Apollina - is it too much?

[FoggieLogie]

Hi,

DH and I are expecting our first and likely only baby, w have called in love with the name Apollina, we like Apolline too but slightly prefer Apollina.
We have French and Italian family so a name that works well across languages is important we feel Apollina would work.

Middle name would be Vittoria (my middle name).

Our only concern is it’s quite a “big” name. Is it too much? Should we pick something more understated. Emiliana and Floriana are other top names but we do prefer Apollina.

Thoughts?

I think it is fine, given your heritage.

It’s nice if you have the heritage, which you do. You could maybe have…Polly or something as a more casual usage?

I like it better than the other two; it’s got more strength and character.

It's fine. At some point she will become Polly. If you don't like Polly, don't go for Apollina.

It's lovely. I like Lina for a nickname

Considering your heritages i think it would work, I don't think it would go if it was followed by Jane Mae Smith or such, but Vitoria Verdi /Ghezzi / Le Checallier etc would be good because it fits

Is this always the case though? I don’t mind Polly and if she chooses to use it I won’t mind at all
but I have a long name (Francesca) and have never gone by a nickname other than at university/with sports teams, and that was very much against my will!

I don't like it as I just hear apple-lena. I would call her Vittoria Apollina as Vittoria is much nicer (IMO) and that way round it also runs much better to my ear.

I really like it - strong, professional, classy and fun. Re Polly… I think 4 syllables is when people start automatically looking to shorten a name and Apollina is more of a mouthful than Francesca. I’m not a big fan of Polly but my daughter ended up with a nickname I didn’t like much at first and now I love it - it’s just her

It’s lovely! Very strong - 19th century heroine vibes.

I’d save Floriana in case you ever need Florian for a boy.

It’s too long and frilly / pretentious sounding for my taste - but don’t let that put you off - we all have different tastes in names 😊

You see ‘pretentious’ - I see ‘operatic’.

I like it a lot! I'd start calling her Lina early on to avoid Polly if you don't like it but it didn't occur to me until the pp mentioned it.

It might get shortened to Apple.
Apollina is much nicer than Emiliana and Floriana.

Given your heritage I think it’s lovely. I do really dislike Polly as an inevitable nn though, but love Lina, so I’d start off with that young so that Polly doesn’t stick!

I think it’s lovely — unusual but also very elegant. I also like Polly, Apple and Lina and think any of them would be a sweet nickname for a little girl, but also nice for an older girl or woman! I say go for it!

I don’t think Polly will automatically be the nickname as there is also Lina, Ina, Apple and probably others. That said I do quite like Polly

Oh I like that very much. Definitely go for it.

I really don’t like it. Apolline is a bit better.
I like Emiliana (or Emilia) a lot more, or Vittoria as a first name

No. I haven't heard of it and I dont much like it. Vittoria is much nicer and more recognisable as a name.

I know 2 who are under 10! Neither is Polly although both are French

I like it. Much prefer to Vittoria.

Apollina is a very pretty, underused classical name imo. I don’t see how it’s any different in principle to similar but better known longer names like Alexandra, Antonia, Aurelia etc.

You just have to accept that any 4 syllable name here is very likely to be shortened sometimes- both because nicknames are often the UK social norm, but also because longer names can be such a mouthful to say in a rush. So it’s likely she’ll get Polly, Lina, maybe Apple (or perhaps even Pip because of the “Apple” sound). If you are fine with that, then I say go for it!

Emiliana and Floriana would have exactly the same issues btw- very likely quickly shortened to Em/Emmy and Florrie/Flora, so imo you might as well go for the more elegant and interesting Apolline/Apollina.

(Francesca is 3 syllables so a bit less likely to always be shortened imo, I also have a 3 syllable name myself that isn’t shortened. But I’ve rarely met someone with a 4 or 5 syllable name who doesn’t get it shortened sometimes - perhaps Apolline being only 3 syllables may escape it too).

i think that it’s a beautiful name and sounds lovely with the middle name, especially considering your heritage.

I don’t think it will necessarily be shortened - just keep calling her the full name and let her know that if people shorten her name and she doesn’t like it, she can tell them!

I really like it.

It’s a really lovely name. I think you have a certain amount of power to dictate nicknames - say to teacher’s, playgroup parents etc., - her name isn’t shortened, or choose what the abbreviation is. ‘She prefers Lina’ for instance. As she gets older her friends will probably call her anything, so it’s not foolproof, but I do think that parents have a bit of a say as long as they speak up.