Natalia or Valentina?

[pinkbaby]

DH is italian, we live in sw london. DD1 is due in May. We have decided to call her one of the above names, we love them both. Which do you prefer and would work best in the UK? This may help us decide which to choose!

I prefer Natalia, but it might depend on your surname as to which one sounds better iykwim?

I have a friend with a Valentina and love the name, but I wouldn't like it to be shortened to Tina for nn, so based on that I'd choose Natalia.

Thanks for such quick replies.

paolosgirl, good point about our surname, that's the problem, both names go really well with our surname making it difficult to choose which!

jemesouviens - yes, Tina not so good as a nn. Hmm! We just love the full name though.

Anyone else?

They are both absolutely lovely! JeMe has a point about considering nicknames, although if you persist in using the full name others will also. I wouldn't want people to use Natty instead of Natalia for instance.

My DD is Natalie and I hate it when people shorten her name to Nat. I have never called her that and make a point of saying her name properly all the time. The other one I hate is when people forget that it has a "t" in it grrr.

Erm... Natalia obv

I prefer Natalia (nn talia), Valentina is good as a full name too but I'm less keen on the obvious shortenings, Val & Tina.

We've always used DDs full name but unfortunately people still feel the need to shorten it, despite being repeatedly asked not to. Maybe that'll change when she's old enough to speak and (if she) uses her full name herself but I doubt it TBH.

I'm not too keen on nns Nat/Natty either, although don't mind the suggestion of Talia. Also not keen on Val/Tina.

We love the full names so much but inevitably someone will try to shorten them along the way.

So that's 4 for Natalia and 0 for Valentina! Well so far anyway!

I like them both so can I give a vote for Valentina too?

Talia is a much better NN than Tina

so definitely Natalia for me too

Prefer Natalia - know one shortened to Talli, but Valentina Ok.

if i was you i would choose Valentina but have another V name for the middle name like Valentina Vivienne co i could use ViVi[vee vee] as a NN....alternatively i knew a gorgeous italian girl called Viviana which i thought was gorgeous....?

Could end up as Val and Nat too. I like the full names but not so keen on the shortened ones.

Both lovely- sorry no hel at all!
Valentina is more unusual and perhaps more obviously Italian/ Spanish if that sways you!
Have you chosen a middle name?

Valentina is lovely but not if shortened - you'd have to be really strict about using the full version only. For that reason I'd probably choose Natalia altho that could be shortened I think it may be less likely to be.

FWIW they both sound Russian to me, not Italian (does this help?)

I much prefer Natalia.

Natalia

So many replies! Thanks, it's very helpful.

leannabanana - you will never believe it, we have a dog called Vivi (although not short for anything)!!

loobylu3 - no we haven't chosen a middle name yet, we have been so focused on choosing a first name.

Any middle name suggestions anyone? I don't think a very English sounding name would work as our surname is italian.

Anyone?!

I think you could use whichever you don't use for the first name as the middle name, unless you want to reserve it for a future DD.

Do you want the middle name to be Italianate or more English - or both? If so, Anna, Roberta or Maria.

Thanks BlueChampagne, I like Natalia Valentina (but don't think Valentina Natalia sounds too good together). Don't mind to use them both actually as I'll probably go on to have 3 DSs and will kick myself for not using my favourite girl's names!

Anna and Maria already other family member names so therefore wouldn't use them and not too keen on Roberta.

I know two little Italian girls named Stella and Emma - their mum said the names work in both Italian and English.

Also: Lydia, Rosa, Louise?

Valentina

I think a v English name would be fine as a middle name. Also, assuming that you are English, it would be nice for your daughter to have a name that reflects both of your cultures, etc.
How about:

Grace (I know it's popular but it is beautiful)
Claire/ Clara
Beatrice
Violet
Elizabeth
Rose
Juliet
Alice
Ruth

any good?

LOVE Natalia.