We have a list of about 3 boys names we [name]LOVE[/name] (so we are all set there) but a list of about 20 girls names we LIKE. [name]Both[/name] hubby and I don’t have “one” that checks off all the boxes although we both have our individual favorites.
I am of Polish heritage so a few of the names I really like either hubby thinks may sound to ethnic or I am afraid they may sound weird to Americans (although in my perception, they are awesome). Two of my rules are that they have to have a Polish equivalent translation (so they tend to be traditional saints nmes) so I can call them sweet terms of endearment in my mother tongue, and also have to have a cool nickname. So I’d love to hear what you think. I would like to think this little girl with be sassy with spice and everything nice, if she takes from my side of the family:)
English (NN) {Polish translation}
[name]Beatrice[/name] ([name]Bea[/name]) {[name]Beata[/name]} [name]Anna[/name] {[name]Annie[/name]} {[name]Ania[/name]} [name]Theadora[/name] ([name]Theo[/name]) {[name]Dosia[/name]} [name]Cecilia[/name] (CiSa) {[name]Cecylia[/name]} [name]Elisabeth[/name] ([name]Libby[/name])(Leisel)([name]Elsa[/name])([name]Bizzy[/name]) {[name]Elzbieta[/name]} [name]Matilda[/name] ([name]Maisy[/name], [name]Molly[/name]){[name]Matylda[/name]} [name]Margaret[/name] (Maise, [name]Molly[/name]) {[name]Malgosia[/name]} [name]Penelope[/name] ([name]Penny[/name]) ([name]Penn[/name]) ([name]Pepper[/name]) {[name]Pola[/name]} [name]Victoria[/name] ([name]Rory[/name]) {Wiktoria} [name]Rose[/name] ([name]Posey[/name]){[name]Rozalia[/name]} [name]Louise[/name]/a ([name]Lulu[/name] or [name]Issa[/name]) {[name]Lucia[/name]} [name]Kinga[/name] - Stands on its own as NN, and Polish name. This has always been a favorite of mine, such a Polish cool girls’ name but am afraid it sounds weird to Americans… [name]Veronica[/name] - ([name]Viv[/name]) ([name]Ronnie[/name]) - {Weronika} I’ve always loved this name too, but not sure of others perceptions of it.
[b][name]Teresa[/name], [name]Terese[/name] /b {[name]Teresa[/name]} [name]Julianne[/name]/a or [name]Julia[/name] ([name]Jules[/name]) {Yulianna} [name]Francesca[/name] ([name]Frankie[/name]) {Franceska, [name]Franka[/name]}
I love your list. You can’t go wrong with many of your options. I particularly like how you are going to use a Polish translation as well. My top three of your list are:
[name]Matilda[/name] ([name]Maisy[/name]) {[name]Matylda[/name]} [name]Matilda[/name] is actually on my list and I hadn’t thought of [name]Maisy[/name] as a nn.
My least favourites are:
[name]Veronica[/name] ([name]Ronnie[/name]) I like nn [name]Viv[/name]
[name]Kinga[/name] (sorry because I know it’s one of your favourites but I’m just not feeling it)
Maybe to help narrow it down think about how the names flows with the last name and also check the meanings. There might be one that starts to shine.
Are you going to use middle name/s. Could I suggest using the Polish translation as a middle:
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Pola[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Ania[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Kinga[/name]
My mother is Polish, and I have always loved Polish names. My name is [name]Catherine[/name], but my grandmother always called me [name]Katarzyna[/name] and the rest of my mom’s side of the family calls me [name]Katya[/name], so I have a soft spot for that name of course.
Also, my sister-in-law just named her daughter Malzena, nn [name]Mila[/name], which is growing on me, but that’s sort of the opposite: Polish name, American nn, but I thought I’d throw it out there.
My vote would be for [name]Kinga[/name] – I love that it’s a Polish name but it’s still easy to pronounce for non-Polish speakers (unlike most of them). It is definitely different, but so are LOTS of names being used today, so she’ll fit right in. Also high on my list would be [name]Francesca[/name]: Great name, great nickname. [name]Love[/name] everything about it. Same with [name]Anna[/name]. This is a favorite of mine, as is [name]Ania[/name], so [name]Anna[/name], nn [name]Ania[/name] is also perfect in my mind. I also [name]LOVE[/name] the nn [name]Dosia[/name] for [name]Theodora[/name] – that really gets you the best of both worlds! I will be following this thread closely because I have always wanted to honor my Polish heritage in my (hopefully) future daughter’s name but have been torn about how to do it. Good luck!
I had to write when I saw this forum topic! My name is [name]Katherine[/name] ([name]Katarzyna[/name] in Polish) and my whole family calls me [name]Kasia[/name].
[name]Love[/name] your name choices! My husband and I are currently TTC, and with me being Polish, I would like my future kids’ names to either have a Polish equivalent or at least be easily pronounced by my Polish family ha!
I love [name]Anna[/name] ([name]Ania[/name]) - know a few Polish-American girls with this name.
[name]Love[/name] [name]Cecilia[/name] - on my own list - would probably use the nickname [name]Cece[/name].
My cousin is pregnant and is going to name her daughter [name]Apolonia[/name] to get to the [name]Pola[/name] nickname!
What boy’s names do you have picked if you don’t mind saying? I’m just curious!
I really love [name]Beata[/name], but don’t think most people in my area would get it. (Which is a shame because it would work so well to honor both my Italian and Polish heritage). I love it with [name]Beatrice[/name]!
Also, have you considered Aniela? It’s like [name]Daniela[/name] without the D. It’s one of the few authentic Polish names that I think would work really well in the U.S. Also, it allows for [name]Anna[/name] and [name]Ania[/name] as nicknames.
Other ones that I like / think work well: [name]Cecilia[/name] / [name]Cecylia[/name] (tse-TSIL-yah), [name]Matilda[/name] / [name]Matylda[/name], [name]Rose[/name] / [name]Rozalia[/name], [name]Veronica[/name] / Weronika
Thanks [name]Milena[/name] [name]Violet[/name], I appreciate your candidness - that is what I wanted! I do love the idea of using the a Polish translation of a name as a middle name, hadn’t really thought about that before. [name]Love[/name] it!
Thanks [name]Katherine[/name], I am [name]Kasia[/name] too! I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Kinga[/name], my husband does too, but we have gotten several sour faces when we’ve brought it up with others. Makes me think it sounds weird to Americans…and don’t want to harm my daughter in any way. I’ll still think about it.
Czesc [name]Kasia[/name]! I am [name]Kasia[/name] too [name]Apolonia[/name] is actually my grandmother’s name and my communion name, which is why I’ve listed [name]Pola[/name] as a nickname for [name]Penelope[/name], to honor her.
As for our boys names here they are in their simplicity:
[name]Henry[/name] (maybe [name]Hank[/name] as nn, although I love just [name]Henry[/name]) {[name]Henryk[/name]}
[name]John[/name] [name]James[/name], after both of fathers ([name]Johnny[/name]) {Jasu}
[name]Lucas[/name] ([name]Luke[/name]) {Lukasz}
[name]Andrew[/name] ([name]Drew[/name]) {Andrzej}
[name]Kinga[/name] sounds spunky and fun in Polish, but I have to say it sounds kind of clunky/chunky when saying it to Americans. I’m trying to hear it both ways being bi-lingual and I’m not sure it has the same positive effect to English speakers… [name]Just[/name] my two cents.
From your list, I like:
[name]Beatrice[/name] (nn [name]Bea[/name])
[name]Theodora[/name] (nn [name]Thea[/name])
[name]Cecilia[/name] (nn [name]Lila[/name])
[name]Margaret[/name] (but only to get to the lovely nn [name]Daisy[/name])
[name]Penelope[/name] (nn [name]Penny[/name], [name]Penn[/name] or [name]Poppy[/name])
[name]Louisa[/name] (nn [name]Lou[/name])
I think you have some really lovely options!
I also know a polish woman named [name]Vera[/name] and I love that name. Could work really well as a nn for [name]Veronica[/name] (which I like, btw)
I always wondered whether to spell it [name]Lucas[/name] or [name]Lukas[/name]? [name]Lucas[/name] is more common, but [name]Lukas[/name] is closer to the Polish Lukasz and more European/international feeling to me.
I am half Polish, so my entire extended family on my mom’s side all have Polish names that they have Anglicized. There is a four year old little cousin who’s name is [name]Christina[/name], spelled the Polish way, [name]Krystyna[/name], which is kind of interesting. I also know a polish girl named [name]Collette[/name], which is an interesting choice. From your list, my favourites are [name]Francesca[/name], [name]Cecilia[/name], [name]Anna[/name], and [name]Elisabeth[/name] (My grandmother’s name is [name]Elzbieta[/name], too )
[name]Grace[/name] [name]Garvey[/name], and especially nickname [name]GiGi[/name] is also super cute! Tough decision with so many great names and nicknames!
[name]Apolonia[/name] is actually my grandmother’s name and my communion name, which is why I’ve listed [name]Pola[/name] as a nickname for [name]Penelope[/name], to honor her.