Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.
We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!
Laura writes:
Please, we need your help!
We are looking for a trilingual name for Olivia’s sister.
I am Spanish and my husband Italian. We currently live in the UK and I’m 25 weeks pregnant with our second daughter.
We named our first born Olivia which seemed to fulfill the many requirements we have regarding names criteria. We still love the name although we know is really popular in USA and UK, it’s only starting to rise now in our countries of origin.
We ALWAYS thought we would name the new baby Ágata (like the stone). We thought it was strong and elegant and it seemed perfect with Olivia! However, after reading all the negative comments online I have sadly been a bit put off.
So, here is our criteria list. Really hope you can help:
- It has to be able to be pronounced in Spanish, English, and Italian.
- Not biblical/religious.
- As strong and long as Olivia if possible.
- Not too popular (not too unusual either).
- International vibe (not too easily linked to a specific country).
- With a nice meaning.
Other names we love but cannot use, as have been used by friends already, are Gala, Greta, Heidi, Martina, and Valeria.
Our families strongly dislike Ágata and Greta.
They like Maia, which we like too but think it doesn’t sound as strong as Olivia plus it’s quite popular too!
Maybe Elvia?
Thanks in advance for your help. I just feel a bit confused at the minute and I feel it is important to own a nice name that doesn’t need spelling every time but will still have character.
Please read on for my response, and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
Dear Laura –
Congratulations on your second daughter!
Naming across languages can pose a challenge. Happily, Spanish, Italian, and English are rich with crossover possibilities.
Let’s talk about your favorites first.
First, are you sure you want to give up on Agata?
We often react negatively to unfamiliar names. But I’m guessing the people in your life would warm to it quickly.
Agatha is out of favor at the moment – though I’m a big fan, and keep putting it on my comeback lists.) I know you’re thinking Agata, like the stone, but the similarity to Agatha might explain some of the reaction.
But in general, unusual names take a little more effort. You have to be willing to spell them, and repeat them. It helps to be comfortable when others ask about them, too.
So while I’m not ruling Agata out, let’s move on …
So how ’bout Elvia?
Here’s thing about Elvia … it’s really, really close to Olivia.
They both start with a vowel + an L.
They both end with -via.
If I say them quickly, with some background noise, they sound almost identical.
And, because Elvia is a much less familiar name, I think it will be misheard as Olivia an awful lot. I think that’s a recipe for sibling resentment. Unless, of course, you plan to call her Ellie 99% of the time? But then I think you’d have the same challenge as Maia … it’s not a bad name, but it disappears a little next to the rich sounds of Olivia.
More names that go with Olivia …
Aurora – It’s rising in use in English, and big in Italian. I don’t see it heavily used in Spanish, but it seems to be known. And I do feel like I’ve heard it used in bilingual families. Like Olivia, Aurora is a longer name with a distinctive sound. And the meaning is great: dawn.
Lucia – Lucia and Olivia are a little close in sound, but I don’t think they’re too close. The meaning is perfect – light – and it works across all three languages, with slight differences in pronunciation.
Marina – Is Marina a little dated in Italy? I can’t tell from the data. It seems a little more current in Spain. And it’s certainly a pan-European name, heard across multiple languages. Strictly speaking, it’s probably a form of Marius, from the Roman god Mars. But most people will associated it with marine, and the sea.
Noemi – I’m hearing Noemi – the Spanish and Italian (and French) form of Naomi more and more. And while Naomi remains more familiar in English, this name works every bit as well. The meaning – pleasant – is another plus.
Sofia – I know, I know. Sofia is wildly popular, all over the world. But that’s part of what makes Sofia so travel-ready. It works across multiple languages, plus it has a great meaning: wisdom. If you haven’t minded Olivia sharing her name with other girls, I think Sofia might deserve a second look.
Valentina – Like Valeria, this name comes from the Latin word for strength. So that’s a rock solid meaning. It’s another name that crosses cultural barriers easily, working in English, Spanish, and Italian with very little alteration. And Valentina’s long, dramatic sound is a perfect match with big sister Olivia.
If it’s not obvious, I think Valentina is the perfect match for Olivia. It would recognized through Europe, as well as the English and Spanish-speaking worlds. The meaning is perfect, and the sound is every bit as appealing as Olivia, without being too close to her sister’s name.
But I know our readers will have some other suggestions, so let’s turn it over to the community.
What would you name a sister for Olivia that works in English, Italian, and Spanish?
Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your comments. It is really helpful and I really appreciate it.
There’s some very pretty options you have suggested like Sofia, Valentina, Isabella, Emilia, etc
Is there something a bit quirkier we could consider? Other names we adore but don’t really work are Freya, Juniper or Greta.
Thanks again for your support! X
Freya, Juniper, and Greta are all great! In that vein, maybe you’d consider:
Emerald: so lovely! And a much stronger association to the stone than anything else
Zelda: a personal favorite–strong and historical with that fun z sound
Ruby: short but strong!
Tabitha: I’m not sure how the “th” would play in Italian or Spanish, but a lovely pair in English with Olivia
Odette: Great Swan Lake reference, easy to pronounce and spell, fun alliteration with Olivia
Flora: Classic, reminds me a bit of Freya
Azalea: Long, flowing, floral, and a little different.
Best of luck!
How about “Ginevra” instead of Juniper?
I love Agata and Greta. How about Leonie or Gemma (my second daughters name)?
I really adore Valentina. I think it works beautifully. And Sofia is timeless.
My immediate thought was Silvia too. While the English spelling tends to go with the y, it is completely recognizable and pronounceable with the i. Plus, with Sylvia Plath being one of the more recognizable Silvias, it is definitely a substantial name.
Lastly the other Italian / Spanish / English family we know choose Cecilia. Olivia and Cecilia sound well paired as well.
I think Agata is lovely, it’s just so vintage and underused, let haters be haters! From Abby’s post, I think the suggestion of Valentina sounds perfect for a sister for Olivia too.
Other names:
Rafaela
Oriana
Mileva
Elara
Florence
Imogen (same vibe as Agatha)
Thalia
Estrella/Estelle
Ariadne
Faustine
Arabella
Rosmerta
Odessa
Theodosia
Wow thanks a lot! So many good suggestions here to consider! Really appreciate it X
Isabella is what came to mind for me. It’s popular but beautiful and seems to go well with Olivia.
I know a teenage Agata. I think it works!
Love Silvia and Sofia as previously suggested.
Alma
Francesca
Perla
Thinking of the olive fruit tree, nature and symbols of life, I hear Silvia and Olivia, Hazel and Olivia, Zoe and Olivia.
Congrats on your second baby girl!!
Awwww absolutely love Hazel but wouldn’t work in Spain and Italy. No one in our families would be able to pronounce it! Although I might consider it
aww right like the accent would be charming but I’m sure some family would just use a nickname. Excited for you!
Agata is relatively popular in the Czech Republic, where we currently live (though I’m from the US). I know quite a few little Agata’s (and teenagers too). I really like it! It’s one I would put on our list to consider since we are a bilingual family too. So my first vote would be to keep Agata on the table. Olivia and Agata are lovely together!
We have a Mariel, which works really well in many languages. (As in Mariel Hemingway; Mariel Bay, Cuba). I think it’s strong and lovely (I’m obviously biased!) – it’s recognizable, but not common (though she does get called Muriel from time to time, but most people get it quickly and have no problems with it). She’s a teenager now and loves her name! Mariella would be a beautiful sister for Olivia too!
From Abby’s suggestions, I particularly love Lucia, Aurora, and Valentina!
How about:
Susanna(h)
Esmerelda (a bit fanciful, though Olivia and Esmerelda is beautiful – and Esme could be a great nickname)
Catalina (one of my favorites!)
Milena (I see this a lot in bilingual families)
Adriana
Helena
Honora
Ramona
Nikola
Liliana
Paloma
Rosa
Awww thanks for your lovely comment! What a lovely name Mariel is!
What I worry about with Agata is that, apparently, people seem to link it to the martyr (or to Águeda,Agnes etc) rather than the stone. I think that is a bit much of a religious association for my liking…
Emilia and Valentina were in or original list too.
However, isn’t Emilia too close to Olivia too? What will nicknames be like other than Millie?
Valentina is way too popular in Spain and Italy but still beautiful, a bit like the case with Olivia. But she will be called Vale in Italy and Tina in Spain which I’m not particularly keen on… Any other suggestions? Maybe Valya?
Aurora is really not an option for me, sorry I know it’s becoming well known in the English language but it sounds very dated in Spanish.
Thanks a lot to everyone for their help!!!
We have an Amelia, often called Amelita by her father and Spanish speaking family members. We sometimes call her Ame, pronounced as the first two syllables of Amelita (not like Amy.) People picked up on the nickname quickly. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to realize I don’t really need a nickname for her and usually just use and prefer her full name. No one has ever called her Millie. So don’t let nicknames stop you from using Emilia if that’s the hitch!
Carlotta? Valentina?
Miranda and Emilia first came to mind for me
So many possibilities:
Isabella
Nadia (means Hope)
Rosa
Laura
Matilde (means strong in battle)
Iris (means rainbow)
Elena (means light)
Alexandra (means helper)
Felicia (means happy)
Flora
Rita (means pearl)
And I loved Aurora from Abby’s list.
I love:
Talia
Elise
Paloma
Miranda