has an anglicised version of a French name. We have been on holiday to Italy and Italians have said "ah a beautiful Italian name!" It isn't but they also use it in the French way. I don't think most Italians would give a flying frascati.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

dictionary definition of cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures

Can you really say that a Brit naming their child Francesca is cultural appropriation given the definition above?

Cambridge dictionary states that Cultural appropriation is the actt* of taking or using things from a culturee* that is not yourr* own, especiallyy* without showingg* that you understandd* or respectt* this culturee*.

So yes it does

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

dictionary definition of cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures

Can you really say that a Brit naming their child Francesca is cultural appropriation given the definition above?

I said that several posts back. Italians haven’t been disadvantaged by the British so it makes no sense. And at what point does it make the CULTURAL CROSSOVER as some PP yelled earlier.? So how about a black girl from Jamaica being called Francesca.Who is the most inappropriate then?

Gorgeous names op i love all 3 of them with the favourite being francesca esp after your story with the waitress!

@jakeyboy1

Francesca is in a different league by miles... go with it ignore the rather strange polarised view.

As an example my daughter has an anglicised version of a French name. We have been on holiday to Italy and Italians have said "ah a beautiful Italian name!" It isn't but they also use it in the French way. I don't think most Italians would give a flying frascati.

'Flying frascati'?? Seriously. wow

[quote BackforGood]@Sansa87

It really isn't you causing any drama

It is a perfectly nice name, as over 100 people have said.
Only one person is objecting, and only one causing any drama.[/quote]
Only one? 2 other posters on here (of Italian heritage) have backed my point. But let's not listen to them either.

@itwillallbeok yes I changed "flying fig" to "flying frascati" dear God how horrific of me.

[quote jakeyboy1]@itwillallbeok yes I changed "flying fig" to "flying frascati" dear God how horrific of me.[/quote]
How borderline offensive/racist you mean?

I didnt realise Italians were so woke.

Francesca by a country mile

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I didnt realise Italians were so woke.

Why wouldn't they be?

@itwillallbeok go and find yourself a real problem and stop trying to create one.

I'm so sorry OP your thread has been hijacked for a simple ask. Do stick with your beautiful name.

Dear god! How ridiculous! I just don’t even have the words.

Francesca is by far the best of your three names, and it’s a gorgeous name! Fran/frankie/chess....lots of potential for nicknames too.