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Baby girl name help

39 replies

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 14:54

Apologies, this is not really a YABU topic but I post it here for traffic and for gathering more opinions!

So, due DC2 in a couple of months and we are stuck between 2 names.

Evelina or Evita?

What do you think? Let me also throw in the equation that older sister has a tri-syllable -ina name! Think of Marina for example. I am not sure if this should affect the decision and put you off for Evelina as they won’t stay little forever and they won’t be glued one to the other, they may end up living in different countries but I thought to mention it.

Anyway, any help would really welcome.

-YABU: Go for Evelina
-YANBU: Go for Evita

OP posts:
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Skerrida · 26/09/2025 21:45

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 20:17

How would an Italian pronounced Eva (Eh-va) go in the Uk?

Or will it be Eh-va at home and Ee-va at school?

Dont get me wrong but I can’t call her Ee-va!

It’s sad that Evita is Eh and Eva is Ee here!

This is the only reason I thought of Evita.

I’ve been to Evelina hospital, my DD1 had a tongue tie release there, no dramatic associations for me.

I loved the post above about the Elizabeth line and name Elizabeth! Brilliant!

I think not everyone will assume "Eeva" pronunciation for Eva. My husband's default pronunciation of it is Ava. However given "Eeva" is probably the most common one, I'd steer clear of Eva if you hate that. You can control it a bit when they are young, but she might grow into a child or teen who doesn't correct people and ends up being "Eeva" all day at school.

Maybe not to your taste but I have also seen Ever as as a girl's name.

Bushmillsbabe · 26/09/2025 20:31

Elena would be a great option, I have friend Elena who is Italian

BeaRightThere · 26/09/2025 20:30

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 20:17

How would an Italian pronounced Eva (Eh-va) go in the Uk?

Or will it be Eh-va at home and Ee-va at school?

Dont get me wrong but I can’t call her Ee-va!

It’s sad that Evita is Eh and Eva is Ee here!

This is the only reason I thought of Evita.

I’ve been to Evelina hospital, my DD1 had a tongue tie release there, no dramatic associations for me.

I loved the post above about the Elizabeth line and name Elizabeth! Brilliant!

What about Ava? It's the pronunciation you want although not the spelling.

B1anche · 26/09/2025 20:26

Evelina might not have negative associations for you, but it will for people whose children have died there. The staff at the Evelina saved my child's life, so to me it's a very positive association, but I still think it would be weird to name a child that.

Aethelredtheunsteady · 26/09/2025 20:25

I wouldn’t worry too much about the hospital connection. I wouldn’t say it’s especially well known outside of London (it’s not like you’re naming her Great Ormond Street). Plus it’s a name in its own right - long before the hospital was named after an Evelina.

Evita is very associated with Eva Peron though, I’m struggling to think of it as a name in any other context as it was her nickname. Way more people would be aware of Evita/Eva Peron/Don’t cry for me Argentina etc than the Evelina hospital. Plus the musical doesn’t portray her in a particularly good light (and the real Evita had a very sad end).

Vita is nice though? Elena? Evangeline, Evelia, Elisa? Elvira? Evanna?

Plastictreees · 26/09/2025 20:20

I do think Eva would be pronounced Ee-va, there would be a lot of having to correct this if you wanted a different pronunciation.

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 20:17

How would an Italian pronounced Eva (Eh-va) go in the Uk?

Or will it be Eh-va at home and Ee-va at school?

Dont get me wrong but I can’t call her Ee-va!

It’s sad that Evita is Eh and Eva is Ee here!

This is the only reason I thought of Evita.

I’ve been to Evelina hospital, my DD1 had a tongue tie release there, no dramatic associations for me.

I loved the post above about the Elizabeth line and name Elizabeth! Brilliant!

OP posts:
SeaUrchinEgg · 26/09/2025 20:17

I wouldn’t think your daughter was the hospital, don’t be silly. But for many people it’s the only time we’ve heard the name. I’m grateful to the Evelina but I wish I didn’t have to be. Try not to be flippant about the place of last resort for many of us

KnickerlessParsons · 26/09/2025 20:03

Evita is a dimuative for Eva. As in Eva Peron/Evita. So I’d avoid that.

Summerbay23 · 26/09/2025 20:01

Summerbay23 · 26/09/2025 20:00

Can you call her Ava, which I think is pretty for a child and adult?

Or Avaline if you want a longer version?

Summerbay23 · 26/09/2025 20:00

Can you call her Ava, which I think is pretty for a child and adult?

JustMyView13 · 26/09/2025 19:53

Favouritefruits · 26/09/2025 19:00

As soon as I read Evita, I sang ‘don’t cry for me Argentina’ you cant do that to a poor child!

Edited

See, my eyes done me dirty and I read 'Belvita' as in the biscuit brand. 😬

OneTrackMindToday · 26/09/2025 19:49

With the added context, I prefer Evelina. And I've never heard of the hospital either.

Skerrida · 26/09/2025 19:48

Evelina is a bit too close to evil for it to be my choice, so I voted for Evita.

I prefer Eve, Evie or Ava myself, but they may all sound too English. Is there an Italian version of Yvette?

Calliopespa · 26/09/2025 19:47

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 19:21

Evangelina is Italian is way too long for my liking! Plus it’s weird that it’s not Evangeline.

Evelina sounds way more simplified than Evangelina, no?

Ok, it’s the hospital, but does it really matter?

And for example Teddy can be a teddy bear or Peter is Peter rabbit or Bob is bob the builder. I mean there are numerous links that someone can find of. Is this a valid reason to drop a name from a list if otherwise sounds nice?

Can you better picture an italian Evelina or an Evelyn in a nursery, school and work setting? This is what matters most to me!

If someone says “hey I am Evelina” would you look at her and say to yourself “omg she is the hospital” ?

No you are right op: it isn't a case of thinking she is the hospital.

It's just the association. Peter Rabbit and Teddy bears are cosy associations. I realise it might not have the same association for you, but you did post for opinions. For lots of London (and indeed UK mums) the name brings a gulp to the throat. They do marvellous work there, but for very ill children.

Calliopespa · 26/09/2025 19:44

ThatPeachFox · 26/09/2025 19:00

evelina is a children's hospital in Westminster. Try Evie like Peppa Pigs new baby sister.

Whaaaaat!!? Peppa has a new sister? I hate the thought of Mummy and Daddy Pig .... procreating.

Saltandpepperlife · 26/09/2025 19:41

Definitely not Evita. Evelina if I had to choose.

NebulousWhistler · 26/09/2025 19:41

ThatPeachFox · 26/09/2025 19:00

evelina is a children's hospital in Westminster. Try Evie like Peppa Pigs new baby sister.

Peppa Pig has a sister?!

I don’t like either but would go with Evelina only you have another Ina name. Two rhyming names is a bit naff so I’d probably have to go with Evita and shorten it to Evie (Eh-vie, like your mum)

WaltzingWaters · 26/09/2025 19:36

Evelina is pretty. I’ve not heard of the hospital.

As much as I love the musical I absolutely wouldn’t use Evita. She’ll constantly have people sing “don’t cry for me Argentina” to her.

GoodVibesHere · 26/09/2025 19:36

Evelina is a very pretty name. Lina for a nickname.

I've never heard of the hospital, not that it matters anyway if it is the name of a hospital!? (there's an 'Elizabeth line' but that doesn't stop people using the name Elizabeth, why would it?).

Plastictreees · 26/09/2025 19:26

I like Evelina, I have known three and they were all Polish. I’ve never heard of the hospital. Both Evelina and Evelyn would work across settings and contexts, they’re perfectly fine names.

Louoby · 26/09/2025 19:22

Sorry but both are just awful 🙈

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 19:21

Evangelina is Italian is way too long for my liking! Plus it’s weird that it’s not Evangeline.

Evelina sounds way more simplified than Evangelina, no?

Ok, it’s the hospital, but does it really matter?

And for example Teddy can be a teddy bear or Peter is Peter rabbit or Bob is bob the builder. I mean there are numerous links that someone can find of. Is this a valid reason to drop a name from a list if otherwise sounds nice?

Can you better picture an italian Evelina or an Evelyn in a nursery, school and work setting? This is what matters most to me!

If someone says “hey I am Evelina” would you look at her and say to yourself “omg she is the hospital” ?

OP posts:
Plastictreees · 26/09/2025 19:15

I still think the suggestion of Evangeline is a good one 😄

ThatPeachFox · 26/09/2025 19:00

Namepuzzled · 26/09/2025 14:54

Apologies, this is not really a YABU topic but I post it here for traffic and for gathering more opinions!

So, due DC2 in a couple of months and we are stuck between 2 names.

Evelina or Evita?

What do you think? Let me also throw in the equation that older sister has a tri-syllable -ina name! Think of Marina for example. I am not sure if this should affect the decision and put you off for Evelina as they won’t stay little forever and they won’t be glued one to the other, they may end up living in different countries but I thought to mention it.

Anyway, any help would really welcome.

-YABU: Go for Evelina
-YANBU: Go for Evita

evelina is a children's hospital in Westminster. Try Evie like Peppa Pigs new baby sister.