dd2 use first or middle name? - she is 2 - help!

[vanloadtovenice]

Having a real dilemma. DD2 has always been known by everyone by her baby nickname, but now she is starting nursery we need to decide what she will 'properly' be called. She is 2, and knows herself by her nickname really, so whichever one we go for will be it. If it helps, dd1 has a fairly unusual (at the moment!) 4 syllable name and we have a 1 syllable surname.
Please no nasty comments, has to be one or t'other! So, it's Luciana (pronounced lu chee ana) or Florence.... Thank you!

I'd go for her first name, because otherwise she'll have a lifetime of saying "I'm known as [middle name]

Both nice names btw

Those are both lovely names. Luciana works well with a short surname IMO.

Which one do you feel is more 'her'?

Both lovely, but go with the 1st name as everyone at school will regardless of what you decide - believe me, KS2 teacher here

Well, it's quite hard because Luciana is beautiful but quite grown up sounding, and Florence is more cutesy little girl - which of course she is at the moment! I guess we'd shorten Luciana to Lulu??? Maybe???

Luciana is beautiful VanLoadToVenice you could call her Lulu, Luci, Ana all are pretty.

Luli????

Would go with first name too will prob be shortened.
What's her baby name is it more like any of them ?

First name every time, I have friends who call themselves by their middle name because it was "family tradition". All it does is cause problems!

And my mother is known by her middle name, as was my grandmother. Generations of naming indecision - I'd rather be known by middle name too actually!

I would consider swapping them by deed poll if we went with her current middle name! So, it's more a question of Luciana Vs Florence...

Luciana for all the reasons already given and also because you said dd1 has a 4 syllable name so I am presuming it is something in a similar vein (ie Italian) and the 2 names will "go" together.

(Spoken by a mother of 3 boys all with 2 syllable Irish names).

So, no-one thinks Luciana is too 'foreign' sounding? This is what my mother says about both dd1 and dd2s names, but DH has family in south america, and I have french cousins, so we went latin!

So, no-one thinks Luciana is too 'foreign' sounding? This is what my mother says about both dd1 and dd2s names, but DH has family in south america, and I have french cousins, so we went latin!

My sister and uncle both use their middle names...hasn't caused them any problems, in fact I bet that most of their friends have no idea that their names aren't their first names.

It caused me a problem though as I had to get used to calling my sister a new name at 22. Some 15 years later I still get it wrong.

Use whatever you like best...(love both Luciana and Florence BTW).

Luciana is really pretty and unusual. But if you're worried then call her Lucy?

DP gets called by his middle name. It causes him no end of administrative difficulties. Travel tickets booked in his known as name (middle name) and do not match his passport etc etc.

In any case Luciana is lovely.

Luciana definately. If she didn't like having a more unusual name when older she could easily be called Lucy.

Luciana is not too foreign-sounding, and it's a lovely name, but it looks (from your earlier post) as if you are pronouncing it wrong. It should be 3 syllables (loo-chan-a) not four (loo-chee-an-a).

(Disclaimer: Obviously you are free to pronounce your own daughter's name any way you like.)

I would definitely keep Luciana. It is really pretty. Could you shorten it to Lucia or Ana. I think these are nicer than Lulu personally.

I adore the name Florence, bu also think Luciana is pretty too. I think sticking with her actual first name might be easier though, especially re paperwork and school.

Oooh, thanks ellbell, that is helpful. It's easier to say loo-chan-a too. What do thers think? I might try to call her that for a few days and see how we go.... Yes, i would like to find a diff shortening (quite often say 'do you need to go to the loo loo'!!!) I guess if it was pronounced Loo- chan - a , she could be chan-a, or cia, or lucia, or luli. Aaargh!!!

Oh phew... names are so personal, I was worried about offending. But if she were Italian that's how she'd say it.

Could shorten to Luce (loo-chay) which means 'light' (the noun, not the adjective).

I would practice her name on her to help her get used to it, use the full version and a short one too, and her nick name. My daughter has three variations and is comfortable with them all. Dont leave it for nursery or it may make her feel strange.

Luci Luciana is beautiful by the way, really lovely

Gosh, thanks you girls! You've made me feel like giving Luciana a try at least!