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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Spelling Conundrum

32 replies

LaDuchesse · 29/09/2013 07:21

Hello. Please can you help? My DH and I have chosen a very grown up name for our little girl but have agreed that until she makes it to the House of Commons/ Supreme Court/ Forbes list, she might need a shorter, simpler nickname to bide the time. Lily has come up as a possibility but we are a bilingual household and I find it sounds just a little too frilly in French.

Therefore, I am putting in a motion for Lila but pronounced à la française: Lee-lah. (as in Lilac in French)

Now... How would one spell that to avoid confusing it with Leila (Lay-Lah) or Lila (Lie-Lah)

Thank you!

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ch1134 · 01/10/2013 22:48

Yes I agree. Lilla has a shorter vowel sound than Lila. Could you possibly call her Lilac, but pronounce it Leela, as this is where you're coming from anyway?

curlew · 01/10/2013 15:34

Sorry to be a pain, but Lilla would be lil- as in Lily -ah in English. Which I don't think is what you want, is it? The
double L shortens the i.

Original poster
LaDuchesse · 01/10/2013 14:45

Haha! No but it's not the worst name I've ever heard. A friend (male) subscribes to the theory that most STD's make great names, including but not limited to Candida, Gonorrheah, Chlamydia, Syphillis... He's currently single, but looking, if anyone's interested?

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WinteronPluto · 30/09/2013 20:57

As long as you don't call her Conundrum, which was my fear when I opened this thread!

Original poster
LaDuchesse · 30/09/2013 19:07

I do! I think Lilla is the best solution in both languages... Leela in French will inevitably come out as Leila. Sorted! She can come any old time now, we're ready for her. :)

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HorryIsUpduffed · 30/09/2013 17:24

In a French accent there would be scarcely any difference between Lilla and Leela, but in an English accent they're as different as "rue" and "roue" in French which English speakers would just say as "roo" for both.

Do you see what I mean?

Original poster
LaDuchesse · 30/09/2013 17:19

Oh an you Horry!

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Original poster
LaDuchesse · 30/09/2013 17:17

Oh, clearly I am not well versed in posting on this forum. My reply was for LillyNotOfTheValley, who is a genius. But I think you're all very clever and kind. Even though those who know about cyclopses worry me a little... Xxx

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Original poster
LaDuchesse · 30/09/2013 17:14

You know what? I think that's the trick, right there! Brilliant, thank you so much! Now... To get DH onboard....

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TheLeftovermonster · 30/09/2013 17:13

Yes, she is. We're big fans of Futurama here.

HorryIsUpduffed · 30/09/2013 16:39

Lilla would be short, like Lily but -uh instead of -ee ending.

Lila is l-eye-lah to me and far more elegant than Leela.

isn't Leela the Cyclops one in Futurama?

LillyNotOfTheValley · 30/09/2013 16:30

Not a native speaker, but the spelling Lilla springs to mind, how about that?

TheLeftovermonster · 30/09/2013 12:24

And Lila is Lee-la over here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lila_(Hinduism)

tammytoby · 29/09/2013 21:48

In German or French I'd say Leela if I read Lila.

However, in English I'd say Lie-la, sorry.

Stat · 29/09/2013 21:08

I would assume Lila is pronounced LEE-la.

If you want to make sure the pronunciation is unambiguous then you could spell it Leela, although as it is a nickname you could decide which spelling works better later on.

TarkaTheOtter · 29/09/2013 18:09

I'd say leelah for Lila. I don't think it matters so much with nicknames anyway as the first time most people come across it they will be hearing it rather than seeing it written down.

badtime · 29/09/2013 17:39

Just tell people it's the French pronunciation. People are adaptable.

OutragedFromLeeds · 29/09/2013 17:33

Lila is Lie-la to me (like the Oasis song, although that's Lyla).

I think that's a better choice though, Lila/Lyla is an established name Lee-lah sounds like a Teletubby. It's too cutsey to last until Parliament imo.

Original poster
LaDuchesse · 29/09/2013 13:24

Yes, I know several Mice (Mouses, I guess) as well, both male and female.

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BikeRunSki · 29/09/2013 13:10

< looks at dc who were not actually registered as Luna or Mouse, but that is how they are know, which surprised ds a bit when he started Reception last month>

meditrina · 29/09/2013 12:53

I'd say it Lie-la

And use the spelling Leela to get the pronunciation you want.

Original poster
LaDuchesse · 29/09/2013 12:47

Hahah, duly noted! :)

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squoosh · 29/09/2013 12:30

I have also never heard Lila pronounced as Lee-la. I know a couple and they are Lie-las, I would bet that 90% of the population would also assume that its pronunciation is Lie-la.

P.S you may want to pass that therapist's number on to those poor unfortunates you know called Bean and Pie.

badtime · 29/09/2013 12:06

*assuming

badtime · 29/09/2013 12:05

I'm asuming it's Elizabeth.

I have heard the 'lee-la' pronunciation for 'Lila'.