We love Emilia but...

[lurcherlover]

...if we call DD that, are we condemning her to a life of people mishearing her name and thinking it's Amelia? At the moment it's the only thing putting us off the name. I think they're so similar-sounding, and Amelia is more popular so people will naturally assume that's her name when they first hear it. What do you think? Will this be an issue? I may be being over-sensitive as I have a name myself which has two different but equally-used spellings, so I have had a lifetime of people getting it wrong 50% of the time unless I make a point of spelling it out...whereas I guess it's not a problem that the Charlottes of this world encounter!

[Shr0edinger]

Yes, if I heard Emilia I'd think I'd heard Amelia, unless you really stressed the Eh, and then I'd think you were too precious about your child's name.

[Bigbangevolution]

I have an Emilia. I love the name... But when we named her I had no idea Amelia was so popular. I too worry that she will spend her life correcting people and I have to say I spend a lot of time correcting people now. Even people who know she's called Emilia spell it wrong. The automatic assumption is Amelia. Even though Amelia doesn't seem v popular where I am. I don't know any.

With hindsight I might not have picked Emilia for the same reasons as you but then again I might have because we do really love her name.

That's probably no help to you!

[pinkyredrose]

If you pronounce it properly it doesn't sound like Amelia. It's a very beautiful name.

I realy don't think it'll be an issue, ie. I've never heard the actress Emilia Fox pronounced Amelia Fox.

Congrats on your baby girl

[Bigbangevolution]

I'd love to agree with you pinky but I pronounce my DD's name very properly-I'm cursed with a very proper accent but people still pick up Amelia.

[lurcherlover]

pinky, how would you pronounce it? My instinct is to go for a sort of "eh-milia" which can sound like Amelia, rather than "ee-milia" which I guess would make it more obvious. We would probably use Milly for a nn which could be Emilia or Amelia, so doesn't help us (can't use Emmy as that's too similar to Eddie which is ds' nickname!)

[pensarefriends]

I knew an Emilia and she liked it to be pronounced Eh-mill-ee-ah. When you say it like that it doesn't sound like Amelia...

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I think Emilia is eh-milia and Amelia is uh-melia.

Only fractionally different, but different.

[cityangel]

you're right it will get mispellt - but if you like it go for it - very popular right now (both spellings)

[pinkyredrose]

I'd pronounce it Eh-mill-ee-ah

[BoyMeetsWorld]

This was on my top list, but discounted for precisely this reason. Shame - it's beautiful

[wiltingfast]

I agree with sgr0edinger, I had a similar issue with my own name and it really annoyed me. If you didn't pronounce it carefully, people heard the wrong version, if you emphasised it, they thought you were precious, it annoyed me so much I eventually shortened it which solved the problem but I regret it a bit occasionally. It was IS a lovely name! The name I go by now is more common and ordinary. O well.

[Haylebop12]

I have an Amelia. I often get asked if it's a or e.

You may be forever saying "it's emilia with an e"

I have a similar issue with my surname but just always say for example "it's cook with an e"

Iyswim!

[WinkyWinkola]

Emilia. So pretty. Go for it.

[lurcherlover]

Thanks everyone. Varied opinions then! I'm so torn. Second choice is Abigail, nn Abby, which I really like but maybe not quite as much as Emilia. But it's not going to be constantly misheard so maybe it's a safer bet. Any opinions?

[LeslieWink1e]

I prefer Gail to Abby to be honest. It's a nicer sound. Bet that's unfashionable though!

[LeslieWink1e]

Sounds like an enema