Jersey Shore SOS: Seeking a sib name for Lorenzo
Snooki, aka Nicole, the diminutive party-girl reality star from MTV’s Jersey Shore, took to her Facebook page to crowd-source baby name ideas from her fans. I have a feeling that the typical Berry isn’t anxiously awaiting the next season of Snooki & JWoww, but that doesn’t mean we won’t help her out with our naming expertise, right?
Her guidelines? “Something Italian, and beautiful.” and it has to pair well with Lorenzo, the surprisingly lovely name that she gave her first child with fiance, Jionni LaValle. What are some Italian names we’d recommend?
Isabella– Since she asked for Italian and beautiful, I had to start with the most obvious choice. A -bella name might be common, but the literal meaning is beauty. I think it sounds great with big brother Lorenzo.
Alessandra– This name has that gorgeously flowy quality that draws people to feminissima Italian names. It has the same vibe as Isabella, but it feels fresh for a little girl of today.
Elena– Italian-American naming traditions involve a lot of honor names. Snooki’s mother is named Helen, so Elena could be a nice way to include a family connection. I think it’s a pretty option for her.
Aria– This name was mentioned by a fan on Snooki’s website and it stood out to me as a great choice. It’s trending right now because of its tie to TV shows Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars, but its operatic connection makes it a great choice for an Italian-American diva.
Gioia– Pronounced Joy-uh, this name feels happy and bright to me. Gioia is like an extended version of Gia, a little bit exotic, but spunky and cute at the same time.
Dante– I really like this name for Lorenzo‘s brother. I think it’s nice to avoid another -o ending, which are so common among Italian boy names. This would set the two brothers’ names apart in a good way, though the no-matching-endings thing may be just my own name neurosis!
Nico– Snooki’s real name is Nicole Polizzi. Sons share names with their fathers all the time, but why not change it up a bit? Nico is fun and cool. If they’re feeling more traditional, Niccolo could always go on the birth certificate.
Angelo– I’ve been wondering since 2012 if this name would climb the charts after Adele used it for her son. I find it handsome and traditional. Maybe Snooki will help it get even more notice.
Matteo– This name feels cool and hip to me. It’s quite popular in Italy, and while it ranks 412 here in the states it isn’t one that I hear often. I think Matteo and Lorenzo are a great pair.
Vito– This lively name doesn’t get a lot of love, but I think it deserves to make a comeback. It has a similar appeal to Milo and Arlo, but it’s as crusty as a good loaf of Italian bread, and that makes it hipster-cool to me.
Which of these names works best with Lorenzo? What would you add to the list of suggestions?