What do you think of this name? And which spelling do you prefer? (Where I live, all of these names are pronounced the same- (long “A” as in [name_f]April[/name_f])-duh.) Can we use the nickname “[name_f]Addie[/name_f]?” I would prefer a more formal given name for the nickname “[name_f]Addie[/name_f],” and [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Adele[/name_f], and [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] seem a little stuffy for our taste.
I really like [name_f]Ada[/name_f] (prefer this spelling). I can not see a reason why you couldn’t use [name_f]Addie[/name_f] as a nickname. Personally I would use [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] and then have the options of several nicknames, including [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and [name_f]Addie[/name_f].
I prefer the spelling [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. I would say [name_f]Aida[/name_f] and [name_f]Adah[/name_f] differently. [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is the spelling I would use if you want [name_m]Long[/name_m] A-duh. You could use [name_f]Addie[/name_f], I suppose, but I prefer [name_f]Ada[/name_f] to [name_f]Addie[/name_f]. I [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] and [name_f]Adele[/name_f] are a bit “fancy” sounding, but I don’t think [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] is stuffy. You could always go with something like [name_u]Addison[/name_u] (every [name_f]Addie[/name_f] I know personally is an [name_u]Addison[/name_u]), but it is terribly trendy and NMS at all. My friend has a daughter whose name is [name_f]Adelaine[/name_f] (not sure if it’s a legitimate name or a made up variation on [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] or a smoosh of [name_f]Ada[/name_f]/[name_f]Adele[/name_f]/[name_m]Ad[/name_m]-something and [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], but I’ve never heard it anywhere else) and they call her [name_f]Lainey[/name_f] for short, but [name_f]Addie[/name_f] would definitely work for that.
I would go with [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. It’s the most traditional spelling.
[name_f]Aida[/name_f] is actually a well-used Latina first name that is pronounced very differently than [name_f]Ada[/name_f]: It is EYE-eeeeee-duh. It has three syllables, as opposed to [name_f]Ada[/name_f]'s two syllables. I wouldn’t consider [name_f]Aida[/name_f] unless that is the pronunciation you are going for. Good luck!
I really like [name_f]Aida[/name_f] but here it is pronounced Ayda, that’s why I like it 
I like [name_f]Ada[/name_f], less is more imo. I think [name_f]Addie[/name_f] works as nn if you want.
I prefer the [name_f]Ada[/name_f] spelling but that is probably because I grew up with someone that had that name.
Thanks to all who have responded! We are leaning towards [name_f]Adah[/name_f]… originally we liked [name_f]Ada[/name_f], since it is the simplest form. However we found that [name_f]Adah[/name_f] is the Biblical spelling and feel it balances our very short (four letter) last name. My husband’s name is also four letters. I’m still not sure which way to go for baby girl… [name_f]Ada[/name_f] vs. [name_f]Adah[/name_f]. We have crossed off [name_f]Aida[/name_f] thanks to your input! Any ideas for lengthy middle names to offset the brevity of her first and last names?
All of these are pronounced differently. [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is “ay-duh,” [name_f]Aida[/name_f] is “ah-ee-duh,” and [name_f]Adah[/name_f] is “ah-duh.” I don’t see the point in using any of these as a “formal” name for nickname [name_f]Addie[/name_f]. Why not just name her [name_f]Addie[/name_f]? If you really want the “ay-duh” pronunciation though, use [name_f]Ada[/name_f].
I pronounce the A in [name_f]Ada[/name_f] like the A in apple. My coworker is Adana and [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is her nn. I would pronounce [name_f]Aida[/name_f] and Ayda and A in [name_f]April[/name_f]. You’re always going to get people saying differently. I think [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is the nicest spelling.
I like [name_f]Ada[/name_f] the best of all your options.
My first pick however would be [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f].
I know an [name_f]Aida[/name_f]! Who pronounces it the way you want! She’s a distant relative and all of our relatives disapproved of the name. They also thought it should be A-eee-da like the musical. It seemed like a spin of [name_u]Aiden[/name_u].
As for [name_f]Ada[/name_f] nn [name_f]Addie[/name_f], I think most people will be very confused. If I met a girl calling herself [name_f]Addie[/name_f], and saw her formal name [name_f]Ada[/name_f] or [name_f]Adah[/name_f] I would assume she [name_m]Add[/name_m]-da. I think a lot of people who [name_f]Addie[/name_f] will assume [name_m]Add[/name_m]-dah, and be confused by Ay-da.
Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!
[name_f]Ada[/name_f] is lovely and strong.
[name_f]Aida[/name_f] is the opera, not good associations.
[name_f]Adah[/name_f] sounds heavy and stolid.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like Adeira/[name_f]Adira[/name_f]?
[name_f]Addie[/name_f] is overused b/c of [name_u]Addison[/name_u], but if you like it, that is fine.
Ada, definitely : ) I don’t see why you couldn’t use Addie for a NN, either. But in case you decide against it, Adara or Adrea might work too. As for middles:
Liberty
Eulalia
Valerie
Estella
Lucia
I would use [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. To me, [name_f]Aida[/name_f] is Eye-ee-duh (like the musical) and [name_f]Adah[/name_f] is [name_m]Add[/name_m]-uh. [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is the only one I would assume was Ay-duh.
I had no idea these where pronounced differently. I know an [name_f]Aida[/name_f] and an [name_f]Ada[/name_f], both said AY-dah.
I don’t like the [name_m]AH[/name_m]-dah pn. In the UK the word ‘adder’, like the common type of snake, is pronounced identically. And it sort of reminds me of the phrase ‘abracadabra’. Or the letter phonics that children use when learning to spell - ah, buh, cuh, duh, eh. These might all be UK things, I don’t know.
I agree, why not call her [name_f]Addie[/name_f]? No more nickname-y than [name_f]Maddy[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Katie[/name_f].
[name_f]Aida[/name_f] is pronounced EYE-ee-duh, so it’s not quite the same. Personally, I don’t like the name all that much - I mean, I think it’s nice, but I wouldn’t ever use it. It’s not bad though. I think that you could use [name_f]Addie[/name_f] on its own and not worry about picking out a full name, but it’s whatever.
I’d pronounce [name_f]Adah[/name_f] uh-DAH, which is the Hebrew way. It’s a legitimate/traditional spelling but it’s not said the same as [name_f]Ada[/name_f].
[name_f]Ada[/name_f] I’ve heard Ay-da (long a) in English or more like Odd-uh in Spanish. I think with the long A is what I would get most often here but I kind of prefer the Spanish one. [name_m]Both[/name_m] are nice though.
I have no opinion on pronunciation or anything else about [name_f]Aida[/name_f].
Thanks to all who have responded! It’s so nice to get a variety of perspectives on these names. I especially love [name_f]Liberty[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], and [name_f]Estella[/name_f] from this list of middles. They are going on my list! Thank you so much. 