I'm looking for a three syllable girl's name that honors my mother's Italian heritage, but is not too "exotic." I very much like the name Sophia, but it's also quite popular now. Any suggestions?
Thank you for all the responses! I reconsidered Sophia (so pretty!), but just can't due it because of it's popularity. By coincidence, I have the same maiden name as my husband's last name (no relation, he is Jewish and I'm Italian/British). It is a very, very common last name. So I know what it's like to share the same exact full name with four other people in elementary school (my name is second only to all the Jennifer Smith's of the 1970's).
I had never heard of the name Gianna. Thank you for the suggestion - it would be a perfect compliment to my mother's mother's name "Giovannina," and it would still go well with my rather bland/Anglo last name. The suggestion, Esterina, also struck me because it was my mother's mother's mother's name. Very cool. Also, I'm surprised the name Concetta came up as a suggestion because it is so esoteric, and because it was my Grandmother's suggestion to me before she passed away, before I had my frist child (a boy). My husband likes Concetta. Last, I just really like the name "Paloma." So unique, but not at the same time.
Thank you for all the advice. I have much to consider!
Okay, I am going to vote for my name, which is Letitia, but it can be spelled Leticia or Letizia. It means joy or happiness and I have loved having this name. With my family I am Tish, at work I am Letitia and when I am an old lady, as I hope to be , I want to be L.. I really love my name.
I think that Anneliese is a pretty name for a little girl. (That's just one of the ways that I have seen it spelled.)
I also like Milana. I love Paloma, but technically it's Spanish. My daughter's middle name is Milan. My husband had one Italian grandparent on each side, so we tried to incorporate that into their names. Also, they had to be names that could be pronounced in both Spanish and English. Elina and Elisa also show up as Italian.
My friend named her daughter Paloma. She's Italian. I personally love it!
Lucia, Sienna Gianna, Carmina, Carmela, Carina, Camela, Bianca
Lots of Blessings to you and your little one!
Does it have to be 3 syllables? How about Annabella?
Francesca
Louisa
Nicola
I also love Paloma.
Paloma Picasso.
We had a bird named Paloma.
Daniela.
Pilar is a good name, but not 3 syllables.
Best wishes.
My daughter is Amelia, has a friend named Emilia. I also love gianna and allegra, and Sophia. I also like marina, giulia, giada, Fiona, giuliana (I know it's four!), lucia, Andria, Bianca, Estella, Rosalie, sienna, Sierra, daniella, Georgina, Serena, Alaina, Thalia or Talia, dahlia, Danica, Eliza, Francesca, celena, and Cecilia. Italian names are so pretty! We looked at them too. Congrats!
.
Giana
Elena
Daniela
Bianca
Christina
Susanna
Danniella
Allegra- means cheerful, joyous
Andria- means love, joy
Venitia- means mercy
Annetta- means favor, grace
Bettina- means blessed
Chiara- means clear, bright
Letizia- means happiness
Annalise or can also spell Annaleese
Talia
Carmella
Belisa
Bellanca
Calinda
Camilla
Carissa
My daughters name is Sienna! We thought it was perfect after being in Italy ! After visiting the city Siena!!
Cecelia. I also love Adelaide, though it is not Italian.
I like Eliza I dont know if it's spelled right, but I dont know if it's Italian either, But I think it's pretty.
Maria, Angela, Carmela, Rosalie, Isabelle, Adrienne...
Lucia is a lovely Italian girl's name.
Oh! And Antoinette!
I like Isabella, e Giuliana. Congrats for the baby!
vivian
catrina, nickname could be 'cat'
congratulations on your precious pending arrival!!
our daughter's middle name is Genevieve, which I think is really pretty, although it's not Italian.
I've always thought Milana was beautiful and original. I also like Gianna and Estella, but Milana is my favorite!
Aurora
Claudia
Daniela
Delfina
Livia
Marina
Morena
and I love Juilet - though it is not Italian :)
Congrats and Good Luck!
I love Paloma. Is Isabelle an Italian name? I like that name.
Stephanie
Natalie
Jessica
Monica
Erica
Camilla. Just named my newborn that.
Mackenzie, Mackie for short
Annabelle or Annabella
Updated
Annabelle or Annabella
antonia -- my sil's italian g-ma :)
Annina, means little Anna in Italian.
I think that "Isabelle" is a gorgeous name. My husband and I named our daughter Bella which is often a shortened version of Isabella or Isabella. In Italian it means "beautiful". The only reason we didn't name our daughter the longer version is because it just didn't sound right to us. Congratulations on your pregnancy J.!!!
I have a daughter named Sophia & we love it. If you love it, use it! I also teach at a pretty big school, and there are only 3 Sophia's on the whole campus! It may not be as over-used as you think it is. Plus it's classic--to make it more Italian, you could spell it Sofia.
I also like Gianna, though!
Good luck!
If and when we have a daughter we intend to name her Elena, which can be spelled many ways...Alayna, Elaina, Alaina
Other 3 syllable Italian names that I like are:
Maria
Alessandra (whoops, that's 4)
Alisa
Bianca
Carlina
Chiara (pronounced Key-ah-tah)
Caterina (form of Catherine)
Gianna
Isabelle
Lucia
Sienna
.
Lucia
Aria
Giana
Sylvia is universal and works in every language... Sabrina, Celeste, Bianca... you got so many good good ideas here - wow!
Good luck with your baby!
N
You have received some great suggestions!! For what it's worth, I love the name Sophia and if it's the name you want, then you should use it.
Good luck!!
Stephanie
Marcella!
(or spelled Marcela)
It was on our list, but we had all boys!
My ALL TIME FAVORITE girl's name is NATALIE.
"Natale" means Born at Christmas. ('Boun Natale' is 'Merry Christmas' in Italian.)
3 syllables, not terribly over-used right now, and PERFECT!!!
Unfortunately, I have a very close first cousin named Natalie, so if I'm ever blessed with a baby girl, I have to come up with something else... :(
Annata
Bianca
Chiara
Andria
Majella
Not sure if it really is Italian but I like Ilana (that's an uper case "i" at the beginning).
Elenie is a more modern sounding Elena, which is Italian.
I don't believe this is Italian, and it may be way too popular, but we are going to be naming our 3rd baby (if it is a girl) McKenzie Rose. Just thought I would throw it out there :)
Congratulations, btw!
We just had a baby girl and these were in our top ten:Julia, Delaney, Fiona, and Delila.
Clarissa is nice, too
I LOVE gianna and antonia! however, i am one that likes it pronounce ann-tah-nia instead of ann-tone-e-ah. I dont know if it is italian or not, but i also like Estella.
I like Sophia but it has gotten popular again. How about Francesca? When I was in grade school I had a friend from Italy by that name.
Cristina
Concetta
Giovanna
Ginetta
Stefania
Felicia
Antonia
Daniela
Elena
Gisella
Rosaria
You have an overwhelming amount of responses haha so I didn't even bother to read them. I absolutely LOVE the name Sophia! I'm considering it if we have a girl... I'm stuck on the name Jacinda, but it's Greek not Italian, otherwise I'd suggest it ;) I also REALLY like the name Olivia. I just wanted to tell you that Sophia is a great name and who cares if it's "popular"?! My name is N. which is popular in Russia, but not so much here. Sophia is a beautiful name for a beautiful baby girl :) Congrats!!!
How about Michaela?
Gianna, Carina (or Corinna)
Miranda (I love that name)!
Hi J.,
I just did a search at babycenter where you can click on heritage, syllables, and gender. According to them, there are 45 Italian girl names with 3 syllables. (I do like Sophia as my third choice, but I agree with you that it's very poplular right now.) I really like Angelique & Giada.
Here's the link: http://www.babycenter.com/babyNamerSearch.htm?startsWith=...
C.? andrea? sabrina?
How about,
Olivia
Lucia
Marcella
Melina
I was named after my cousin in Italy. My name is M. (pronounces Ma-ree-sa) just like M. Tomei, the actress. It has become more common than when I was little. I never met anyone who had the same name as me until I got to Jr. High but I do think it's become a little more commonplace and not too exotic today.
How about Patricia? In Italian it is spelled Patrizia. If you want to know how that is pronounced in Italian you would have to call me. :)
My cousin's name that I really like is Simona. It's pronounced Sea-mona.
Francesca nickname Frances
Lucia
M. Theresa. That is my name. My mother is Italian and my father is Irish.
How about Francesca?
I love the name Gianna. You can call her Gia for short. Very cute.
