Eva - help me love my name!

Girl Names
1

[name_u]Ever[/name_u] since I was little, I have really hated my name ([name_f]Eva[/name_f]).
Reasons why I strongly dislike my name:

  • It reminds me of [name_f]Eve[/name_f] (the first woman from the Bible) which feels like a really awkward reference.
  • It is often mispronounced as [name_f]Ava[/name_f] or Ev-va (with a short E).
  • It is very similar to [name_f]Ava[/name_f].
  • I hate the sound of the letter V.
  • I can’t picture anyone being named [name_f]Eva[/name_f] except myself, and I don’t think my appearance or personality matches my name.
  • It doesn’t sound pretty to me in any way. It’s too short. I wish my nickname was [name_f]Eva[/name_f], not my full name.

So, maybe you guys can tell me what you like about my name? Any opinions, positive or negative, would be much appreciated actually.

Sorry if this seems like a hopeless case :stuck_out_tongue:

2

I honestly don’t know what to say but I adore the name [name_f]Eva[/name_f]! It is so pretty to me. Strong but feminine, not overly popular, classy, cute all in one. I know a gorgeous, intelligent little girl called [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and am considering [name_f]Eva[/name_f]/[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] for a future daughter. [name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], ridiculously common and boring, I’d trade you any day!

Also I don’t understand people mispronouncing it at all… it’s like mispronouncing [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], who does that?

3

[name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a beautiful name. Sometimes it can be hard to appreciate our own names, they seem so boring and everyday because they are for us. I’m told all the time my name is pretty but I can’t see it. I might as well be named [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. Have you asked your parents why they gave you the name? I know not every parent does this but I chose my children’s names with care because I thought they were wonderful and I wanted to connect saying their name to that loving experience. Maybe hearing your parents say it can help you to appreciate the name.

4

I love [name_f]Eva[/name_f], actually! I’m not sure I adore it–every now and then I consider taking it off my list–but I think it’s so vibrant and full of life (thanks to its meaning!), and the nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f]'s so sweet, and both adorable and spunky at the same time. It’s lush, it’s down to earth, it’s classic–so really, I can see any sort of person with the name. I’ve met enough Evas (who are totally different when it comes to looks and personalities!) that I don’t think it’s that limiting. I met an adorable little girl named [name_f]Eva[/name_f] which is why I have grown to love it so much.

Out of curiosity, why is the Biblical [name_f]Eve[/name_f] an odd reference? Sure, she failed, but the God of the universe loved her and her potential future descendents so much that He had a back up plan already in place for them, even before He created her, because He knew she would fail. It’s a beautiful story of redemption and hope, imo, and the love of an incredible God. I think I probably see it differently from most people, though. I would love having a name that means “life”!

I think we all have issues with our names at some point or another–I had issues with my name for about 20 years before I started to see its merit, and while I quite like it now, I still have some serious misgivings about it (not enough to change my name, though). The thing of the matter is, I am [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]. Much as I’d tried to be [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Lise[/name_f] or [name_f]Lela[/name_f] or anything else that I could contrive from my name, and much as I’ve pretended to be [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] or [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Lydia[/name_f], I’m [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]. I may find it boring, but that’s the only thing I know, and a name doesn’t have to define everything about you. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll really come to appreciate (if not love!) your name. Besides, even if I don’t like the process my parents took (Oh, we like [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]! That’s not too popular, right? What sounds good with [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]? [name_f]Marie[/name_f]? Okay!)–no meaning, no family ties, no ties to anything weighty or important or inspiring (no nature, no music, no literature, no favorite movie character even, just plain old [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]. le sigh.)–at least I know they love my name and chose it with all the love they have for me. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though I support people changing their name if it works for them, I think a lot of people underestimate how truly attached they are to their names, and how hard of an adjustment it would be to be someone else (or something else). Besides, [name_f]Eva[/name_f]'s gorgeous. I’d take [name_f]Eva[/name_f] over [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] just about anyday. :slight_smile:

Good luck!

5

I’ll save myself the typing and just agree with @ashthedreamer!

[name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a gorgeous name!

6

I have the opposite situation: my name is the frilliest name ever and, while I am not tomboy-ish, I am not a femme fatale either. Actually, I like the full form but no one is calling me that, seriously. Sorry, I just needed to complain a bit. :slight_smile:
I like [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. I think it is so much better than [name_f]Eve[/name_f](I am [name_m]Christian[/name_m] so). I suppose it’s not popular so you are a stand-out. It has a great meaning and, if it matters, in Russian iva(ee-vuh) means “willow”. Strong and flexible like a willow. Great, I think.
Maybe you will just invent a nickname that’s not connected with your name? As for me, I like [name_f]Evie[/name_f] but it may be too childish for your taste. And for appearance, I can picture different girls called [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and I am pretty sure it suits you better than you think.
And my advice: find some good characters called [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and bring it about when you think about your name or introduce yourself. It may help!

7

[name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a beautiful name. It has history and feels both sweet and vintage to me. Personally, I don’t see the [name_f]Eve[/name_f] association as bad at all, she’s the same as any other figure in the bible. I see the Evas of the world as passionate, driven, a little bit edgy (or even an old soul) with a vintage flair about them. You’re always going to have times where you name doesn’t seem to fit your or you may not feel like you fit your name. I used to go by [name_f]Emily[/name_f] all the time because [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] didn’t feel “right.” Partly, that was because I’d never been called [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] in my life, I was always [name_u]Jess[/name_u] or [name_u]Jessie[/name_u]. If you feel like [name_f]Eva[/name_f] really is to short maybe you could change your name to a longer form like [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] or [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] (all just ideas of course.) But I would urge you to talk to your parents about why they named you [name_f]Eva[/name_f], no matter what anyone else says, no one names their children things they don’t like intentionally. So it may be important to hear their point of view. I’d also suggest looking into some of the incredible women named [name_f]Eva[/name_f] such as [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Gore[/name_m]-[name_m]Booth[/name_m] famous suffragette, [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_m]Dickson[/name_m] the Swedish explorer and [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Hesse the artist. There are so many incredible women who share your name and you should feel proud of that. I don’t understand how anyone could not know how to pronounce [name_f]Eva[/name_f], it seems so straightforward to me. I understand your dislike for your name, but keep in mind you make the name, you own it, you can be a punk [name_f]Eva[/name_f] or a political woman [name_f]Eva[/name_f] - It really is all up to you what you want to be. :slight_smile:

8

First of all, the meaning of [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is “life,” which is awesome. It also has tradition and authenticity, but still sounds young and appealing enough to name a child. It is decidedly feminine without being too frilly or immature. Because it is not too frilly, it won’t pigeon-hole you. An [name_f]Eva[/name_f] sounds like she could be anyone from a doctor to a queen. You have the benefit of getting to wear your name.

Our own names are weird things. We hear them so much it often feels like they are just there. I think even people with the names that you love feel this way. Names say more about the parents then they do about the child. I’ve read some things written by name experts saying that most people just accept their names, but some people dislike their names just because they are unhappy in general or have low self-esteem. If that is the case, please remember that [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a beautiful name and that having a different, more “unique” name does not make a person more interesting or unique.

I understand the mispronunciation frustration. [name_f]My[/name_f] 16 year old cousin’s name is [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and no one ever pronounces it her way (the eh-va way). But, that being said, many names have that problem, even the names that seem like no-brainers. Example, my name is [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] and I can’t really spell it much more phonetically (I say it caw-leen, with equal stress on both syllables), yet people often call me “cuh-LEEN” or “[name_m]COLE[/name_m]-een.” Lots of people have this problem, but all you can do is correct the people who pronounce it incorrectly.

Finally, I cannot really understand the “v” part, since I love the sound of the letter V. I think the V sound is full of life (which is what your name means, after all). It hums and vibrates in the air and tingles the lips. The V sound reminds me of hummingbirds and violins.

[name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a lovely, elegant name and I hope you can learn to love it!

9

Thanks to everyone who responded! You are all so thoughtful. :slight_smile:

10

And by the way, most of the people who pronounce my name wrong (I pronounce it Ee-va) claim that they “know someone who pronounces it that way.” This confuses me. I know that there are people with my name who pronounce it differently, but I think most of the people who made the above claim are making it up. The most popular pronunciation of [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is Ee-va.

Does this even make sense?
Other reasons that people mispronounce my name are because they are not American (E sometimes makes the A sound in other languages) or because they are more familiar with the name [name_f]Ava[/name_f].

11

I love the name [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and have considered it myself. I don’t automatically think of [name_f]Eve[/name_f] when I hear [name_f]Eva[/name_f], though I also think that [name_f]Eve[/name_f] is very pretty. It is from Hebrew chavah and chayah which means “to breath” and “to live” respectively, which I think is amazing meaning. Honestly, I think of evening, or eve as in the night prior, which is a lovely time, before [name_f]Eve[/name_f] but then I am not religious.

I am very fond of simple yet beautiful names rather than more ornate ones so this really appeals to me. I do know an [name_f]Eva[/name_f] “Eh-vuh” who is polish. I found it odd when I said told my mom that I liked the name [name_f]Ava[/name_f] that she spelt it [name_f]Eva[/name_f] though. Anyway, bottomline is that your name is lovely.

12

I love everything about [name_f]Eva[/name_f]! It’s short, simple, easy to spell and pronounce (I have never heard it pronounced with a short “e”). I actually prefer it over [name_f]Ava[/name_f] (although [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is very pretty).

13

[name_f]Eva[/name_f] is such a gorgeous name!!! So stunning! I WISH my name was [name_f]Eva[/name_f]!

14

I think [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is gorgeous! It fits in the pocket of perfect names. It’s well known, but not overly popular. It fits a child or adult. You can see [name_f]Eva[/name_f] as an actress or a judge. It is sweet, chic, and elegant!

15

In [name_u]America[/name_u] there isn’t a standard pronunciation on many names. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it may seem to you there is only one way it should be pronounced, other people feel just as strongly about their way. It’s best just to let it go. Ask them politely to pronounce it how you’d like it to be pronounced but thinking about it as THE right way isn’t going to help you and it isn’t going to change their mind either. I personally prefer the Eh-va pronunciation, I didn’t even know it was commonly pronounced Ee-va like [name_f]Eve[/name_f] until recently because the only [name_f]Eva[/name_f] I knew of was [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Peron. But I do think that Ee-va is pretty.

16

I know that it’s not anyone’s fault for pronouncing my name wrong, it’s just that ALL my teachers call me Eh-va because there is an older girl at my school who pronounces it that way. sigh

17

I love the name [name_f]Eva[/name_f]! It’s very light and feminine! It’s also a very sweet song by my favorite band, Nightwish.