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Help[Facts] Question
I have a question,
Why some Italian names e.g. Giuliana, Giovanna, Gianna etc... are more popular outside of Italy than Italy?
Is that because of influence?
Why some Italian names e.g. Giuliana, Giovanna, Gianna etc... are more popular outside of Italy than Italy?
Is that because of influence?
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Replies
Because Italian-Americans' idea of Italian by culture is a shallow cartoonish stereotype and their last real connection to Italy was at *least* three generations ago. So of course when they decide they want to use an "Italian name" for their kid, they choose the most archetypal, recognisably Italian (but not *too* Italian or they won't be able to actually pronounce it!) Name that was popular back when their grandparents arrived on Ellis Island.
Meanwhile, *actual* Italians have obviously moved on from those names, just like Americans have moved on from John, Gary, Mary and Barbara. "Giovanni" isn't a sophisticated new exotic moniker- it's your uncle, grandpa and every other annoying angry old asshole. The idea that "The Old Country" is still a real living place that *also* modernises and diversifies never occurs to Americans.
Meanwhile, *actual* Italians have obviously moved on from those names, just like Americans have moved on from John, Gary, Mary and Barbara. "Giovanni" isn't a sophisticated new exotic moniker- it's your uncle, grandpa and every other annoying angry old asshole. The idea that "The Old Country" is still a real living place that *also* modernises and diversifies never occurs to Americans.
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There are many examples of names which originate in one culture which later are exported to other cultures where they become popular, while they are now out of fashion in the country of origin. And it is certainly possible that some particular names may reach higher levels of popularity in the new setting than they ever did in the original one, if they fit in with whatever the present fashions are in the new setting.
There are a great many women's names of French origin (Michelle, Danielle, Nicole, etc.) which have been popular in English-speaking countries when they have fallen out of fashion in France, for example. As a counter-example, Kevin was much more popular in France (being the #1 male baby name there between 1989 and 1994) than it ever did in its native Ireland.
Part of Gianna's recent success in the USA is that it is not pronounced the same in the USA as it is in Italy. The real Italian pronunciation is two syllables, close to how English speakers pronounce the name "Johnna", which in the USA Gianna is more often pronounced in three syllables as
"Gee-AH-nuh", making it a "different but not too different" shift from names like Deonna, Leanna, Brianna, Tiana, etc.
There are a great many women's names of French origin (Michelle, Danielle, Nicole, etc.) which have been popular in English-speaking countries when they have fallen out of fashion in France, for example. As a counter-example, Kevin was much more popular in France (being the #1 male baby name there between 1989 and 1994) than it ever did in its native Ireland.
Part of Gianna's recent success in the USA is that it is not pronounced the same in the USA as it is in Italy. The real Italian pronunciation is two syllables, close to how English speakers pronounce the name "Johnna", which in the USA Gianna is more often pronounced in three syllables as
"Gee-AH-nuh", making it a "different but not too different" shift from names like Deonna, Leanna, Brianna, Tiana, etc.
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