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HelpTwo unusual Italian names
I recently came across the names Manrico and Volfgango. WDYT? I don't care much for either. Manrico is apparently a character in a Verdi opera, but I don't care much for the "man" start. Volfgango is a rather unfortunate Italianization of Wolfgang. Neither is common at all.
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I find them both weirdly fascinating.
Manrico just doesn't flow well in English with the short "a". It's kind of dashing with a European pronunciation, with the longer "a" especially with a little roll to the "r" and a very short o at the end.
Volfgango, is kind of menacing and intriguing. Considering that W is pronounced as V in German, it's really not that big a change to add the -o, but it is very cumbersome. Makes me think of someone trying to make Gertrude prettier by turning it into Gertruda, it seems like it would work, but it just doesn't.
Manrico just doesn't flow well in English with the short "a". It's kind of dashing with a European pronunciation, with the longer "a" especially with a little roll to the "r" and a very short o at the end.
Volfgango, is kind of menacing and intriguing. Considering that W is pronounced as V in German, it's really not that big a change to add the -o, but it is very cumbersome. Makes me think of someone trying to make Gertrude prettier by turning it into Gertruda, it seems like it would work, but it just doesn't.
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Quick off-topic question
I don't actually like it, but Volfgango is almost fascinating. I think Wolfgang is already so heavy and awkward as to be unbearable that any kind of twist that makes it longer or more complicated just... wow. Really all I can say is "what a name."
Quick question for you on the subject of Italian names: have you ever heard Rocca used as a female variant of Rocco? My mother had an uncle Rocco whose name was anglicized to Roy (not necessarily accurately, but oh well). He joked that I should be named after him, his suggestion being Royal. :-X My mother and I later hypothesized that he should have recommended Rocca. Is that a name that actually occurs or is that sort of falsely applying the general pattern of feminizing masculine names?
I don't actually like it, but Volfgango is almost fascinating. I think Wolfgang is already so heavy and awkward as to be unbearable that any kind of twist that makes it longer or more complicated just... wow. Really all I can say is "what a name."
Quick question for you on the subject of Italian names: have you ever heard Rocca used as a female variant of Rocco? My mother had an uncle Rocco whose name was anglicized to Roy (not necessarily accurately, but oh well). He joked that I should be named after him, his suggestion being Royal. :-X My mother and I later hypothesized that he should have recommended Rocca. Is that a name that actually occurs or is that sort of falsely applying the general pattern of feminizing masculine names?
This message was edited 4/24/2009, 7:33 PM
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Well, I wouldn't be surprized if Rocca had been used historically, but it's certain not standard and it looks odd since "rocca" means "rock" and is a surname as well.
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Thanks!
There's my curiosity satisfied. :-) I had been wondering about that one. Knowing now that it's a word and a surname clears that up: it's used as a word, just not in the way I was asking about. Thanks!
There's my curiosity satisfied. :-) I had been wondering about that one. Knowing now that it's a word and a surname clears that up: it's used as a word, just not in the way I was asking about. Thanks!
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Plenty of girls' names are generically feminized male names. I wouldn't be surprised if Rocca has been used at some point, but even still who's to stop you from kicking it off! Maybe Roccina or Roccinella ;)
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Ditto on Wolfgang and Volfgango.
I actually knew a Wolfgang when I was in elementary school. The child had the misfortune to also be incredibly heavy - common now is schools, not so common then. :-/
I actually knew a Wolfgang when I was in elementary school. The child had the misfortune to also be incredibly heavy - common now is schools, not so common then. :-/
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I love Manrico. It sounds amazing and I'm into names ending in -ric or -rico. Volfgango makes me laugh. It's like some guy called Wolfgang put on a sombrero, is trying to come off as Mexican and came up with the great code name of Volfgango. LOL.
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Exactly! I was trying to come up with a visual for heavy German names being turned into Italian, French or Spanish variants, but I couldn't think of how to describe it. Yours is perfect. I don't usually laugh out loud, but I did just now.
The namenerd in me loves them all the more for it, though. :-) It's an ugly duckling thing, for me.
The namenerd in me loves them all the more for it, though. :-) It's an ugly duckling thing, for me.
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The name nerd in me likes both names, Manrico a bit more than Volfgango (though Volfgango is really cool). A question: where did you come across these names?
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Manrico - not a fan, I'm bothered by the man-part too and I don't like the sound of -rico. But I think it's usable and would work internationally because the pronunciation is pretty straightforward.
Volfgango - I don't like it. For some reason it makes me think of gangrene.
Volfgango - I don't like it. For some reason it makes me think of gangrene.
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Manrico, I could kind of like,
Volfgango, no. Could be a cartoon character, perhaps.
Volfgango, no. Could be a cartoon character, perhaps.
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