I am three days over due and STILL undecided about names for girls! My last name is STECCA which is Italian and sounds a little harsh…I am looking for classic softer names. I’d like to use [name]Helena[/name] or [name]Irene[/name] as a middle name to honour my mother but [name]Grace[/name] would be another suitable middle name (even though it is SO popular!)
To start, I would immediately eliminate [name]Elsa[/name] from your list. Try saying [name]Elsa[/name] Stecca out loud three times in a row . . . talk about a tongue twister!
Then, I would eliminate [name]Grace[/name] from the middle name list not only because it is ridiculously popular, but also because at the end of the day, it doesn’t hold a candle to a name that honors your Mom. When your child asks you how you chose her name, it would be nice to be able to say something besides, “well, I just liked it.”
From your list, my favorite by far is [name]Naomi[/name]! It’s just so beautiful and soft! As for the others, I don’t love names that end with an a sound in general with your last name. [name]Lauren[/name] is pretty, but feels a bit dated, and [name]Isabelle[/name] is uber-popular.
I think [name]Naomie[/name] [name]Helena[/name] Stecca is a clear winner!
I think that with your last name, a name ending in a vowel might be more user-friendly.
[name]Lauren[/name] [name]Helena[/name]–leave [name]Lauren[/name] in the 90s. It is going to end up sounding very dated one day, I believe. It means “laurel,” so maybe consider that for the name, or even the vintage [name]Loretta[/name] or the musical-sounding [name]Laurentia[/name].
[name]Elsa[/name] [name]Grace[/name]–[name]Elsa[/name] is a breath of fresh air from all the Elissas (/Alyssas/Elysas/etc.) I know. I would, however, pair it with a longer middle name–my first name is two syllables and my middle is one, and I always have wished that I had a longer, more distinguished middle name. [name]Grazia[/name] and [name]Gratia[/name] are both more melodic forms, or if it’s the meaning you’d like, perhaps try [name]Anna[/name], a name which has been growing on me. [name]Felicity[/name] is another pretty virtue name.
[name]Naomi[/name] [name]Helena[/name]–[name]Naomi[/name] has never been a name I have loved, although this combo flows well enough.
[name]Mariana[/name]–This name just doesn’t make me excited. A step up might be [name]Emiliana[/name].
[name]Leila[/name]/[name]Layla[/name] [name]Irene[/name]–[name]Leila[/name]: stunning, mysterious. [name]Layla[/name]: [name]Kayla[/name] rip-off. Please choose the first.
[name]Isabella[/name] [name]Irene[/name]–[name]Isabella[/name], though undeniably beautiful, is so popular it just makes my head hurt. What do you think about [name]Isadora[/name] or [name]Arabella[/name]?
If I might suggest a combo…
[name]Eleonora[/name] [name]Noemi[/name] [name]Irene[/name] Stecca–[name]Eleonora[/name] (an Italian form of [name]Helen[/name]) and [name]Irene[/name] would both honor your mother, and then [name]Noemi[/name] (the Italian form of [name]Naomi[/name], infinitely prettier in my opinion) would be the counterpart to the somewhat-harsh “N” ending of [name]Irene[/name], without being quite as feminine as [name]Eleonora[/name]. I think it would go beautifully with your last name, giving your daughter ancestry, heritage and style.
Best of luck with the naming!(-:
[name]Myra[/name], time isn’t really running out. My daughter still doesn’t have an officially registered name and she is here! The name we had picked out didn’t suit her once we met her!
[name]Lauren[/name] [name]Helena[/name]- [name]Lauren[/name] is very dated in my opinion. [name]How[/name] about [name]Laurel[/name] or [name]Lorelei[/name]? Maybe [name]Louisa[/name] or [name]Eloise[/name]?
[name]Elsa[/name] [name]Grace[/name]- [name]Elsa[/name] Stecca is a bit hard to say. Mayse [name]Isla[/name] or [name]Lila[/name]?
[name]Naomi[/name] [name]Helena[/name]- I nice choice, flows well with the last name.
[name]Mariana[/name] ?- [name]Mariana[/name] Stecca flows well. Why not [name]Mariana[/name] [name]Irene[/name]?
[name]Leila[/name]/[name]Layla[/name] [name]Irene[/name]- [name]Layla[/name] reminds me of [name]Star[/name] wars and probably always will. [name]How[/name] about [name]Lena[/name] or [name]Lola[/name]?
[name]Isabella[/name] [name]Irene[/name]- [name]Isabella[/name] is SO popular. I personally prefer [name]Isabelle[/name]. [name]How[/name] about [name]Iris[/name], [name]Annabella[/name] or [name]Gabriella[/name]?