Yolanda or Elizabeth?

[Austinite]

Given the choice of these two names, which would you go for?

And if you had to mark both names out of 10 what would you give them?

[NannyR]

Definitely Elizabeth - a timeless, classic name, nice shortenings/nicknames. Personally I don't like Yolanda at all, 0/10.

[daisypond]

They're very different. Yolanda is a very Spanish name. Might be odd if you've got no Spanish connections, although I don't dislike it. I'd go for Elizabeth 100%.

[Heratnumber7]

Elizabeth. It's pretty and has a lot of possible short forms you can use as nicknames.

[YoucancallmeVal]

Yolanda is 46 and works in an office. Lizzie is tall and willowy with flowing hair. For me any way!

[Austinite]

Thanks for the replies. :)

My name is Yolanda and I've never liked it. My middle name is Elizabeth. I've just emigrated to the USA where people pronounce my name as Yo-lond, which is unbearable.

I've been toying with the idea of ditching the Yolanda and doing a switcheroo with my middle name. Honestly, Yolanda is one of the ugliest names I've ever heard, I don't know what my Mum was thinking. Plus, people have been getting my name wrong all my life, you can even see some people glaze over as if to say 'Oh God, I can't be doing with all that'. Over the years I've been called Lolanda, Leander, Alanda, etc etc.

Oh to be free of this name and have a normal name that people can pronounce! Deed Poll here I come!

Thank you for all replies. x

[YoucancallmeVal]

Bugger, sorry OP!!
My parents lumbered me with a hideous name and my middle name is also crap, so am envious of your option!

[PinkbicyclesinBerlin]

If you don’t like your name do it. Elizabeth or Beth or Liz or Eliza are all fab names.

[Austinite]

Quite right, my Mum is from Madrid. Yolanda is a fairly common name in Spain. As you probably know, the letter Y is pronounced as a J in Spain, the correct way to say Yolanda is actually Jolanda. In Holland and Eastern Europe it's Jolanta. Even worse, IMO!

[Austinite]

^ The message above was aimed at the member Daisypond, I thought I was quoting by clicking 'add message'. Evidently it didn't work.

[nooka]

Mumsnet is quite basic (not that that is necessarily a bad thing) OP so you can only add messages to the thread not to particular posts.

I actually quite like Yolanda, I used to work with a Yola (from Eastern Europe) who was lovely. I don't believe that you need a deed poll, I know plenty of people who are known by their second name, there is usually a preferred name option on things like employment applications etc.

[Yika]

I like both names equally - I think Yolanda is really pretty! But just go by your middle name - isn't that what they are for?!

[Austinite]

Thanks, ladies. :)

[gettingtherequickly]

A Yolanda bullied me unmercifully at school, it's an ugly name.
Elizabeth is beautiful and has loads of nicknames, I'd change it in a heartbeat.

[BringMeCoffeePlease]

I really don’t like Yolanda and I love Elizabeth. Why people have struggled to pronounce Yolanda though is beyond me. I would have thought it’s a very easy name to pronounce. Elizabeth is definitely a timeless classic OP.

[chezmk1988]

Definitely Elizabeth

[Joeybee]

They are both such different names.

Elizabeth is very timeless and classic and has lots of versatility with nicknames and such.

Yolanda is more uncommon and of Greek origin (but also commonly used in Spain), so it has a much different feel.

Personally I'd prefer to use Elizabeth because it's classic. However both a good names.

Elizabeth 8/10
Yolanda 7/10

[partyatthepalace]

Elizabeth - 9/10
Amazing classic

Yolanda - 4/10 - it’s not especially beautiful or interesting. I don’t hate it but not keen. I didn’t know it was pronounced Jolanda (I only know a Yolande, and she pronounced it w a Y sound)

So I’d go for Elizabeth Yolanda

[EdgeOfACoin]

I think in the US it is very common to go by a middle name (more so than here). You probably don't even need a Deed Poll.

Just put Y. Elizabeth Doe on any docs and explain that you go by your middle name.

Obviously you can go the Deed Poll route if you want, but it may hurt your mother's feelings (if that matters). Really, I would be surprised if anyone in America would bat an eye if you said you went by Elizabeth.

[NinaMimi]

I wouldn’t have thought people would find it difficult to pronounce. I quite like Yolanda but if you think it would be easier with Elizabeth try it if you want. It may be weird to get used to being called another name.

[TinyCake]

I like Yolanda