Can someone who is not Italian pull off the name Giovanni?

Friends of mine are having a baby, they are white, but they are not Italian, and they want to name him Giovanni. I'm meeting up with them soon, and while I don't want to impugn upon their choices, I just wanted to give them advice and forewarnings. So I'm seeking advice here, what do you think, can he? Will he be ridiculed for it?

Can someone who is not Italian pull off the name Giovanni?
not a good idea I think


it will be difficult to pronounce in school and spell and such.


I have friends who named their son Gian Carlo, and also have nothing to do with Italy,


they spelled it Yan Karlo, so people can say it as it is.


Maybe that would be an alternative for them to write it


YOVANNI. or JOVANNI.





they could go for another Italic name such as


ADRIANO


MARCO


MARIO


LUCA





and those are simpler


good luck
Reply:Well, I was friends with a girl named Giovanna (not Italian), but people called her Jenny. I don't think there will be any problem, but people might assume that he is Italian. No big deal.
Reply:Butt out of what they choose to name their child. Keep your mouth shut.





As to whether or not he'll be ridiculed, only time will tell.
Reply:It is doubtful. He will be asked whether he is Italian from that day forward.
Reply:Yes, people can have names from different heritages and not be part of that heritage. In fact, there was a black girl in my high school with the name "Giovanni", I thought it was cute and fit her well. My name is Native American and I'm not Native American. I don't think the child will be ridiculed, many people have names that have nothing to do with their heritage. For example., "Jasmine" is a Persian name and girls from all races have the name. I think little "Giovanni" will be just fine! :)
Reply:nooo dont name it giovanni name it like carson or something
Reply:ermmm i think its pushing it, its not really a big deal but they should go with a more italian-american name such as Anthony if they want to do that
Reply:I know a black kid with that name. I don't think it's really a big deal anymore. I also know a few people named giovanna or gianna who's great grand parents came here from Italy but I mean come on that was 3 generations ago... they aren't really 'italian' you know?
Reply:I think it's horribly tacky.
Reply:I don't think you have to be Italian to pull that name off...where I live in Alaska, we have a lot of Alaska Natives and there is a gorgeous native girl here who's name is Giovanni (friends and family call her Gio) and she pulls it off just fine!
Reply:Shouldn't matter.


One of my friends (venezuelan/colombian) was named Giovanny.


I just called him Gio.


No big deal.
Reply:He won't be "ridiculed" for it, but it's certainly going to sound weird without an Italian sounding last name to go with it....





I don't care for it without the "appropriate" last name.....
Reply:yeah why not. that's a nice name by the way.
Reply:maybe maybe not
Reply:I think it's fine. I like the name.
Reply:NO !!!!!!!!1
Reply:What are they like/what were they like as children.





As a teacher, I can tell you that if he is cool he'll be fine and his name will be hip. The other kids will like it. (I have a student named Sheldon who is very popular and the kids actually like his name!)





If however he is dorky or a bookworm, or even just a little shy, then I don't think it is wise to give him a unique name.





I imagine that your friends are pretty cool people and would have pulled off the name in their own childhoods, and he'll probably follow in their footsteps, in which case the name will be fine.
Reply:well yes he can always color his hair when he's older.