I’m an American living in [name]Italy[/name] with my beautiful little 6 month old girl [name]Clio[/name]. I adore her name (in [name]America[/name]) but was so disappointed to find these blasted [name]Renault[/name] [name]Clio[/name] mini cars EVERYWHERE here in Europe. Now when I tell people her name, I’m certain the image that pops into their head is the economy sized “macchina”! What to do?!! We’re planning on living in [name]Italy[/name] indefinitely for 6 months of each year, as we’ll be running a seasonal B&B here. Unsure still as to where she’ll be going to school. So, should I give her an Italian middle name that she can go by here? Something like a [name]Carolina[/name], which [name]Clio[/name] could be a nick name of. Should I embrace her name regardless of the cultural associations. [name]Clio[/name] is in fact the [name]Muse[/name] of [name]History[/name] in Greek Mythology! Opinions please!!
Perhaps you could try it short for:
[name]Cleopatra[/name] - I know, not the same spelling, but still the same effect.
[name]Clementine[/name]/Celementina
If you don’t like either of those, I really wouldn’t worry about it. It’s spunky and charming, and if she’ll only be there every 6 months of her life, that’s not too much. Anyway, people have bigger things to worry about than what their neighbors named their daughter.
Yes, I agree, people have better things to worry about! I just fear that if she ended up going to school in [name]Italy[/name], she could be made fun of as its such a popular car here! I’m new to this motherhood thing, and find myself obsessing over protecting her.
Thanks for your advice. I like [name]Clementine[/name]/a too! So cute.
I completely understand. Your daughter is so lucky to have a mother who cares for her so much!
Ha! I totally understand the obsessive protection thing. I stressed for about 4 mo after I had my daughter after finding out that it reminded someone of liver! It freaked me out thinking that everyone would think of that. I’ve totally gotten over it, thank God! and can’t imagine her anything else!
But I don’t think a mini car reference is bad at all. I adore the name [name]Sienna[/name] and would use it regardless that Toyota has a mini van called [name]Sienna[/name] and that’s with me hating mini vans! lol
Enjoy your baby and don’t worry about it one more minute! 
I see what you mean. My brother wants to call his daughter [name]Clio[/name] but is thinking twice as we live in the UK and they’re really popular here too.
Maybe just spell it [name]Cleo[/name]? I’m sure it won’t be a big deal, children today have a wide variety of names.
[name]Do[/name] you have an Italian friend or friends you could ask for an honest opinion?
The [name]Sienna[/name] comparison makes sense and sounds hopeful - but if the name was [name]Chevy[/name] or Chrysler or something, I’d raise my eyebrows a little.
What is her middle name?
[name]Clio[/name] in Europe? Yeah… The US isn’t an important market for [name]Renault[/name] so perhaps the association with the car isn’t that apparent to Berries living the States. Here’s the deal - it’s kinda like naming your child Altima or Civic. I totally realize that that’s not what you intended [name]Thea[/name]!!! However, I have to differ with the posters who suggested that you should go full steam ahead and ignore public opinion. That works in the US where we are used to seeing people come and go from all over the place. I’m an American living overseas and my husband has a business here. If you’re going to be spending six months a year in [name]Italy[/name] you don’t want to do something that may be interpreted as you not understanding the local culture, especially if you’re running a business there. In many ways [name]Italy[/name] is an insular place; I read many years ago that a resident of [name]Rome[/name] isn’t considered a true [name]Roman[/name] unless his family has lived there for at least seven generations! That may be true or not but it is not entirely unbelievable. And then there’s school to consider. [name]Little[/name] [name]Camry[/name] would be teasted mercilessly in the US.
So to find an alternative to [name]Clio[/name]… I totally agree with lookingforaname - ask an Italian. Or, what about [name]Clara[/name]?? I realize that the Italian version is [name]Chiara[/name] but you’re expats; you can get away with it. As for [name]Carolina[/name], I have a soft spot for it because it’s my daughter’s name (yes, pronounced in the Italian manner). But [name]Clara[/name], nn [name]Clio[/name]?
Thanks for your honesty guys! I don’t think the Renaults are even on the market in the States. So the [name]Clio[/name] car is virtually unheard of there. So, I feel a bit odd changing her name this late in the game (6 months old). Would simply changing the spelling to [name]Cleo[/name] (pronounced [name]Clay[/name]-O in [name]Italy[/name]) be enough of a depart from the [name]Renault[/name]? Oddly enough, my mother lives in [name]England[/name] (but is a bit out of the loop, and had never heard of the ever-so-popular [name]Clio[/name] car until her GD came along!). I was visiting her not too long ago, and heard of another little girl just recently named [name]Cleo[/name] there. Made me think that the name is okay in Europe, as I know that a native Englander would be aware of their cultural associations! I’m still at a bit of a stand-still. I will try and consult a native Italian (once we befriend some!), but everyone wants to be nice, and I’m unsure if I’ll get an honest opinion.
She has such a lovely name, it would be a real shame to have to change it. So far my favourite suggestion has just been to change the spelling to [name]Cleo[/name]. It would be less confusing for her as well.
Living in Australia I don’t really have the car association, but I understand that it could be a big deal and kind of weird in ltaly. On the other hand, names like [name]Mercedes[/name] and [name]Portia[/name] (Porche) have been widely used in the US and Australia, so maybe it could be trendy chic to have a baby [name]Clio[/name] in [name]Italy[/name] :lol: . If you’re still looking for other names, here are some ideas. Would she be able to go by her middle name at all?
[name]Clia[/name] (means famous flower which I think it kinda cute)
[name]Clemence[/name]
[name]Clemency[/name]
Clivia
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Clementia[/name]
[name]Chiara[/name]
Spelt [name]Clio[/name], in the UK people would probably think of the car. Spelt [name]Cleo[/name], people would presume her full name was [name]Cleopatra[/name] or similar. [name]Cleo[/name] is absolutely fine in [name]England[/name], I live here and know someone with the name.
I think changing the spelling is the best option, changing her name would be awkward at this stage. The different Italian pronunciation of [name]Cleo[/name] makes this an even better option as people might not even realise.
I have lived in Europe (I am european) and I don’t think there is a negative association with the [name]Renault[/name] [name]Clio[/name] at all. There are loads of names which are part of brand names.
What did you decide to do?
It really seems to be a concern for you, so I can see why you may want to just change it so you don’t ever have to worry, but it would be a shame to see a lovely name like [name]Clio[/name] go.
Also…even though the [name]Clio[/name] is prevalent, do you think its common enough for even little children to associate the name with the automobile? Obviously as she gets older they may start to notice, and maybe I just didn’t know too much about cars growing up, but I can say unless their name was [name]Portia[/name] or [name]Mercedes[/name] I never would have known a classmate had the same name as a car model. Maybe I was just unaware though!
That’s tough… I really like the name [name]Clio[/name] (especially since she was the muse of history) but judging from YPB’s post it seems pretty unusable in Europe. What I would do is use [name]Clio[/name] as a sort of family nickname, and give her an official, maybe Italian name. You could call her [name]Clio[/name] exclusively at home, but in school, or to the general public, she’d be [name]Carolina[/name], or [name]Clementina[/name], or [name]Clara[/name] or whatever. That way you can keep calling her the name you named her, but she’d be free of teasing or judgment by others. And I don’t think six months is too late to change a name, especially if you’d keep calling her [name]Clio[/name]. Good luck! 
I’m English and I live in [name]England[/name]. I have a friend called [name]Clio[/name] and I’d never even thought of her name as a type of car until I saw it mentioned here so I think your daughter would be fine being [name]Clio[/name], people might briefly think of the car, but surely most people would know it’s a name too?
I have to disagree with the poster that said it’s like naming a child [name]Camry[/name] or Altima. [name]Clio[/name] is a legitimate, historical name. When I meet a [name]Mercedes[/name], I don’t assume her parents named her after a car. I don’t think most people will honestly think you named your daughter for a car.
[name]DO[/name] NOT change your daughters name because of some stupid car. This name has been around for how long? and the car for how long? yeah, i thought so. the name wins.
This is not like naming your kid [name]Camry[/name]. [name]Clio[/name] is a real name, an ancient name- and [name]Camry[/name] is a made up name like so many car models have. What if they come out with an [name]Isabella[/name] or [name]Sofia[/name] car (just to make a point!)? You can’t help it that the people over at [name]Renault[/name] saw a cute, spunky name and went with it.
[name]Clio[/name] is such a great name, it’s one of my absolute favorites!!