We’ve finally narrowed the list down to 3, but hubby and I have reached an impasse. Let us know what you think!
We prefer the MAH-lee-ah pronunciation for [name_f]Malia[/name_f], as opposed to Ma-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ah, but we don’t want our baby to have to deal with mispronunciations all the time. I adore [name_f]Esther[/name_f], but we’ve had a few friends tell us it’s a bit old-lady-ish, and I do feel like there’s been a bit of a boom in popularity for [name_f]Iris[/name_f] recently. So alas, the struggle continues :-?
If anyone has any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them as well! We’re looking for familiar names with a bit of spunk, but preferably uncommon enough that she won’t have to share a name with any of her classmates. Something with a workable nickname would be nice too.
Names we’ve had on the list, and would still be open to using:
[name_f]Talia[/name_f] (Taliya? [name_f]Taliah[/name_f]?)
[name_f]Lara[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Lana[/name_f]
Names we love but couldn’t use for various reasons:
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Harlow[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Taya[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Marnie[/name_f]
[name_u]Luca[/name_u]
[name_u]Jean[/name_u]
My advice: if you’ve already narrowed it down to 3 names you can agree on and like, I wouldn’t add anymore!
My favourites from your list, in order of preference:
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Malia[/name_f] -I’ve known several, all with the prn you prefer
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
I find it interesting that you say you ‘adore [name_f]Esther[/name_f]’. I feel like this might be the one you love the most, if that’s the case, pick [name_f]Esther[/name_f]!
I really like [name_f]Malia[/name_f], but if you want MA-lee–ah rather than Ma-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ah, I think you should go for [name_f]Talia[/name_f] or or [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] ([name_m]Ah[/name_m]-MA-lee-ah) instead because the Ma-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ah pronunciation (at least in the US) is very dominant.
I love [name_f]Esther[/name_f]–I have a friend with a daughter by this name and I confess that my first impression was, “that’s a little old-lady-ish” but now, seeing it on a little girl I don’t feel that way AT ALL. And I think it’s going to loose that old lady feel in the very near future ([name_f]Aster[/name_f] and [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] both feel very contemporary–combine them and you have [name_f]Esther[/name_f]), will keeping its classic charm. This is my favorite, personally!
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]–also very lovely. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] as another potential flower name that also has a lot in common with your preferred pronunciation of [name_f]Malia[/name_f]?
I vote for [name_f]Esther[/name_f]! I agree with the above poster–[name_f]Esther[/name_f] is similar to [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] or [name_f]Iris[/name_f], old-lady-ish but will be cute once it’s on a little girl. I also agree it will be tough to get the pronunciation of [name_f]Malia[/name_f] that you want, and [name_f]Talia[/name_f], [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], or [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] would be better options (I think [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] is very pretty).
[name_f]Esther[/name_f] is [name_f]IMO[/name_f] one of the old lady names that’s about to become fresh again. And the nickname [name_f]Estie[/name_f] is adorable!
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] is also old-ladyish to some, but it is already firmly on the comeback, rising in popularity. Still, your daughter would be one of the first named [name_f]Iris[/name_f] rather than one of the last, and I don’t think [name_f]Iris[/name_f] is ever going to be an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] or [name_f]Emily[/name_f].
I’m in the US, and, because of [name_f]Malia[/name_f] [name_m]Obama[/name_m], the Mah-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-ah pronunciation has firmly taken hold here.
I’m partial to the name [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] as well - what a surprise
I love [name_f]Esther[/name_f]. These “old lady-ish” names have been getting popular lately, but [name_f]Esther[/name_f] is one of those that hasnt blown up yet (which I’m thankful for). I also like the nickname [name_f]Essie[/name_f].
What about using the name [name_f]Amalia[/name_f]?
I dont know about where you live, but here we say ah-mah-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-uh, though I doubt you pronounce it the same way since I live in greece
From your list I really love [name_f]Esther[/name_f]! Not a granny name at all and has the nickname [name_f]Essie[/name_f] which sounds like a cutie!
