I don’t usually like names that seem very frilly, but I’ve been drawn to [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] lately. I keep seeing it suggested and just today heard it on the television. I know [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f](my preferred spelling) would go better with my girls, but I don’t love it as much.
My top two girl names are [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] and [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]. My other favorites are in my signature.
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]? I went to see the pronunciation from Behindthename and it has vee-vee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nah. I thought it was [name_f]VIV[/name_f]-ee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nah and that was the pronunciation I was using. BabyNameWizard has vi-vee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nə.
Thoughts on Viviana?
Is It Stylistically Too Different With My Top Names?
I think the vee-vee in the name comes from the fact that it is usually used in Spanish-speaking countries. I would naturally say viv-ee-AHN-uh. In English-speaking countries, the name itself strikes me the same as [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] - a princess-y version of a popular name. It does look a bit strange next to [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f].
I’d say viv-ee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nah (or viv-ee-AHN-ah, pretty much the same thing). I don’t think it’s that different stylistically- classic and with a history, but not “core classic” like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. I could see it going with most of the names in your signature, especially in a sibset of three or more. e.g. [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] and [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] is okay, not great. But [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], and [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] would be lovely.
Thank you rlinden and bonfireazalea for your comments.
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] are the two that are absolutely going to happen because they are honor names, so I’m most worried about how [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] clashes stylistically with those two names.
I immediately started pronouncing the way you thought also- viv-ee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nuh.
Yes, it is stylistically different than your 2 must-haves, but will that REALLY change your mind? [name_m]How[/name_m] close are you to having a third daughter though? [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t stress too much if you haven’t even had a first, let alone a second yet.
I’m not stressing. I’m not a fan of really matchy names, but I do want sibling names to complement each other. I think it’d be odd for me to have a one daughter named [name_f]Katarzyna[/name_f] and another named [name_f]Mary[/name_f]/[name_f]Ann[/name_f].
I’d pronounce it like you.
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u] would probably be the more intuitive match, but [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] flows just fine - it’s not a sore thumb at all!
If I had to guess [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]'s siblings I’d probably guess some frilliana names. I really like how [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] and [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] bring out the classical, strong, feminine (womanly, not girly) side of [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]. If I met a family with these names, I’d think it was pretty cool that the parents had a certain style but weren’t so matchy-matchy.
I love [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] (pro. viv-vee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-na) she feels effortless and has this gorgeous exotic stance. She’s elegant and feels so summery. I adore the [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] nickname as well. I think she does work with [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] & [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] in a strange way. She’s a classic but a classic to Hispanic communities and not necessarily Western communities. I think [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] would work better with [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] & [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] as they both have that classic edge. Still she’s very pretty and due to the fact that [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] feels very [name_m]French[/name_m] she works in a multi-cultural cross boundary way. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] classic.
I definitely think [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] looks better visually with [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] more than [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]. I think it might because of the spelling, [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] doesn’t feel the same.
I see what you mean - [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] and [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] both have that Romance Language look. I see [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] as sort of the “bridge” between your more Continental name ([name_f]Viviana[/name_f]) and your more English name ([name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]).
I’m having a hard time finding names that that I like and that also flow with [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]. I tend to favor longer names and the ones I like don’t go well with [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]. They sound too over the top.
I think I’m going to put [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] on the ‘Name I like, but wouldn’t use’ list.
I pronounce it (viv-ee-AHN-uh), and I love it : ) It has a lively energetic feel, and still keeps it’s touch of femininity. I think it goes extremely well with your top names too.
I pronounce it (viv-ee-AHN-uh) as well.
I really like it because my grandmothers name was [name_f]Bibiana[/name_f] and the names are derivatives of each other.
