Not Claudia. Not only is it an unattractive sound, there is no good nickname. I 100% guarantee her friends will call her Claud. It sounds ungraceful.

Julia and Monica are pretty. They seem popular to me but I'm Gen X. Maybe they aren't as popular now?

Someone recommended Amelia. When I went to my son's middle school orientation a girl literally introduced herself as "one of the Amelias". Its a small school with a class size of about 50 so I asked how many there were. Four now, five if "Amelia X comes back". Lol. I think it's probably a popular name.

Anonymous wrote:Yuck on Monica and Claudia, no no no.

Julia is a nice name

LOL "striking and interesting" none of these are that at all.

I understand your concern for your child. Choosing a name that’s simple and easy to spell can really help them in school. It’s important for their confidence and comfort in social situations too.

Monica and Claudia they will be outcasts.

b

Or, OP could choose any of these lovely names and then focus on bringing up a child who will not be rude and provincial like the PP here.

Anonymous wrote:My first thought was Lewinsky.

I like Julia the most, but know that it is not a rare name

Nobody under the age of 50 knows or cares who Monica Lewinsky is

Julia, Claudia, then Monica. All good names.
I love some of the suggestions also.

Good luck OP!!

Julia has that nice Beatles song.

Monica feels very 80’s and 90’s to me. Claudia is ok. Julia is beautiful.

Claudia and Julia are beautiful. Monica is not.

Claudia <3

I have a young Julia. No regrets

Julia is the best of the three. I know a Juliana with an Italian last name. I think it’s a nice variation that is still straightforward to spell and pronounce.

Julia is very pretty

Julia is the best of the three IMO.

Some other Italian-ish names that are less common:


Chiara
Marina
Nina
Marcella
Cecilia
Marchesa
Lia
Paloma

Anonymous wrote:Isabella
Francesca
Cecilia

We don't need any more Isabellas. That name was SO overdone. Time to put Isabella on hiatus for a couple of decades.

Isabella
Francesca
Cecilia

My first thought was Lewinsky.

I like Julia the most, but know that it is not a rare name