Isabella or Valentina

[malenagrrl]

I am due in September and I've just found out it's a girl. We already have a son called Zack but I don't want their names to rhyme or match as I don't think it is necessary. I like very girly, feminine names and the two that keeps coming to my mind are Isabella and Valentina.

I think Isabella is getting quite popular but I don't know any Valentina around these parts (North London).

And what names would you suggest to go with these names? I was thinking maybe Isabella or Valentina Amelie but not sure with two vowels (aA) might be a bit too much.

Heeeelp!

Valentina is lovely, so is Isabella but Valentina is far less popular. I would go for Valentina.

Do you have any nice family names that you can use as a second name?

Hi belgo. No, we have no nice family names apart from Katherine (DH's mum) but too long. My mum's name is unissex and I don't like unissex names.

Isabella is awfully popular but a nice name with potentially easier nicknames.. Valentina is clearly the best though! Go for...

Valentina Sofia

Valentina,

definitely.

Absolutely gorgeous

I like both of them. And tbh I don't think that Katherine is too long for a middle name.

Valentina Katherine
Isabella Katherine

They have a nice ring to them.

Valentina is much more original. And very pretty.

Valentina will get shortened to Val. Isabella less likely to get shortened.

Isabella gets shortened to Isa, Izzy, Bella...

That's what I thought, that Isabella is getting more and more popular. I love both names, but Isabella can be shortened to Bella or Izzie. Valentina can be shortened to Val or Tina but I really dislike both options! Would Nina be a better nn for Valentina?

And Cies, we already have a long surname so I was thinking of having a short middle name to balance it out.

Isabella is quite common in my part of N. London though I think it's a lovely name. Quite a few Issies and Bellas around.

Valentina is more original. Though Val and Tina aren't super as shortened options.

I don't think Katherine is too long as a middle name.

dont do isabella - there are millions of them

valentina much better, though be cautious of shortened versions!

Valentina Katherine is beautiful, and not too long. My dd2 has names with three and four syllables, and it's not too long.

Valentina is gorgeous! How about Valentina Kate? I don't think Amelie goes well with either a middle name- too many a sounds!

If this little one was a girl, we were considering either Isabel Valentina or Isabel Catherine!

Love them both - although I prefer Isabel to Isabella. But as others have said Valentina is much more exotic - so if that's what you're going for, then it's the obvious choice.

You could use Claire as a middle name?

Other options if you're looking for something short:

Kate
Grace
Leigh
Louise
Lynn

I don't really dislike Valentina Katherine but my mum would get a bit upset. I really don't like my mum's name because, as I said, I don't like unissex names so maybe better not use Katherine to avoid problems....

Also, we have a long unusual surname so I do need a short name as the middle name. I love Ruby but Valentina or Isabella Ruby??? hmmmm. I thought of Amelie because it is classic and sweet but too many As will be a problem. I like Grace but DH hates it.

Rose as a middle name? too twee? Someone said Sophia, which I like.