We like these girls names...

[eddiethehorse]

DD2 will be arriving soon and we like two names but doubt anyone else will. In fact our first choice has been universally disliked to date. I am interested to hear MN opinions...so here goes:

Artemisia
Omaia

Both work with our surname and DD1 likes them!

Thanks in advance

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

What is your ethnicity? Neither of those would work with (eg) Smith, O'Neil, McTavish or Williams as a surname but if you originate from outside British Isles then they may sound better with a fitting surname.

[eddiethehorse]

We are English but husbands surname is not...

[VinylScratch]

Artemisia is awful.
Omaia is OK, Maia would be better though.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

TBH I think Artemisia sounds too much like amnesia and I've no idea how to pronounce Omaia.
Both sound a bit pretentious to my British/Welsh ear, but I'm common. If you mix in the mind of circle where posh names wouldn't be out of place, go for it.
Neither are my cup of tea though.

[PonderousTortoise]

I quite like Artemisia - although it just makes me think of the plant, which is fairly insignificant looking, but then again so is Ivy and that doesn't put people off. Google also brings up an ancient queen.

Bit hard to shout out in the playground but presumably she'd soon be Art or Arty. Artemis is - imo - a great name, and a bit less of a mouthful.

Not sure about Omaia. It's a nice sound but it doesn't sound quite one thing or another to me.

[Sadik]

I would have thought Artemis = name, whereas Artemisia = plant, named for the goddess. But if you like it, why not.

[SwedishEdith]

Too fussy for me. And a lifetime of spelling them out.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Not at all fond of those. Sorry.

[ginmakesitallok]

Quite like Omaia, how on earth do you pronounce artemisia?? Don't like it at all

[Tiggeryoubastard]

Don't do that to the poor kid.

[OlafLovesAnna]

I like them: I do prefer Artemis though (dd was very nearly Artemis).

People will get used to the name when the baby arrives so if you, dh and dd like the name then just please yourselves.

Out of nosiness what's dd1's name?

[eddiethehorse]

Artemisia is pronounced R T Misia

[rainbowstardrops]

Personally I'm not keen on either but each to their own.
Would either name go with your other dd's name?

[eddiethehorse]

Yes they both would

[Murloc]

Artemesia was a lovely Penhaligons scent, I'm not sure if it's still available though.

As a name it sounds quite 'try hard'. Omaia better, but still sounds made up to my uncultured ears.

[LambsLettuceLuckedOut]

Prefer Artemis

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I like Artemisia except that she'll have a lifetime of telling people how to pronounce and spell it, and it might be abbreviated to Artie which I don't like.

I disagree with previous poster; I think if you have a name like Smith which is incredibly common it is rather nice to have a totally unique first name. You wouldn't have "Amelia is coming too" "which amelia?" "Amelia Smith" "which Amelia Smith?" You would have "Artemisia is coming too" "oh great!"

[JasperDamerel]

I like Artemisia, but she is one of the women in Boccaccio's De Mulieribus Claris, which is my favourite source of girls' names.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_mulieribus_claris

You might like some if the others on the list.

[johnImonlydancing]

Artemisia. Omaia isn't very pretty IMO.

[PurpleDaisies]

I don't like either sorry, but if you do just go with whichever you think is best for your baby. You will never please everyone on here.

[KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth]

How is Artemisia said? Art-em-iss-ee-Ya? (Like, hard ta miss ya?!) or Art-em-ee-sha? Art-em-eezee-uh?

[Wearyheadedlady]

Erm, is this a bit of a joke OP, ?

[BettyBi0]

Omaia?! Are you joking?

[SmugairleRoin]

Artemisia - fussy and incredibly pretentious imo.
Omaia - eh. I mean Maia is popular enough and this is quite similar, but I'm just not sold on it. I do think I'd be expecting it as a name for a child with some heritage other than white British!

[eddiethehorse]

Not a joke, we genuinely like these names. Why is Artemisia pretentious? Great link Jasper!