Alessia, too close to Alyssa?

[east93]

I've had this feeling for a while now that the name Alessia would be too much of a hassle to have in North America, as people who be constantly mistaking it for Alyssa, or even Alexa/Alexia.

Alessa has been nixed off my list for that reason already, and Alessia seems to be heading that route as well.

I'd like some berry input please.

[ashthedreamer]

How do you say it? Because if you say it the Italian way (ah-LAY-see-ah, from what I understand), I don't think it's liable to be confused with Alyssa at all! I love Alessia. I think the nn Lacey for it is too cute, too. I would definitely keep it!

[east93]

How do you say it? Because if you say it the Italian way (ah-LAY-see-ah, from what I understand), I don't think it's liable to be confused with Alyssa at all! I love Alessia. I think the nn Lacey for it is too cute, too. I would definitely keep it!

I've been saying it Ah-less-ee-uh. *hides* lol

Oooh, nn Lacey is awesome!

[beccalm]

I love the name Alessia - and think I would be pronouncing it quite similarly to you Al-less-ee-ah. Very pretty I can understand why you'd be worried it might be mistaken for Alyssa but think that would be more likely with Alessa - a shame because that's lovely too. Sometimes I wish I'd chosen something like Alessia for our eldest instead of Alyssa BUT then we live in the UK where Alyssa is relatively unknown which I liked...and I suspect that Alessia would also get mispronounced here as Alicia (which we pronounce Al-liss-see-ah)

[thuja]

I live in the northeast and have friends with a 5-yr-old named Alessio--he isn't having any problems......I'd go with Alessia--it's great.

[ebonyeden]

The correct Italian way is pronunciation is uh-less-ee-uh. I think that Alessia and Alyssa are both lovely! I think that the -ia ending of Alessia will prevent it getting pronounced the same as Alyssa, but it may be pronounced uh-liss-ee-uh.

On a side note: Wow, it's weird to think that over in the UK Alicia is pronounced al-liss-see-ah where, here in Australia it's pronounced uh-leesh-uh!

[heimarmene]

I don't think many people will mix up Alyssa/Alessia - there's the y/e middles, and of course the a/ia endings. Most people will probably say it a-less-ee-ah, though. Alessa is more likely to be mixed up; it lacks the distinctive 'ia' ending

[dandelion_wine]

I think the ending saves it from being confused with Alyssa (unlike Alessa). I think it's very pretty and feminine.

If you were too worried, you could go with Alessandra or Alessandria nn Alessia

[arianabelinda]

Some people will confuse it, but most won't. I like it.