Thoughts on these names?

[Mamabear4180]

Boy-Eneko (means my little one/dear little one)
Girl-Emaya (Normally spelt Amaya)

Both Basque origin. I'm English. I love them but I'm a bit nervous they're ifferent, especially Eneko.

Eneko is normally pronounced En-Ek-ko but I would pronounce it En-neek-ko

[florascotianew]

I really don't want to sound impolite, and perhaps it's just me, but it seems a little disrespectful to take a name from a different culture and ignore the normal native spelling and pronounciation.

Inigo is the English language version of Eneko. Plenty of good precedents, eg architect Inigo Jones.

Amaya is Arabic; Amaia is Basque (it means 'the end'). Amaya is a town in Spain. Again, you can call your baby what you like, but Emeya is not Basque, to the best of my knowledge.

[Mamabear4180]

Thanks. Not keen on Inigo. Emaya is spelt like that with an A, only difference is the first letter.

I don't mind if it's basque or not, was only mentioning in case anyone wondered!

[MikeUniformMike]

How about Yooneek or Yooneeque?

[HeteronormativeHaybales]

'I really don't want to sound impolite, and perhaps it's just me, but it seems a little disrespectful to take a name from a different culture and ignore the normal native spelling and pronounciation.'

This. It also looks a bit - I dunno - not very bright. I know I roll my eyes at the German parents who jump on the Emily bandwagon that's going on in a big way here but spell it 'Emely'.

[Wolfiefan]

If you're not of Basque origin then I wouldn't use a Basque name.
And you can't decide on a name then just decide to change how it's spelt. That's like me calling my child Harry and deciding it's pronounced Kate.

[HettyB]

I don’t mind Amaia/Amaya but I don’t like it spelled Emaya.

I’m not keen on the boys name, sorry.

[bayseyan]

If you’re going to pronounce it that way then I’d just use Niko instead.

I like the girl name, but spelled Amaya.

[Elllicam]

I also like Amaya rather than Emaya. Niko is nice too.

[Mamabear4180]

Thanks. I might rethink Emaya but I don't see the problem with pronouncing Eneko slightly differently. Most people won't know the name anyway? Besides if you listen to a pronounciation it's hard to tell if it's neck or neek because of the accent! It wouldn't bother me if anyone pronounced it the correct way or my way either.

[loobybear]

I agree with PPs. I think it's disrespectful. To be honest I tend to find it weird in general when people use names from other cultures they have no connection with just 'to be different'.

[Wolfiefan]

It might not bother you. But it's not going to be your name is it? Don't saddle a child with an incorrectly spelt or pronounced name.

[CabernetSauvignyoni]

The name Eniko is pronounced either way you are intending to prominence Eneko. It’s a girls name, so that’s going to add confusion too.

[CabernetSauvignyoni]

*pronounced the way

[AdalindSchade]

They are made up names really aren't they? Bit silly to say they are basque when you are changing spelling and pronunciation

[Fannyfannakerpants]

My name is a traditional hebrew name, only pronounced slightly diffrent and spelt completely different. Please don't do it. Every day I have to correct people and I have people, including my fil who never pronounce it properly. I don't correct them any more which upsets my mum, but it's her own fault for giving me such a stupid name.

[Mamabear4180]

To be honest I tend to find it weird in general when people use names from other cultures they have no connection with just 'to be different'.

Not to be different no, I like the meaning of Eneko and Emaya is spelt with an E because the first 3 letters are my late sisters initials and the name May has a lot of meaning to me so maybe don't presume a different name doesn't have any meaning.

[Mamabear4180]

Eneko is also a version of my (male) midwife's name who helped me through my previous 2 pregnancies. He's spanish. So quite a bit of meaning really! I never pick names that don't have personal meaning, all 3 of my older DC have meaningful names.

[MikeUniformMike]

Call them Eneko and Amaya, spelt and pronounced properly. Both nice names and with good reasons for using.

[Mamabear4180]

Thanks for all input. Going to rethink Emaya.

[CakesRUs]

It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it, people will pronounce it how they think it’s spelled, he/she will have to correct them their whole lives (first hand knowledge of this and it’s annoying/embarrassing).

As for where names originate from, it’s like saying you can’t use George, it’s Greek and a thousand other examples.

[Mamabear4180]

According to everything I've read Eneko will be mis pronounced whether I pronounce it right or not! Emaya is more unique but it is a real name too, it's American and there's quite a few in the Asian community too because they love Maya I suppose.

When I say I don't mind how people pronounce it, I mean it doesn't matter because En-EH-ko is the correct way anyway.