Gigi or Gia ?

[Farawaytoday]

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?

Thanks everyone some mixed replies.
Think we’ll pick a longer name, already discounted Georgina but I quite like Giselle and Gianna.
Although I always thought Gianna was pronounced Gi ah na but someone on the thread has said Janna? We have no Italian connection, is Gianna a bit of a stretch?

How do you pronounce Gigi? Like a gig? With an i?

@pinklavenders , Zhee-zhee

@Farawaytoday , I wouldn't use Giselle. She'll be ~Jizz-elle or Jizz. Gianna is Janna. Giulia might be an option but will be written as Julia or misspelt

Watch the 1950s film Gigi with Lesley Caron in the title role before you name your DC Gigi.

@MrsMoastyToasty I don’t think I’d let a film from the 50s put me off naming my child in 2022 but thanks for your input

The film is about a much older man taking a teenage girl (Gigi) as a mistress.

@MrsMoastyToasty that’s hardly relevant today.
if we ruled out every name with a negative connotation there wouldn’t be many usable names left in the world

@Farawaytoday , younger people will think of Gigi Hadid, but a lot of people will think of the film or novel. It's a well-known film.

I immediately think 'Thank heaven for little girls'

It isn't a good association.

I'm in my late 30s & would think Hadid. the film was over 60 yrs ago & most people even if they remember the film will surely be intelligent enough to think it's irrelevant?

Correct. It is pronounced like Janna. Gia is also a word in Italian which means already.

It’s ridiculous to call a woman Gigi. It’s fine as a cutesy nickname but not a proper name. I woikd go with Gia or a longer name. Gia has Indian and Italian connections - if you’re going for that name without any connection to those places then why not got Gianna!

Also re Gigi hadid - Gigi is her nickname not her name. Presumably as her parents wouldn’t saddle her with such a ridiculous first name.

Gia reminds me of Gia Carangi. She was Italian-American, though I don't believe the name is actually used in Italy. Gigi makes me think of Gigi Hadid - her actual given name is Jelena. I'm something of a film buff but I've never heard of the film Gigi so I don't think it's something your child's generation will know about.

I think Gia works far better as a full name than Gigi. Gigi is similar to Mimi, Fifi, DeeDee.. I don't think I would want to have such a babyish-sounding name as my legal name.

Gia the name, and già the word meaning "already" would never be confused as the pronunciation is completely different.

OP- Gianna is nearer to Janna when said in Italian but with a slightly longer "ee" sound (Ji-anna) "Janna" however is definitely closer to the Italian than putting any kind of emphasis on the "anna" bit. (think about "Giovanni" it's not, despite Tess on Strictly's best efforts "varney" but "vanni" a short quick "a" like the "a" in cat.

I'm something of a film buff but I've never heard of the film Gigi so I don't think it's something your child's generation will know about.

The film is based, very loosely and hugely sanitised, from the well known book by the world-famous writer Colette - about a teenage girl raised into prostitution.

I always wanted Gianndrea shortened to Gia. Loved the movie Gia with Angelina Jolie. Great choice

Gia is lovely, as is Austenesque Georgiana (lots of nn choice there including Gigi). Gigi very much sounds like a nn/pet name to me - for any name with a strong "Jee" sound in it , so even Jessamine/Jessamy, Josephine etc would work. Gigi as a given name is a bit toy poodle imo, sorry! (ala Fifi, Mimi etc)

Definitely agree with you. Gigi is a nickname. It doesn't matter that it's longer. Gia although short sounds grown up and sophisticated in comparison. I'm sure there will be times when your dc will appreciate having a grown up alternative.

Also re pronunciations - you can pronounce it as you like and correct people if they get it wrong. Mostly only Italian people will know the 'correct' pronunciation of some of the options anyway.

Gigi sounds like either a stripper or a horse.

Please give your daughter a non embarrassing name.

Gigi is lovely on it's own and also as a nickname.
Use another name if you love it more than Gigi and have Gigi as a nick name.
Or just use Gigi. I don't like Gia nearly as much.

Georgette
Georgia
Gidget
Gabrielle
Genevieve

Gigi hadid's real name is jelena which i LOVE. The name is having a moment because of miss hadid but i do like it.

I like the film but wouldn't associate the name in general with it

Me too.

I actually first thought of that film and was immediately put off it
Moreover there's a film called Gia about a child prostitute. Really tawdry and sad. So clearly there's something about those names which scream child abuse! Sorry.

I have a Gia who we nickname Gigi. She likes both.