[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is simply so classic and pretty, [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] is just so sweet and beautiful (and means lily in Swedish).
[name_f]Lilja[/name_f] is pronounced like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-ya. Is [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] pronounced the same way…? It seems like [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] is a bit more common, so I’d probably prefer this spelling. But only if it’s pronounced like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-ya…
What do you prefer? What are your thoughts on this?
I love all of these names as well:P
I’m Norwegian so I don’t want to speak too loudly, but I would assume most native English speakers would pronounce [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] the same. Both have their charms.
I guess if I were picking one, I would look at personal significance ([name_f]Louisa[/name_f] would be a family name for me) and also at how well it fits with other names I love. With the likes of [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], I would definitely pick [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. With [name_f]Fiora[/name_f] and [name_m]Ansel[/name_m], I would go with [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]. With [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] and [name_m]Felix[/name_m] I would think [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] fits best. I think [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] are a little too close to be used in the same sibset.
This is the reason I have all three on my list still, I need a SO to help me narrow down a style. I’m pretty sure my lists for a second child will be a lot shorter than the selection for my firstborn, and I’m content with that. I love too many names
I would prounouce [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-ee-ah With the [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] spelling I would pronouce it like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-jaw. I prefer the [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] spelling especially in the united states [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] could cause some confusion on spelling and pronoucation.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is an ok name not my favorite “L” name, but I know many others love it
My favorite “L” names are
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]/[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
I would prounouce [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-ee-ah With the [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] spelling I would pronouce it like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-jaw. I prefer the [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] spelling especially in the united states [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] could cause some confusion on spelling and pronoucation.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is an ok name not my favorite “L” name, but I know many others love it
My favorite “L” names are
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]/[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
All three names are beautiful! I would pronounce [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] like [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-ee-ah, which is slightly different than your preferred pronunciation for [name_f]Lilja[/name_f]. In think in the United States, most people would have trouble with [name_f]Lilja[/name_f], so [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] might be a better option. [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is my personal favorite, and you wouldn’t have to compromise pronunciation.
I prefer the [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] spelling. Maybe I am an exception, but I know that “ja” means “ya”… and it is traditional and just a bit different. [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] people would pronounce more like “[name_f]Lily[/name_f]-ya” rather that “lil-ya”.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is on my top list right now. I just love it
Thank you for all the lovely and useful responses! My dad’s first language is Swedish, and lilja means lily (the flower) in Swedish. It’s a really popular name in Finland and Iceland, but it’s not really used in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u]…
I’m from Switzerland, but my DH is a [name_u]Brit[/name_u]…
We were actually nearly sure that we’d have a [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or a [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] (wanted to wait until we see the little one to make the final decision), but then I saw [name_f]Lilja[/name_f], and my love to the unfortunately too popular name [name_f]Lily[/name_f] was reignited
It seems like [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] isn’t totally unpronouncable to English speaking people… But maybe name lovers (like so many are on nameberry) have a bit more experience pronounciating names thant the “average [name_m]Joe[/name_m]/[name_f]Jane[/name_f]”.
And seeng as it’s our first child and even my oldest sibbling is still 10 yo younger than I am there are basically no naming restrictions… Except all of our cousins and brothers/sisters/aunts/uncles/my stepsiblings… (who am I kidding, naming is a real minefield. I feel sorry for the younger people in my family [there are just soo many people! DH’s family is very small compared to mine] who will have to consider even more things than we do…) [name_u]Lucky[/name_u] us
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] is my pick - stunning, very underused name!
I’m English and I’d pronounce [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] “[name_f]LIL[/name_f]-ee-uh” and [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] “[name_f]LIL[/name_f]-yah”. So if it’s the latter pronunciation you’re going for, I prefer [name_f]Lilja[/name_f].
I think this is me being crazy. We decided that we’d either have a little [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Miranda[/name_f]. And now I just fell in love with [name_f]Lilja[/name_f]. But urgh…!! Idk, this is driving me crazy.
I was so sure that [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] was perfect. And this morning I was like, [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] it is! And then I decided that it’s either [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Lilja[/name_f], which is weird, because I’ve always loved [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Miranda[/name_f]…? And my DH would be ok with [name_f]Lilja[/name_f]. Which is actually not helping! As weird as it sounds…
I think this is me being crazy. We decided that we’d either have a little [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Miranda[/name_f]. And now I just fell in love with [name_f]Lilja[/name_f]. But urgh…!! Idk, this is driving me crazy.
I was so sure that [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] was perfect. And this morning I was like, [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] it is! And then I decided that it’s either [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Lilja[/name_f], which is weird, because I’ve always loved [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Miranda[/name_f]…? And my DH would be ok with [name_f]Lilja[/name_f]. Which is actually not helping! As weird as it sounds…