fdrinca Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) I'm leaning toward Anna Teresa for our next baby. Anna is 90%; Teresa is up for debate. Baby would be called "Anna" unless she were caught in mischief :) DH told me the name sounded waaaay too Italian for him. We're not Italian (Northern European with the fair skin and eyes as proof). So, I'm seeking a bunch of irrelevant votes to sway my opinion one way or another. I'd trust the hive mind's opinion over my MIL ;) Edited November 21, 2015 by fdrinca 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Not even at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I would be more likely to assume Catholic - whether Italian, hispanic etc. in origin. 36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Well, there are no absolutes, of course. But if I heard the whole name, it would feel Italian or at least Mediterranean-ish. That said, hearing the whole name doesn't happen that often unless this is the way one normally says it. I did sway away from one naming choice for my kid because, said together, it sounded so very southern. It just sounded too much like a name I'd hear being hollared off the back porch at dinner time. :D so, kept one of the two names and changed the other. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) Neither name sounds Italian to me. Even if it did a bit, what is wrong with that? Edited November 21, 2015 by JFSinIL 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaPagnato Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Teresa sounds Italian to me, or at the very least Latin in origin. Since you're spelling the first name with two n's, it reads very non-Italian. If you said Ana Teresa, then I would say yes. As you have it now, then I said possibly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Like a pp, my first thought was "Catholic" rather than "Italian." Actually, Italian wouldn't have crossed my mind at all. FWIW, I think it's a lovely name. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) I think it's a beautiful name that, if you really like it, you should use. Edited November 21, 2015 by milovany 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) When I hovered my mouse and saw the name Anna Teresa without reading your question, yes I thought Italian. If it matters, my maternal ancestry is Italian. But honestly, I don't think it would sound that way to everyone unless you live in an are where there are still a lot of descendants of Italian immigrants. I voted possibly. Either way, I think it's a lovely name. If we had a girl, one of my possible name choices was Donna Maria. My mother, the one whose family is FBI (Full-Blooded Italian) thought it sounded too Catholic - like a nun's name - but never said it sounded too Italian. :D Dh was neutral on the name, but it wasn't his favorite. Edited November 21, 2015 by Lady Florida 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 It is a beautiful name. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Neither name sounds Italian to me. Even if it did a bit, what is wrong with that? DH grew up in an area with a strong Italian influence. He very much felt like an outsider. I think he's sensitive to it. There wouldn't be anything *wrong* with it. I'm just trying to discern how overly sensitive DH is vs. how it would sound culturally inappropriate. Like a pp, my first thought was "Catholic" rather than "Italian." Actually, Italian wouldn't have crossed my mind at all. FWIW, I think it's a lovely name. Ding! Ding! Ding! Catholic is the goal :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateReignRemix Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Anna is one of my favorite names. When I was a teacher, every student named Anna that I had was delightful, intelligent, hard-working, etc. etc. They made a very good impression on that name for me! Now I would never name a boy Jason because of a couple of difficult students with that name! But you can't go wrong with Anna. Oh, and Anna is also Scandinavian (my Norwegian grandmother) and I think fairly common in Germany too (it's found in dh's family tree). I'm neutral on Teresa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Yep, I think it sounds Catholic, but it sounds like that's okay with you! ;) It's a very pretty name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooksandBoys Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I love the name Anna. I think Anna pairs well with countless names, so if you like Teresa, go for it. When I was 6, I tried to change my name to Teresa. Funny thing because I don't love the name now, but then, it was the height of beauty. I think most names become perfect once the child is named, and I like your choice. It does sound Catholic, but my kids sound like Puritan men, so, obviously, I don't care about those associations. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I thought Catholic but if you want to really scream Catholic you could use Therese instead of Teresa :) I have always wanted to use Therese as a middle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 I was going to agree that i think Catholic more than Italian.....I am not catholic but I would use the name. It is beautiful. Just rolls off the tongue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 OT: When I was young, I had a Cabbage Patch doll that I named Teresa Anne. :D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnwife Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Ding! Ding! Ding! Catholic is the goal :) So you've met your goal! I like it...and I may add it to the list of possibilities for the probably-never-going-to-happen fourth kid around here (assuming, of course, that said child would be a girl). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasperstone Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Yes, it sounds both Catholic and Italian to me. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) I think it is absolutely beautiful. You should totally use it! I don't associate it with an Italian background at all. Edited November 21, 2015 by chocolatechip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Definitely sounds Catholic to me! :) Even if your dh thinks it sounds too Italian for his taste, it isn't something that would be an issue very often, unless you call her "Anna Teresa" and not just Anna. Most people will never know her middle name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Like others have said, my first thought was Catholic rather than Italian. I think it is a beautiful name and would encourage you to go for it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Possibly. Or maybe Hispanic. Or maybe Catholic. I like the name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivingHope Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) Theresa was one of three names we considered for our baby girl. Anna Theresa is sweet to me. Edited November 21, 2015 by LivingHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Catholic, yes. Italian, possibly. But who cares? My DD has a Latin-origin name that ends in "a," and her middle is Anne. Part of why I liked the combination was because it sounds so pretty in Italian, a language I love. We are not Italian even a little bit. Not Catholic either. Then again, three of my boys have Hebrew names. I'm never sure if we sound Jewish, Catholic, or Amish, as all five children's names, plus mine and DH's are fairly common in both Jewish and Amish circles and at least several are in Catholic circles as well (not sure if all seven are actually names of saints or not). I think Anna Teresa is pretty, and especially since you're not likely to use the middle as often, I really wouldn't worry about it. Go with what you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 It sounds a little Mediterranean but it's beautiful and I love it. If you do too, go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 10 years ago we had a neighbor kid named Anna Lisa (not Italian, Hispanic or Catholic.) I've also heard Anna Maria and Anna Nicole but that has a negative celebrity association now in the minds of some people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caclcoca Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 It makes me think Hispanic first with Catholic a close second. I do think it is a lovely name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) Of course, we can all like the name and say it does not sound Italian as much as we like...but it sounds like your hubby does NOT like the name, so move on and find one you both like. Edited November 22, 2015 by JFSinIL 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I would assume Italian, most likely because my mom's cultural heritage is Italian, and both names are common in that family. Of course, we can all like the name and say it does not sound Italian as much as we like...but it sounds like your hubby does NOT like the name, so move on and find one you both like. I agree. The name is lovely, and it shouldn't matter, but IMO, if your DH isn't comfortable with it, keep on looking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I like both names but Anna Theresa sounds too cutesy when put together. Anna Therese? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hah, it sounds like a Catholic name to me, I didn't think of Italian. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I am Catholic and I thought it sounded like a Catholic name. It's beautiful. I love it. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 The Annas I knew were Ukrainian and Hungarian. :) I think it is a beautiful name. Teresa sounds more Latina to me, but since it will be her middle name and not usually spoken, it would not create assumptions either way. What is wrong with sounding Italian, I wonder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Another whose first thought was Catholic, not Italian. Is it because of the repeated -a endings? That gives a bit of an Italian or Spanish feel to the name. Anna T(h)erese - with or without the h, Therese is listed on behindthename.com as Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, among others, so that fits the northern European heritage. Anna has all three of those listed as well as Finnish (and others, obviously). Or maybe Annika T(h)erese/a? Some other suggestions to go with Anna, from nymbler.com: Anna Christine Anna Caroline Anna Charlotte Anna Isabelle With only Anna and Teresa to go on and trying to avoid -a endings, the suggestions are all over the place, but if you put in your other kids' names maybe you can see ideas that are more clearly to your taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Pronounce the name Anna like the Frozen character. Boom, no longer sounds Italian. For some variants on Theresa:http://www.behindthename.com/name/theresa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Pronounce the name Anna like the Frozen character. Boom, no longer sounds Italian. AHN-ah is the Italian pronunciation, though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I think it's a lovely name. I might think Italian/Catholic until I knew otherwise, but so what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 No, but I would wonder if you had a family background of Catholicism. I think it sounds pretty especially if Teresa is pronounced Ter- a -sa not so much as Ter- re -sa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I'm leaning toward Anna Teresa for our next baby. Anna is 90%; Teresa is up for debate. Baby would be called "Anna" unless she were caught in mischief :) DH told me the name sounded waaaay too Italian for him. We're not Italian (Northern European with the fair skin and eyes as proof). So, I'm seeking a bunch of irrelevant votes to sway my opinion one way or another. I'd trust the hive mind's opinion over my MIL ;) Absolutely, but that is because we have 3 Anna Teresas, and about a dozen Anna OR Teresas on the Italian side of the family. That's a good thing, right? :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 How about Annelies? Wouldn't work with Teresa though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I thought Catholic. My dd's name is Mary Helen. Sounds Catholic, too, eh? We're not. But that's fine with me! When I read yours, I pronounced it Ter A sa. Is that how you'd say it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I grew up in a mostly Italian neighborhood and the moment I read "Anna Teresa" I thought "oh, they must be Italian." (Before I read the question) Dh grew up somewhere else and I asked him "what nationality is a baby named Anna Teresa?" and he just looked at me blankly with no guess at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I think Anna Teresa is gorgeous! It wouldn't bother me if someone thought my name was Italian, so even though I think it's a little Italian sounding I still think you should go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 It's a beautiful name. I would not assume your background because it's a familiar name, but if forced to guess, Teresa would make me think Italian or Spanish. As a name it really flows. I think you should go with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 DH grew up in an area with a strong Italian influence. He very much felt like an outsider. I think he's sensitive to it. There wouldn't be anything *wrong* with it. I'm just trying to discern how overly sensitive DH is vs. how it would sound culturally inappropriate. Ding! Ding! Ding! Catholic is the goal :) I already answered and then saw this. If your DH doesn't like it, find another name. What about the French version, like Anne-Marie Therese or Anne Therese? Roseline Therese? Theresa Rose? Anna Theresia (this one is somewhat German, in case your DH is German)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I love the names Anne, Anna, Ann. When I hear or see the name Teresa my first thought is always the first girl I ever met named Teresa from 5th grade. She had blonde hair and brown eyes. I don't think of Catholics and Italians when I hear those names but now that the connection has been made, I say go for it. It is a beautiful name. We had planned to call our youngest daughter by her middle name only. That lasted about a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reign Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I think Catholic. My middle name is Terese. Named after my Great Aunt who was a nun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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