Maya or Caitlin?

[Wibloo]

We are day 14 post-baby (DD2) and struggling to make a choice, although we have narrowed down a lot! Not helped by DD1 having opinions...

What do people think of:
Maya Elizabeth
Caitlin Elizabeth

Surname is 2-syllable traditional English, starting with S.

Maya - should be pronounced to rhyme with fire? That's how I like it. But would people call her May-er?

Is Caitlin pretentious if we are not Irish? We were also thinking of Catherine/Kathryn or something else that could be shortened to Katie. Concerned that there may be a rash of Catherines post- royal wedding, and also think that the rhythm of 2 syllable first name fits better.

Are there any famous/notorious Mayas or Caitlins I should know about? Not up to date with anything celebrity or soap opera related!

Thanks

[Meteorite]

I like Maya Elizabeth. How about Katrina Elizabeth?

[evamummy]

Both lovely.

[Nelleh]

My daughter is 16 (Irish roots) and loves her name - but most people think we are Dylan Thomas fans! So not pretentious. Both lovely names! Good Luck!

[Nelleh]

Oops - DD called Caitlin! Sometimes shortened to Cait!

[forgetmenots]

Both lovely, but I'd go with Maya I think. (or Maia)

[minipie]

Both nice, I marginally prefer Maya/Maia.

I think Maya would be more likely to be said May-er, whereas Maia is more likely to be said My-er.

[Ephiny]

I like Caitlin, but weirdly I struggle to pronounce the t followed by the l, not sure if that's just me! So end up saying it more like Kaylin. Or is that how it's supposed to be said?

Don't think it's pretentious at all though.

Maya is very pretty too.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Maya. (no reason, just prefer it )

[Kirstle]

I think if you want Maya said My-er, you need to spell it Maia or Mya. I think most people would assume that Maya was May-er. Both are gorgeous names. I also like Milla for a girl.
Good luck with new DD :)

[Wibloo]

Ah, just checked Danish thread and realise that it's supposed to be spelled Maja...

[Ephiny]

I think you might get even more wrong pronunciations with Maja though...

Personally I'd assume Maya was pronounced like 'Mya', can see there could be some ambiguity though. I do think Maya looks nicer as a spelling than Maia or Mya.

[andthisisme]

I like Caitlin best...just to be different

I would have picked it for DD if DP had agreed. It's pretty, feminine without being too girlish and will also suit a grown up - something a lot of people fail to consider imo.

Do the Judge/Dr test and shouting it across the park test.

Congratulations

[talkingnonsense]

Ate you saying Kate lyn, or the Irish pronunciation, which I gather is more like catleen.

[Crumbletopping]

I would worry about the pronunciation of Maya, although it's lovely.
Caitlin would be my preference, it's beautiful.

[MerryMagdalene]

Caitlin in Ireland is pronounced sort of like Catchleen or Cotchleen. The Americans changed it to Kate-Lynn

Maya (to rhyme with fire) is lovely.

[birdofthenorth]

Caitlin Elizabeth. That's a really gorgeous name. No problem with an English couple using Caitlin, it's known, pronounceable, sweet & classy

[HardCheese]

Maya. Or this will turn into another thread about Irish pronunciations. For the record, agreeing with MerryMagdalene that for Irish people, 'Caitlín' (note the fada on the second letter i) is pronounced Kathleen or Catchleen, depending on region. The 'Kate-Lynn' pronunciation is a recent Irish-American invention.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Assuming you have no intention of pronouncing Caitlin properly then stick to Maya.

[Toothfairy8]

If you are pronouncing Maya as "Mire" it means a boggy swampy area of ground, as in quagmire. Although I don't know how many people would realise that. I would think Maya was pronounced as in mayonnaise if I saw it written down.

Caitlin's a lovely name and would be pronounced Cait-Lin here. I've met a few teenage Catlins and they're mostly absolute model teenagers!

Good luck.

[NadiaWadia]

The only Mayas I have ever met have pronounced it rhyme with 'fire'. Its a lovely name, international and multi-cultural as well! (I mean it can be an Indian name, European as well, there's the American writer Maya Angelou, then there's the Maya civilisation of ancient South American, too (or was it Mexico?)

Caitlin is lovely too, but I have to admit I prefer the 'kate-lyn' pronounciation to the 'proper' Irish one (and I think more people would) so if authenticity bothers you, another reason to go for Maya!

[HardCheese]

Or call the baby 'Katelyn' with that spelling...? That way Irish people or people clued-in to Irish culture won't call your daughter Cathleen or Coytchleen.

[brodanbell]

maybe it's just me, but my instinct is to pronounce Maya as in fire. I think it's pretty - prettier than Caitlin, and so I would go with that and put up with having to correct it sometimes. I don't think it is fair to assume that everyone will get it wrong.

[maybunny]

I love Maya but think unless spelt Maia would be pronounced may-a so might be forever correcting people on it!

[Ephiny]

I think Catelyn is a nice spelling, but still ambiguous pronunciation, people might pronounce Kat-uh-lynn rather than Kate-lynn. Maybe Katelyn is better (though doesn't look as nice) because people would recognise the 'Kate' part, but still might be the same problem.

There are lots of names that have the potential for mispronunciation though, wouldn't let it put you off a name you really love.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

Much prefer Caitlin