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Is This Name Too Italian for the U.S.A.?

My husband and I have one son with name that is a very Italian, yet pretty easy for Americans to say. It goes well with our very much Italian surname. We are now expecting a girl and we have another very Italian name picked out. We love the Italian spelling, but know it will be mispronounced. We can change it to an Americanized spelling, but it’s then close to another name—so it would still be mispronounced.

Should we go with the Italian spelling or the American version? Both will be mispronounced. This actually doesn't bother me much, as my own name is mispronounced often. Even my son’s easy-to-say name is mispronounced.
--Mamma Italiana

Mamma, you’ve made my job easy—you’ve answered your own question! It sounds like you just need a little reassurance to follow your own reasoning, and your heart.

If both the Italian and the Americanized version of the name you love are in danger of being mispronounced, you won’t invite (extra) trouble by choosing the Italian name. What’s more, you already have plenty of experience with mispronunciations and they don’t bother you. That’s a great attitude. Even names that seem simple and straightforward are subject to incorrect interpretations and pronunciations, which are almost always well-intended.

You know that both you and your daughter will need to correct people who don’t get her name right on their first attempt. You can teach her to do this politely and cheerfully (she’ll follow your lead). You both may even enjoy the opportunity to spend a few extra minutes talking about the name you love so much and why you chose it.

So go forth with the name you love, con i miei complimenti!

Comments

December 17, 2012 10:21 PM
By A (not verified)

What's the name????? It's so frustrating when the name in question isn't revealed.

December 18, 2012 12:31 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

No, it's not.

The U.S. has a fairly large Italian American population, so more people may recognize it than you think. Plus even the simplest of names can be mispronounced and misspelled.

Use the name.

December 18, 2012 12:58 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

I agree with the first commenter. Names are very specific. Vague questions of this nature are hard to answer (and less-than-entertaining to read, if the only one who's supposed to answer is the Name Lady)

December 18, 2012 12:59 PM
By ValenzMom (not verified)

My daughter's name is Andrea, but we have always pronounced it "Aundreya" due to the fact that we have both Hispanic and White folks in our families. Since there are so many different ways to pronounce the name Andrea, we (and later our daughter herself) have always had to let people know the version she prefers. After they know her, then there is no problem.

December 18, 2012 3:08 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

I bet the name is Chiara. Pronounced Kee-ah-ra in Italian. That's my hunch! One of my very favourite Italian names.

December 18, 2012 5:11 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

My guess is that it is Francesca. That is my daughter's name. It is mispronounced somewhat often, but not ALL the time. It is also misspelled often by people who pronounce it correctly. However, I would NEVER spell it like it is pronounced: "Franchesca" or "Francheska" or something like that. To me, that just looks like you don't know how to spell your own child's name.

December 18, 2012 5:46 PM
By SouthernBelle (not verified)

I would like to know what the Mother's name and Child's name. My name is Valerie. My name is misspelled and mispronounced.

December 18, 2012 8:02 PM
By Moll (not verified)

Giulia or Giuliana perhaps? Hard to know if the name is "too Italian" without knowing the name, but I doubt it would be a problem, whatever the name is.

December 18, 2012 9:12 PM
By Megan W. (not verified)

Generally, I'd say go for it. This generation is so much more multi-cultural that her peers won't bat an eyelash.

On the other hand, we nixed a couple of names because with my husband's last name, it was a near rhyme: think Marco Polo.

December 18, 2012 10:54 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

My first thought was Chiara--and when she's older she can tell people that it's pronounced like chianti.

Whatever it is I'm sure the Italian spelling is more interesting and attractive.

December 19, 2012 2:41 AM
By Anonymous (not verified)

I wonder if its something like Lucia or Luciana as C in italian is pronounced as CH here and ss here, we loved Lucia for a girl but couldnt get past the constant fear of mispronounciation.

December 21, 2012 11:27 AM
By Missy Holland (not verified)

I agree with ^^^^^. But my name is Isolde, which is seen in Wales, Germany and Italy, and no one here has ever pronounced it right, yet I survived. (It's pronounced eezolda.) Plus, my sister is named Amelie -pronounced like Emily only with Ah- yet everyone calls her Amelia. No wonder I go by Missy and she goes by Mel!!! lol

December 21, 2012 6:14 PM
By Allie (not verified)

I bet it's one of those Gia Giana Giulia Giada names that are so popular on the baby naming boards nowadays. Funny -- ten years ago, everyone was mysteriously of Irish origins when they wanted to name their kid Collum or Aiden, and now they are Italian and want to name their kid Giada.

December 22, 2012 9:18 AM
By Anonymous (not verified)

si! per favore, il nome. i luv <3 italian names <3!

December 26, 2012 7:17 PM
By zoehadley (not verified)

some people or parents for them doesn't matter if the names are either too Italians or too USA. for them what is important is that their kido has name they love to call. in that aspects, it's like storage west midlands ways and self storage west midlands ways where it doesn't matter which one to use since both are effective

December 29, 2012 2:52 AM
By Anonymous (not verified)

agreed

January 3, 2013 6:15 PM
By Anonymous (not verified)

If you believe that both the pure Italian version and the Americanized version would be mispronounced, go with the pure Italian version - at least then other Italian friends and family will recognize it at once.

January 17, 2013 7:17 PM
By Lucia (not verified)

Guys. It's most likely Giada.

"We can change it to an Americanized spelling, but it’s then close to another name—so it would still be mispronounced."

It they changed it to the phonetic Jada, it would look like JAY-da.

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