I just found Idalia, and I love the meaning “behold the sun.”
How would you pronounce it? EE-dahl-ee-uh? EYE-dahl-ee-uh? id-AY-lee-ah?
Perhaps someone better versed in mythology can explain to me the origins of this name… it looks like it’s a name for Aphrodite, and also a place name? Also, how it gets the meaning “behold the sun?”
What do you think of Idalia? Usable? I’m probably overthinking things, but when pronounced “eye-DAH-lee-ah” does it sound too much like “idolatry?”
Thanks 
I would probably say Eye dahl ee ah.
Reminds me of [name_f]Italia[/name_f] and that is very usable as a names so it could work
I say it like ih-DAL-ee-yuh (Like if you were saying [name_f]Italia[/name_f] in an Italian accent with a d rather than a t)
I think it is beautiful and totally usable!! Best of luck 
I would say it ih-DOLL-ee-uh, but any pronunciation similar to that would be expected. I can’t find the “behold the sun” meaning, only that it might be an elaboration of “work, labor” (from the Germanic id). Unrelated, it’s also associated with Idalion, [name_u]Cyprus[/name_u], which is a city, and [name_u]Cyprus[/name_u] is the birthplace of [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f].
I’ve always loved the name and the meaning. It’s a bit out there for my naming style though. I prefer the eye-dahl-ee-uh pronunciation! I don’t imagine it sounded too close to “idolatry” lol. Not sure about number two, but hope this helps! 
I would pronounce it ih-doll-ee-uh, and I don’t love it just because it reminds me of [name_f]Vidalia[/name_f] onions
I almost picked this name for my daughter as an honor to my grandma [name_f]Ida[/name_f] (eye-da) I pronounced it eye-dale-ya but everyone I showed it to pronounced it differently. I went with the way they say the town in [name_u]Colorado[/name_u].
I would pronounce it Ih-DOLL-ee-uh and I knew a girl named [name_f]Adalia[/name_f] so I think it’s totally useable!
The few I’ve met have pronounced it somewhat like ee-DAHL-ee-uh an ih-DOL-yuh
Ee-dahl-ee-uh is how I’ve been pronouncing it
I don’t think it sounds enough like idolatry however it’s pronounced to be worried
[name_f]My[/name_f] instinct is to say Id-ar-lee-uh but eye-duh-lee-uh or ee-duh-lee-uh would feel fairly logical too
ee-DAL-ya
Idalia was an epithet of Aphrodite because her cult was prominent in the city of Idalion. As with many ancient place names, its etymology is uncertain, however, “behold the sun” seems unlikely. “Behold the sun” in Greek would be ιδού τον ήλιο (if Google translate is to be believed) - idoú ton ílio. It bears some superficial resemblance to Idalion (and Idalia), but it’s unlikely to be related, as the city’s name predates Greek settlement - it was recorded as Ed-di-al on the 8th century BCE Sargon Stele, which was written in Assyrian Akkadian, and Akkadian and Ancient Greek are not related. However, Idalia’s use as a name is probably not related to Aphrodite’s epithet. This online dictionary, which I find to be a usually reliable source says its most likely derived from the Germanic idal, meaning “work”, and is thus etymologically related to Ida rather than Aphrodite: Idalia
I like it very much and would seriously consider using it, especially since it appears in the works of Juliusz Słowacki, a Polish Romantic poet who I’m very fond of. Even though it’s almost definitely not etymologically related to the sun, it feels sunny, summery, light, classical, and elegant. I knew one Idalia when I was a scout, whose aspiration was to become the first Saint Idalia. I think she’s a lay sister now. Anyway. That’s neither here or there. eye-DAH-lee-ah does not remind me of idolatry, but it does sound ugly, IMO. It also makes little sens etymologically. The only language Idalia appears to be used in in the modern day is Polish, and the Polish pronunciation (as derived from the Old German) is ee-DAL-ya. In modern Greek, Ἰδαλία would be ee-tha-LEE-a (th as in the, not as in thorn).
[name_f]Idalia[/name_f] is a somewhat common name in the Polish community, pronounced similar to ee-DAHL-ya. I think it’s a beautiful name. I would pronounce it the Polish way; I’ve never encountered the other pronunciations. The “eye” pronunciation seems very Anglicised to me and I don’t love it, personally.
I love [name_f]Idalia[/name_f]! I’ve always pronounced it eye-DAHL-ee-ya and I believe its roots are in the ancient city Idalion (or Idalium) which was the centre for worshipping [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f], hence where that association comes from.
Re the meaning, I’m not 100%. I’ve always heard the sun meaning and assumed a loose connection to [name_m]Helios[/name_m] via the [name_m]Elio[/name_m] sound, but Google is telling me Idalion & [name_f]Idalia[/name_f] are both derived from eîdos which is the Classical Greek for appearance/figure (and where we get words like idol and eidolon from). I’m not 100% sure I trust that though, as the city was first recorded as Ed-di-al so it seems likely to me its etymology predates the Greek language…
i say eye-dal (a like apple)-lee-yuh! kind of like how you’d say vidalia onions but minus the “v”.
I would say ee-DAHL-yah/ee-DAH-lee-yah.
I’m not well versed in mythology at all, so I’m afraid I’m no help on question 2.
[name_f]Idalia[/name_f] is for sure useful, I much prefer [name_f]Adalia[/name_f] and its Hebrew origins myself, plus I’m not a huge fan of the [name_f]Ida[/name_f] family. eye-DAH-lee-ah I don’t think I would’ve connected to idolatry before you said so, but I am not sure I like the connection my brain is going to now. 
Thanks for al the info!!
I pronounced it eye dah lee ah, like the name [name_f]Ida[/name_f] and the name [name_f]Lia[/name_f] / [name_f]Leah[/name_f]. It’s definitely usable! I’ve met so many people with names that are much more confusing/harder to pronounce that [name_f]Idalia[/name_f]