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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Gigi or Gia ?

72 replies

Farawaytoday · 15/05/2022 15:38

ongoing disagreement with DH, we’ve decided on the name Gigi however I think official name should be Gia and we’ll call her Gigi day to day, mainly as although I do love Gigi it feels a bit like a nickname to me. DH thinks this is silly as Gia is just as short and doesn’t see the point in naming her Gia and calling her Gigi. Gia feels a bit more grown up if she wants to go by this as she gets older too. What do others think? Am I overthinking this, is Gigi on its own ok?

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Aquamarine1029 · 15/05/2022 15:41

I actually prefer your idea. Gia is a beautiful name for an adult and would serve her well, and Gigi is a lovely nickname. Nicknames don't have to go perfectly along with the given name at all, and often don't.

BessAndCress · 15/05/2022 15:46

What about Georgina NN Gigi? I know one like this, love it - sweet nickname and really versatile, well-known and elegant full name. Not sure I know the name Gia and I can't say I particularly like it.

User6761 · 15/05/2022 15:46

Is Gigi pronounced Gee-Gee? It sounds like a nickname to me. Not a name I personally would want to have as an adult. Gia is much nicer and sounds like a proper name. Gigi could also be a nickname for Georgina?

DramaAlpaca · 15/05/2022 15:47

I'm inclined to agree with both you on this one! I think Gigi is a bit twee on its own and personally I'd want something more 'grown up' sounding on the bc. But then Gia is so short it doesn't really need a diminutive IYSWIM.

If it helps at all, Gigi can be used as a diminutive for lots of names - Gina, Georgina, Gabriella (at a stretch) Genevieve, Gaia come immediately to mind.

groovergirl · 15/05/2022 15:55

They're pretty, but they are both nicknames and a bit flimsy. Gia is nn for a few Italian names, including Ginevra, Giovanna and Giorgia. But that gives you more options for formal names.

Gigi for Genevieve is good, too.

BessAndCress · 15/05/2022 16:00

Gia is a bit mysterious... The internet says it is short for the Italian name Gianna, but the "i" in Gianna is only there to soften the G - it's pronounced Janna, right? Any Italian natives know if Gia is actually used in Italian as a nickname (or otherwise)? Am curious now! Seems to be mainly used in America as far as I can see.

Happenchance · 15/05/2022 16:03

I'd definitely use Gia on the birth certificate, so that she has options. Personally, I'd hate to be called Gigi because gee-gee is an alternative word for horses and horse racing.

Seashor · 15/05/2022 16:59

Why would adults saddle their child with such a child like baby name!
Cruel and ridiculously bizarre.

DuchessOfSausage · 15/05/2022 17:55

Gigi is Zhi-zhi, Gia is Jee-ah

Neither name is great. Gia might be ok if you are italian.
Gigi in the film was short for Gilberte, which probably would be PITA in the uk

Snowiscold · 15/05/2022 18:49

Gia.
I don’t think you can call a child Gigi. It’s a bit like Lolita, isn’t it? Teenage prostitution and the rest.

TabithaTittlemouse · 15/05/2022 18:51

Would you pronounce Gia as guyer or gee er?

User6761 · 15/05/2022 19:38

TabithaTittlemouse · 15/05/2022 18:51

Would you pronounce Gia as guyer or gee er?

I assumed jee-ah

But I've never heard the name before!

Snowiscold · 15/05/2022 19:43

TabithaTittlemouse · 15/05/2022 18:51

Would you pronounce Gia as guyer or gee er?

It’s Jee-a, more or less. It’s an Italian diminutive, as pp said.

shmivorytower · 15/05/2022 19:47

I love Gigi as a nickname for Luigi (as used in Italy) so it will always be a masculine name for me.

To answer pp above. Gia (Jeeah) - short for Gianna (Janna), itself short for Giovanna - is used in Italy as a nickname not as a given name.

Anotherdayanotherdisappointment · 15/05/2022 20:08

Gia is also an Indian girls name. And a full name, not nn.

Geamhradh · 15/05/2022 20:12

BessAndCress · 15/05/2022 16:00

Gia is a bit mysterious... The internet says it is short for the Italian name Gianna, but the "i" in Gianna is only there to soften the G - it's pronounced Janna, right? Any Italian natives know if Gia is actually used in Italian as a nickname (or otherwise)? Am curious now! Seems to be mainly used in America as far as I can see.

Gia is the short form of Giacinta (Hyacinth)
I've never heard it used as a short form for Gianna which is short itself for Giovanna. Might be a regional usage.
These days no child would thank their parents for Giacinta or Giovanna tbh. Most Giovannas are pensioners and I've only ever known one Giacinta/Gia She's mid fifties.

ElenaSt · 15/05/2022 20:13

I immediately thought of Gia Carangi.

It's a lovely name and GiGi as a nickname is perfect.

supersonicginandtonic · 15/05/2022 21:12

I think of horses with Gigi pronounced gee-gee.
I saw it abs immediately though gig-gee as i know two people with that as a nickname. One is a Gail and the other a Gabrielle

thegreylady · 16/05/2022 00:18

Gaia surely?

Cryingintherain99 · 16/05/2022 01:26

I know a Gaia - pronounced Gy-a. Not sure if this is the same.

I've also met a Gia (Gee-a) as a nn for Georgia.

Then a Gigi - nn for Gisele.

bedsidetab · 16/05/2022 01:33

ai don't understand why you would need a nickname for Gia? It's already a short name.

Coolhand2 · 16/05/2022 03:18

My lo is Gianna, we use gigi as a nickname and I also like that we can use Gia too.

Hulahihi · 16/05/2022 04:18

Don't name her gigi on the birth certificate it's definitely a nickname. I prefer Georgina, Georgia or Giovanna but if you don't like any of those then Gia is fine to use.

Lollabit · 16/05/2022 04:53

Gia sound like something you’d name a car

Orphlids · 16/05/2022 07:12

I’d just go for Gigi. I love it. I’d love to be named Gigi, and I’m a perfectly sensible, educated woman.

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