Two Names: Convince me of one or the other

Girl Names
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I am debating between two names for our baby girl: [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f].

Please tell me your honest opinions on these two names - the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. What do you associate with these names? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think these names work across all age categories? What would you initially think of someone with one of these names?

Thank you :pray:

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Let me start by saying that they are both beautiful names!!

Personally, I prefer [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. To me, [name_f]Willa[/name_f] feels a little more southern-chic, very down to earth and sweet. She also feels a little more timeless to me, like I could see her better on a girl of any age

[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is also super cute and spunky!! She feels island-y and summery, and definitely seems a bit more youthful to me

Overall, like both a lot, but I would go with Willa!!

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I think they’re both lovely choices! You really can’t go wrong with either one.

They have very different vibes to me – [name_f]Willa[/name_f] feels autumnal and sweet, a little bookish but also cool, and vaguely naturey because of its similarity to [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] feels bold, summery and sunny! It also has a trendier sound – while [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is also very much on-trend, its similarity in sound to names like [name_m]William[/name_m] and [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] makes it feel more classic. I don’t think [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] will necessarily feel outdated in the future or anything like that, but she definitely has that youthful, contemporary feel to her!

I personally slightly prefer [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], a) for her summery aesthetic, and b) because I’ve always liked [name_f]Willow[/name_f] more than [name_f]Willa[/name_f], but like I said, they’re both lovely, and it depends on what kind of name or vibe you like better!

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[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] fits better with modern name trends and will age better IMO. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] sounds more dated to my ears. [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is light and dainty but stands on its own. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] brings to mind sepia tones and old women. Sorry :confused:

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I adore Kaia!! :flamingo::sunny::tulip: It’s fresh and girly and spunky, with the sharp K sound I love. I can picture this name on all ages, from a young girl with crooked pigtails to a suntanned teenager to a professional adult. Additionally, I have never met anyone named [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] (I’m in the southern US), while I seem to be meeting an increasingly large amount of Willa’s these days.
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] is also a gorgeous name, softer and with a more autumnal feel! :maple_leaf::wood::chipmunk: However, when I say this name aloud it almost feels muffled? There are so many soft sounds that I don’t find [name_f]Willa[/name_f] nearly as striking as [name_f]Kaia[/name_f].

Overall, I definitely vote for [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], but either name would be a lovely choice!

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Both of these are gorgeous!

[name_f]Willa[/name_f] → literary, breezy and vintage, with both brightness and cosiness - it’s fun to say, but solid and established too

[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] → bright, international feeling, well-established but fresh, with plenty of kick, spark and life to it.

[name_f]Willa[/name_f] leans more vintage revival and well tested; [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] feels a bit more contemporary and newly popular. Both age well to me (though I’ve never met a [name_f]Willa[/name_f] - but I have encountered a child, teens and a young adult called Kaia) and both feel versatile. [name_f]My[/name_f] personal favourite is [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] - I like the sharp, brighter sounds personally

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[name_f]Willa[/name_f] - she feels vintagey, like she could be [name_f]Laura[/name_f] Ingalls Wilder’s unknown sister. She feels strong and spirited, courageous. She doesn’t back down. I feel like she embodies a lot of my grandparents’ generation, although, admittedly, she’s not really my favorite in general, I find her both harsh and not really dated, but stuck in an older generation? I don’t really find her visually appealing, either, sorry! I’m one of the few berries who doesn’t. There are a few vintage names that I know have caught on but I find them harsh and never really caught the appeal—Amelia is one of them, so is [name_f]Willa[/name_f] for me. I like [name_f]Willow[/name_f] much more myself. As many berries adore her, I think she probably has a lot of merits; I just haven’t been able to connect with them myself.

[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] - as much as I don’t connect with [name_f]Willa[/name_f], I connect that much more with [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]! I ADORE her, she’s so sunny and international, and I love the meanings of both “pure” and “ocean”. It’s an honor name for me. Like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], I love that she feels young but has lots of history (maybe with another spelling? [name_f]Kaja[/name_f] is a longstanding diminutive of [name_f]Katharina[/name_f] in Scandinavia). She’s also a family name that honors my mom, which makes her extra special for me. I find her really hard to pair up… but that is her only drawback for me, I have been in love with [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] for years and years. She’s beautiful and reminds me of spring blooming to life. I haven’t had her on my list for years because I can’t seem to find a combo for her, but I adore her and would be tickled pink to meet a baby [name_f]Kaia[/name_f].

These two names feel so, so different to me, but they’re both lovely names in their own right! I prefer [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] personally but I think you’ll see a lot of love for both around here.

Good luck!

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I prefer [name_f]Willa[/name_f]! I associate it with willow trees and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Cather[/name_f]. I can see a baby and toddler [name_f]Willa[/name_f] for sure, but I can also see [name_f]Willa[/name_f] being called on the roster in high school, or [name_f]Willa[/name_f] at the top of a resume. The name [name_f]Willa[/name_f] makes me picture someone quieter and thoughtful, definitely good in school and kind to animals. The only risk I can think of would be like third grade boys maybe calling her Willy–which really isn’t an issue at all unless you live in britain.

[name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is just not it for me. I’ve never met a nice Kaia/Kaya/Kiya/other spellings. The hard K at the beginning is so much more severe than the sweet W at the start of [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. Then three vowels in a row is just kinda strange on the eyes. I can see it on a middle school or high school girl, but it’s hard to picture as an adult. If I had to describe someone named [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] without meeting them, I would guess that she was either very quiet or very outgoing, but a bit dismissive of the ordinary folk either way.

I don’t mean to be hating on [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] so much. But I think [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is a much better choice!

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Both are solid choices.

[name_f]Kaia[/name_f]-
Positives: I love the sound, it’s very bright with a mild international kind of feel. It’s young and spunky feeling.
Negatives: I feel [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] peaked in my area about 10 years ago along with [name_f]Kayla[/name_f] & [name_f]Kiley[/name_f]. So for me out of the 2, this is the one that feels most dated. It also kind of blends in with some more popular soundong names like [name_f]Maia[/name_f] & [name_m]Kai[/name_m] (which could be a positive or negative) and has less history of usage, which for me makes it feel more trendy and less classic. And if it matters to you [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is currently the more popular of your two choices.

[name_f]Willa[/name_f]-
Positives: sweet sound, very soft and naturey, but also more vintage. It is the less popular of your two choices and does have a strong history of use, making it in my opinion more classic and less trendy.
Negatives: likely to be misheard as the more popular [name_f]Willow[/name_f] and it kind of blends in with the trend of ‘la’ names like [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] etc.

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Between [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] my personal choice would be [name_f]Willa[/name_f].
Both names are not my personal style for the same reason…they both feel sort of unfinished and not as substantial as I like a name to feel. I’d prefer [name_f]Willow[/name_f] over [name_f]Willa[/name_f], for example. However, I find [name_f]Willa[/name_f] to be more classic, memorable, and wearable than [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]. [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] feels more trendy. Modern, and youthful.

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I see Willa as a more timeless and classic name in comparison to Kaia which I see as more modern and youthful

I think they work great as sisters too! But if I had to guess which sister would be older I would think it was Willa

So for that reason I lean slightly more towards Willa

Both are great and I love them equally so at the end of the day go with what feels more right!

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Thank you, all! I asked ChatGPT to summarize the thread:

The original poster is debating between two names for their baby girl: [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]. They seek honest opinions on both names, including associations, suitability across all ages, and initial impressions.

Summary of Replies:

  1. [name_f]Willa[/name_f]:
  • Viewed as timeless, sweet, and versatile across ages.
  • Described as southern-chic, autumnal, vintage, and bookish.
  • Associated with nature (willow trees), a strong and spirited personality.
  • Some find it dated or harsh, while others appreciate its classic feel and solid history.
  • Concerns about it sounding muffled or being confused with the more popular name [name_f]Willow[/name_f].
  1. [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]:
  • Seen as youthful, fresh, and spunky with a summery, island vibe.
  • Described as bright, international, and modern.
  • Viewed as more trendy and contemporary, with a sharp and striking sound.
  • Some express concerns about its longevity and trendiness, while others find it unique and special.
  • Associations with the meanings “pure” and “ocean,” and connections to personal or familial significance.

[name_m]General[/name_m] Sentiments:

  • Both names are generally liked, but opinions vary based on personal associations and preferences.
  • [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is often preferred for its timeless, classic appeal and versatility.
  • [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is favored for its modern, vibrant feel and unique sound.

Overall, both names are appreciated, and the choice depends on the desired vibe and personal connection the parents feel with each name.

I really appreciate all the honest feedback. I laughed a bit at how different opinions can be on the same names.

Thank you to @chelsia for suggesting that they work as sisters! If we have another girl after this one, there is a good chance that she will get whichever name we don’t use this time :sweat_smile:

@All.the.names I hear you on the names not being your personal style. That’s how I feel about long names (typically 6 or more letters). [name_f]My[/name_f] personal style is very short names, but I know not everyone feels the same way!

@LibelluleClaire thanks for the feedback! I actually really like the name [name_m]Kai[/name_m], which is a big reason I love the name [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]. I think it is interesting that [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] peaked where you live 10 years ago. I still have yet to meet a [name_f]Kaia[/name_f]!

@dogs_books thankfully willy should not be a problem in the US! Also I love the profile pic.

@ashthedreamer there are lots of vintage names I don’t like as well, but [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and a couple others are ones that I just love. As for [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], I agree that it is somewhat challenging to give a middle name to, but we will just use a family name regardless of the first name, which makes the choice a lot easier. Thanks for your feedback!

@Greyblue Thanks for the imagery!

@daisydarcy Thanks for the feedback! I have also never met a [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], but it is such a fun name!

@Julie_NameNerd I love the imagery!

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@cms1512 No worries on the harsh [name_f]Willa[/name_f] take. I really was looking for all sorts of feedback :blush:

@tallemaja Thank you! I love the imagery of a bookish [name_f]Willa[/name_f].

@winterlyricalfox Thanks! I agree with the southern-chic take a [name_f]Willa[/name_f], more than the vintage/stuffy vibe some other people associate it with :woman_shrugging:

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