Livana and Marilla

I’ve loved [name_f]Marilla[/name_f] for ages, but it sticks out a little from the other names I like which are all quite traditional and relatively popular.

I’ve just come across [name_f]Livana[/name_f] which I really like too.

I love the look, sound and meanings of both names, and both look familiar but don’t chart here.

  1. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Marilla[/name_f] and [name_f]Livana[/name_f] are the same kind of style?
  2. What other names do you think would work with these?
  3. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think they look ‘made up’?

As nn’s I like [name_f]Milla[/name_f]/ [name_f]Milly[/name_f] and [name_f]Liv[/name_f]/ [name_f]Livvy[/name_f].

Would love to hear your thoughts!!

Thanks :slight_smile:

[name_m]Both[/name_m] are legitimate names so they’re not made-up. I think they are quite lovely for sisters because they share a common origin ([name_f]Marilla[/name_f] is a form of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Livana[/name_f] is form of Lebanah/[name_f]Levana[/name_f] so they’re both Hebrew), they’re both frilly and feminine and relatively rare. Other sibling suggestions are [name_f]Aliza[/name_f], [name_f]Eliora[/name_f], [name_f]Raisa[/name_f], [name_f]Atara[/name_f], [name_f]Dalia[/name_f], [name_f]Ophira[/name_f] and [name_f]Thirza[/name_f].

They definitely have a similar feel to me, sort of Eastern European sounding.

I don’t like [name_f]Marilla[/name_f] at all - the only person I know with the name is an old Polish lady… I’ve never really understood it’s appeal as much as I love [name_f]Mar[/name_f]- names usually. I prefer [name_f]Milla[/name_f] on it’s own. [name_f]Livana[/name_f] is unusual - I’ve never seen it before. I prefer it to [name_f]Livia[/name_f] or Liviana though, and it looks less made up than those do. I still feel fairly mutual about it but I do like [name_f]Liv[/name_f] (I’m an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and always loved nn [name_f]Liv[/name_f]).