Naya or Nyah?

Girl Names
1

Looking to name our little girl due early 2017. We have a common one syllable last name, so we are looking for a first name that is less common, but that people have heard before.

[name_f]Naya[/name_f] is a name that caught our attention. We’d pronounce it “nye-ah”.

Wondering two things about it:

  1. Is it too unique or confusing given the current popularity of [name_f]Maya[/name_f]?
  2. [name_m]How[/name_m] would you spell it? [name_f]Naya[/name_f]? [name_f]Nyah[/name_f]?

Thanks!

2

  1. I like [name_f]Naya[/name_f] a lot! I think there would be some spelling / pronunciation issues but I think it’s worth it.

  2. I would spell it [name_f]Naya[/name_f]. [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] is an exclamation (see here) that’s pronounced ‘nyah’, like the end of “petunia”.

3

I think [name_f]Naya[/name_f] is gorgeous! While I dont have anything against [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] I think [name_f]Naya[/name_f] would be easier for spelling and pronunciation,

4

[name_f]Naya[/name_f] is beautiful. It does kinda sound like [name_f]Maya[/name_f] with a stuffy nose but there are worse things. I think of your listed spellings [name_f]Naya[/name_f] is the only real option. [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] is a common child’s taunt.

[name_f]Naia[/name_f], like naiads, would be my spelling of choice.

5

  1. I like [name_f]Nyah[/name_f]/[name_f]Naya[/name_f]! It feels almost like a fantasy name, maybe because I first heard it in a fantasy game (on a boy) but I like it for a girl too. Anyway, it was really beautiful and [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] still holds that image for me. I shouldn’t think it’d be confused too much with [name_f]Maya[/name_f], it can be easily corrected.

  2. My immediate assumption when I heard [name_m]Nye[/name_m]-uh, was that it’s spelled [name_f]Naia[/name_f], and I still like the look of that spelling best.

6

[name_f]Naya[/name_f] is a pretty enough name, but I do not like the [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] spelling at all.

7

I would pronounce it [name_m]NYE[/name_m]-uh. I would spell it [name_f]Naya[/name_f] or [name_f]Naia[/name_f] (though I slightly prefer the I-version since it reminds me of “naiad”).

I agree with other posters: [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] looks like “nyah-nyah you can’t catch me.”

8

I really like [name_f]Naya[/name_f]. I don’t think it’s too unique or confusing. The popularity of [name_f]Maya[/name_f] could probably even be helpful in terms of helping people who aren’t familiar with the name with pronunciation.

I like the spellings of [name_f]Naya[/name_f] or [name_f]Naia[/name_f], or even [name_f]Naja[/name_f]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it’s not, “[name_f]Nyah[/name_f]” just looks like an attempt at a creative spelling in my opinion.

9

I like [name_f]Naya[/name_f] but I like [name_f]Naia[/name_f] (or the popular Spanish name [name_f]Naiara[/name_f] [also spelled [name_f]Nayara[/name_f]!]) even more.

10

[name_f]Naya[/name_f] is my favorite, but maybe I am biased, since my cousin is named this, spelled that way. I prefer [name_f]Naya[/name_f] over [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] and the [name_f]Naia[/name_f] suggestion. I don’t think it’s confusing at all.

11

I was trying to figure out a way to explain why I don’t think the [name_f]Nyah[/name_f] spelling is the clearest, easiest spelling, and this describes it perfectly! It just looks like it should be slurred into a sound, and not pronounced clear cut like [name_f]Naya[/name_f]. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if you encounter some spelling or pronunciation issues, I think [name_f]Naya[/name_f] would be a vastly easier for most people to grasp when learning how to spell and say the name.