See the results of this poll: Which do you prefer?
Respondents: 25 (This poll is closed)
- Elsa Julia : 14 (56%)
- Ailsa Julia: 11 (44%)
Well, I live in [name]England[/name] where [name]Isla[/name] is already hugely popular. It’s a lovely name, but becoming very overexposed. It’s the new ‘[name]Ava[/name]’ (or ‘[name]Ruby[/name]’ as a UK equivalent).
Of the two I prefer [name]Ailsa[/name]. It has a lovely aesthetic quality as well as a great Celtic vibe. It makes me think of beautiful Scottish lochs and moors. I tend to say [name]Ailsa[/name] slightly differently to [name]Elsa[/name]. It’s more like ‘AYL-sa’.
They are both nice, but I just feel that [name]Ailsa[/name] is the sleeker, chicer version. Whereas [name]Elsa[/name] is the more homely, moldie-oldie version (which in itself is popular). It depends on what style you’re going for mostly.
I actually prefer the name [name]Elsa[/name] usually, only because [name]Ailsa[/name] has a persistant association for me. But I voted for [name]Ailsa[/name] because I think [name]Julia[/name] goes better with [name]Ailsa[/name] than it does with [name]Elsa[/name] and I do think [name]Ailsa[/name] is a pretty name (I too pronounce it AYL-sa). I also agree that [name]Isla[/name] is probably too popular (and doesn’t flow with [name]Julia[/name]).
From your options, I think [name]Eliza[/name] is stunning with [name]Finleigh[/name].
Thanks [name]Elea[/name]! I think part of my concern is that “Ayl-sa” sounds a bit foreign coming off the Canadian tongue. I can say “Ayl-sa” but it is easier for me to say “el-sa” I think we’d have an easier decision if we lived in the UK!
I kinda get el-sa too if I say it quickly, so I wouldn’t get too bothered about the prn part. They are both very similar sound wise. [name]Ailsa[/name] just has the better visual appeal imo 
[name]Ailsa[/name] is lovely, and [name]Julia[/name] is one of my favorite names! [name]Elsa[/name] seems a bit too animal-ish… it’s an okay name otherwise. [name]Ailsa[/name] has more of a modern, sophisticated feel to me. Definitely [name]Ailsa[/name] [name]Julia[/name]!
As tends to be, if I see a poll, I vote first and read later. I preferred [name]Elsa[/name] in the poll but in light of your background and name of your other daughter, I would say [name]Ailsa[/name] seems more fitting. Aside from sound of a name, I definitely can be put off somewhat by how it looks written out and develop slight to major preferences in appearance or spelling. [name]Ailsa[/name] is ok by me, I just prefer the simpler [name]Elsa[/name].
What doesn’t bother me for the most part is a name that, while spelled correctly and legitimately, may pose a slight problem for other people who may spell or say it “wrong” at first, if you have an insistent nature, or who can’t read or remember anything so hard as a five-letter name they may never have seen before. I say EFF 'em. It’s not that hard. Friends she will meet will quickly get used to it, as well as teachers and doctors and future employers and co-workers.
It’s a little offbeat and sort of distinct and individual, but not so poorly off as someone with a yooneek spelling of a normal average name of some impractical length, with twice as many Ls as necessary and perhaps a Y or two where may have been an I, or just to emphasize a non-difficult pronunciation by making it harder to remember how to spell.
People who are unfamiliar with [name]Ailsa[/name] will become familiar with it, so if the unfamiliarity with this variation where you live or the potential to say or spell it wrong is the only barrier toward its preference, it’s not what I would consider that big a deal. I would choose [name]Elsa[/name] if it were my child, but if I were an [name]Ailsa[/name]'s teacher or her friend’s mom, I would consider the variation a non-issue with regards to spelling or pronouncing.
This is a bit of a toughie! Personally I love the name [name]Elsa[/name] so just seeing both names side by side I’d choose it. However, given your daughter’s name and the heritage connection, it seems that [name]Ailsa[/name] is the more appropriate of the two. I do see some potential pronunciation and spelling issues with [name]Ailsa[/name] but I’m not sure they’d sway me entirely: it’s said just like it’s spelled which is really not difificult. Maybe if you say [name]Ailsa[/name] very fast it does sound nearly like [name]Elsa[/name] but to me they are distinct. I guess it’d come down to which I really loved more and could imagine using/having for a lifetime.
[name]Hi[/name] there! I think that [name]Ailsa[/name] works better in terms of its origins, but in you’re in the U.S., a little [name]Ailsa[/name] may encounter pronunciation issues. I think both names are beautiful.
I thought I’d suggest using [name]Ailsa[/name] [name]Julianne[/name]/[name]Elsa[/name] [name]Julianne[/name] to honor your grandmother, [name]Julia[/name], because you weren’t happy about the flow of the name.
Good luck!
I think I’m leaning back towards [name]Elsa[/name]. If that’s how I’m going to say it… I should probably spell it that way too. I think [name]Ailsa[/name] is beautiful… but it sounds affected when I try to say it with my Canuck accent. Maybe I’ll go [name]Elsa[/name] [name]Mary[/name] [name]Lorraine[/name] )(grandmothers)instead of [name]Elsa[/name] [name]Julia[/name] (great-grandmother). I think I’ll keep [name]Isla[/name] and [name]Eliza[/name] on the list too.
Does [name]Elsa[/name] sound too Scandinavian to you?
I voted for [name]Elsa[/name] because of how you want to pronounce it. Visually I prefer [name]Ailsa[/name].
I think that [name]Ilsa[/name], [name]Ilse[/name], [name]Else[/name] is more Scandinavian in appearance then [name]Elsa[/name].
[name]Ailsa[/name] and [name]Elsa[/name] are both beautiful, but I think I’ll have to go with [name]Elsa[/name]. It’s pretty and I love the nickname [name]Ellie[/name]. I’m not sure exactly haw to say [name]Ailsa[/name] and it looks like it would get misspelled as [name]Alisa[/name] fairly often.
I like [name]Isla[/name] better than [name]Ailsa[/name] and [name]Elsa[/name].
I also like Ailise, as it has the I of [name]Isla[/name] and the Lease part is pretty.
It is a Celtic name meaning noble.
I actually like the combo of [name]Jade[/name] Ailise which is probably no help at all but I like [name]Finleigh[/name] and [name]Jade[/name] together.
In regard to [name]Ailsa[/name] I see ‘ail’ meaning not well which I find a bit of a turn off, but on the other hand I see it as a classic name. I can see how accents can make it sound the same as [name]Elsa[/name] though.
[name]Isla[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name] Pretty, and my favourite from your list
[name]Evelyn[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name] Okay but doesn’t give me a buzz
[name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name], Voted out because [name]Finleigh[/name] needs a softer name like [name]Ellen[/name], [name]Elise[/name], [name]Elodie[/name], [name]Eloise[/name] or Ailise.
I have changed my vote for [name]Elsa[/name] now after reading your post.
So in summary
Ailise and [name]Finleigh[/name], not [name]Ailsa[/name]
[name]Alyssa[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name],
[name]Ellen[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name],
[name]Elise[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name],
[name]Eloise[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name],
[name]Elodie[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name],
I also like [name]Lindsay[/name] and [name]Finleigh[/name] very pretty but I just realised that it would be [name]Lin[/name] and [name]Fin[/name], maybe use as a middle name?
please don’t take offense to this, but when I say [name]Ailsa[/name] out loud I just hear a really southern, hillbilly sound. Like someone trying to pronounce [name]Elsa[/name] but throws in their twang and say Ail. I live in [name]Indiana[/name] so maybe it’s just me and my redneck side coming out, but to my ears it doesnt have a very appealing sound. And I hope this explanation doesn’t only make sense to my ears haha. Plus, I actually prefer the more simple spelling of [name]Elsa[/name], I think it looks more feminine and classic.
Thanks everyone!!! At the moment [name]Elsa[/name] has the edge… but [name]Isla[/name] is still on the list.
I voted for [name]Elsa[/name] but I’m biased!
I personally prefer [name]Evelyn[/name] ([name]Evie[/name]) There is just something about this name I have always loved. It is precious and classy and not widely popular these days.