[name]Just[/name] curious to hear any thoughts on whether these girl names from my husband’s culture would work in the US? A lot of them have really nice meanings. If not for a first name, what about a middle?
[name]Albina[/name] (fair one)
Besa/Besiana (oath)
[name]Elira[/name] (to be free)
Dafina (laurel tree)
Tefta (queen)
Flutura (butterfly)
Odeta (blue, sea)
Vlora (flower, blossom)
Zamira (good voice)
The only ones that I wouldn’t use would be:
Tefta – something about the sound
Flutura – too much like a “fairy name”
Vlora seems like it might look a little odd…but I like the sound. It sort of reminds me of something Tolkien-ish, as does [name]Elira[/name] (not that this is bad).
I personally like Zamira.
[name]Hope[/name] that helps!
Some of these are lovely. I am actually from the UK rather that the US but I don’t think it’s too big a difference.
I wouldn’t use [name]Albina[/name] (too close to albinio), Tefta or Flutura but I [name]LOVE[/name] Besa, [name]Elia[/name] and Odeta. Gorgeous!
[name]Ellie[/name]
[name]Albina[/name] is too close to albino to me.
My favorite is [name]Elira[/name]!
I don’t think [name]Albina[/name] would work, the the others could. I especially like [name]Elira[/name] and Odeta.
Zamira, [name]Elira[/name] and Odeta are lovely! [name]How[/name] do you pronounce [name]Elira[/name] exactly? I think they would work just fine in the US, you might have to explain the pronounciation to people once but they will get it.
I think Besa/Besiana, [name]Elira[/name], Dafina, Odeta, and Zamira would work.
Dafina is a version of [name]Daphne[/name], so if you want you could name her [name]Daphne[/name] and use Dafina as a pet form, which would be adorable.
I think you’re talking about Albanian names, so here are some more that I think would work well in English…
[name]Vera[/name] “summer”
Merita “meritorious”
[name]Miranda[/name] “adorable” (Mirand” is the Albanian version, which your family could use as a pet form)
Miriana Albanian form of [name]Marianne[/name]
Of course, i would double check, I just got these off random websites…
I just came across Zemirah on Nymbler! Is Zamira a totally different name or is it a variation? I love Besa/Beisana and Odeta.
And Zamira (swoon!) love it!
[name]Albina[/name] (fair one) - too close to [name]Albino[/name]…
Besa/Besiana (oath) - Besa would be easy enough
[name]Elira[/name] (to be free) - could work I think, might have pronunciation issues
Dafina (laurel tree) - middle
Tefta (queen) - middle
Flutura (butterfly) - middle
Odeta (blue, sea) - It’s not too far off of [name]Odette[/name], so I think it could work
Vlora (flower, blossom) - I would go with [name]Flora[/name] instead
Zamira (good voice) - middle
[name]Albina[/name] (fair one) - I could see this working in the US. A names are very popular, and I could see this fitting right in with [name]Arabella[/name], [name]Alice[/name], and [name]Amelia[/name].
Besa/Besiana (oath) - I like this one, too. Besiana is pretty and I could see Besa being a nickname for it.
[name]Elira[/name] (to be free) - I think this one fits as well, it is similar in sound and style to [name]Eliana[/name], though I don’t care for it as much as others on the list.
Dafina (laurel tree) - While this has similarities to [name]Daphne[/name] and [name]Delfine[/name], I just don’t think it quite works. I just this [name]Daffy[/name] Duck. (And I don’t care for [name]Daphne[/name] because of this either…)
Tefta (queen) - I think this one may have too many harsh sounds to fit in this country, but maybe…
Flutura (butterfly) - This one is a definite no for me. It sounds too literally like flutter, which crosses the line into silliness.
Odeta (blue, sea) - I have to say, this one is my favorite of the list. It’s a soft [name]Odette[/name], which I find very glamorous and old world. I love it.
Vlora (flower, blossom) - I kind of like this, like [name]Flora[/name] with a V, but I’m not sure how usable it is. I could see people assuming it was [name]Flora[/name] when it is said.
Zamira (good voice) - This one could definitely work in the US, actually I think I’ve heard this one before if not something very similar. However, I like others on the list a lot more.
Top picks: Odeta, Besiana, [name]Albina[/name]
Middle of the road: [name]Elira[/name], Vlora, Zamira
Not a fit: Dafina, Tefta, Flutura
I think Odeta and [name]Elira[/name] are most useable, then [name]Albina[/name] and Zamira. I love Flutura, but I seem to be the only one, since I know what language these come from.
I knew an [name]Albina[/name] (prn [name]Al[/name]-BEAN-uh) in graduate school. She was a lovely person, and she was from a different country, (IDK where.) I always thought she had a very beautiful name and never once associated it with “albino.” I think [name]Albina[/name] would be a very pretty, refreshing name here in the US.
I think the only names that would have some trouble in the US are [name]Albina[/name] for the reasons others posted above, Tefta and Flutura. Personally I think Zamira is beautiful.
Good [name]Luck[/name]!