We’re looking at middle names at the moment for our baby due next month. If it’s a girl, I really want a middle name that starts with A, since both my and my daughter’s mn’s begin with A. [name]Aliza[/name] appeals, it’s Hebrew, means joyful, and fits with our first name choices… but will people just assume it’s a creative or wrong spelling of [name]Eliza[/name]? It is a separate stand alone name, and will it even matter as it would be in the middle spot?
1st question: I don’t think it will matter as a middle name.
2nd question: I am a teacher, and I have taught an [name]Alivia[/name], an [name]Alizabeth[/name], and an [name]Alijah[/name]. So yes, I would imagine it a phonetic/offbeat spelling of “[name]Eliza[/name]” without knowing the context.
[name]Aliza[/name] is cute! Most people wont even know her middle name so i dont think it really matters if a few people think its a creative spelling. If you love it, use it.
I think [name]Aliza[/name] is a pretty choice!
I like [name]Aliza[/name] but I always have to remind myself that it’s pronounced “ah-[name]LEE[/name]-zah” not “ah-LIE-zah”. You may also like other Hebrew names like [name]Aviva[/name], Abira, [name]Adira[/name], [name]Adina[/name], [name]Adriel[/name], [name]Ariel[/name], [name]Afra[/name], [name]Atara[/name], Atira, [name]Ayla[/name], [name]Amira[/name], [name]Ardith[/name], [name]Ayelet[/name], [name]Ashira[/name] and [name]Adah[/name].
Thank you so much for your replies! You know sometimes you just need to be sure there isn’t something you’re missing or overlooking. This helps. 
I have been looking at middle names lately too beginning with A to continue a trend in my husband’s family. I stumbled on [name]Aliza[/name], and I like it with certain names I have picked out. I would also pronounce it like [name]Eliza[/name] and tell people to do the same. I liked it that way before I knew it was Hebrew and stood on its own because it would be similar to my daughters middle name. I also green with pp that everyone won’t know her middle name, and it’s not a big deal. Pronounce it how you want and use it if you like it!
I think people will assume that you’re trying to be “creative” by spelling [name]Eliza[/name] incorrectly. I’m a teacher and I loathe creative spelling. I know it’s a stand alone name but most people won’t think that it is. (I shutter every time I have a [name]Alyvia[/name] or [name]Justyn[/name] because of what I fear the parents will be like.)
For a first name, I would have said no to [name]Aliza[/name]. But, because it would be in the middle name spot, I think it would be perfectly fine. Its a pretty name too!
[name]Aliza[/name] is a common name in Jewish communities, pronounced [name]Ah[/name]-lee-zah. I love it, but if you want it said as [name]Eliza[/name], spell it as [name]Eliza[/name].
I strongly suspect [name]Aliza[/name] predates [name]Eliza[/name], it’s just not as familiar in the US, but I love it, as well as the French version, [name]Alize[/name] (A-[name]Lee[/name]-Zay).