Regret over dd's name

Lila. Lovely name. Much better than bloody Taylor

Lila! What a beautiful name! It is feminine, but not overly so. And that article about Taylor Swift's name is just one of many articles on names... I don't believe you've done your daughter a disservice (and my girl has a non-girly name).

As for teaching her words... Just dont. All you need to do is talk to her. You don't even need to alter the way you speak to her, just speak! That's all. Nothing to worry about, she'll pick it up, no problem. (Children learning languages is very different from adults doing so, so let go of your preconceptions of it being 'hard' to learn a language)

Try to relax, and take everything one day at the time, but if you do think you suffer from actual anxiety, please do speak to your partner and a GP about this, as you don't need to 'suffer' -you can get better. X x

I have to agree with everyone's comments, that Lila is a beautiful name :) in fact the more I read your DD's name the more I liked it, so I have just added it to my list to tell my DH later :)

I work with Pre-school children, and I wouldn't worry about 'teaching' Lila words, she is at the age where she is like a sponge and will naturally copy and pick up on words. Freedomisparamount that is a perfect example of what to do, continually talking to your children, even about washing the clothes, is so beneficial to your children (you may feel silly doing it, but when they repeat the words abck you will be so happy). You probably don't even realise that you are doing it all the time LaNomDeChange. Reading and writing is for reception age so don't worry about that either.
I would also like to add that changing her name at the age of 2 would be so confusing for her as well - stick with it :)

I don't think the name Lila will affect her getting a job at all...I believe the person makes the name...when she goes for an interview, she will be the one getting herself the job not her name :)

As for you OH's parents, well I have to agree they are the ones losing out, and that's not fair on Lila, but as long as you and you OH give her love and your family then I wouldn't worry.
Hope you feel better soon :)

Lie-la I would guess. That's how mine is pronounced anyway.

Am I the only one on thread who hasn't a clue how OP says Lila?
I know how to pronounce Lilah which sounds nice enough to me.

Lila is a lovely name, and I agree that there's nothing wrong with having a feminine name.

I've got a very feminine name. I also have balls of steel
Don't worry.

Try and remember that it's not exactly teaching the child a language, just talk to her and she'll pick it up. I used to just chatter away to mine, telling him what I am doing as I'm doing it ("and now we're going into the sitting room, what's in here, oh there's the sofa, let's sit down" just inane things like that), pointing at things and describing them etc. Don't stress about it, well try not to anyway.

And it IS the grandparents loss. Ignore them as best you can. Some people aren't worth the head space.

Lila is an absolutely beautiful name, why would you change it? Your choice was excellent, don't doubt yourself now! If you did change it now, it would be quite confusing for her at the ago of 2 I think, anyway.

Yes it is definitely a female name, without being too frilly, and hurray for that, (I am not too fond of unisex names and surnames for first names). I can definitely imagine a strong woman called Lila, head of a corporation or something in future years.

I don't see Lila as a name that would cause significant pronunciation issues. I also don't see it as an overly 'girly' name. E.g. I see it as less girly than a lot of -ie or -y endings e.g. Molly, Maisie etc (not intended to offend anyone) Lila is feminine certainly but I wouldn't call it 'girly'. I also don't see the that it would be a name that employers would discriminate against - does that really happen anyway? She may be discriminated against on the basis of her gender (sadly), but not her name, I don't think.

My dd's name sometimes gets called 'chavvy', but whatever. It's her name and I don't think it will hold her back, she's awesome! for feeling anxious

Nothing wrong with a feminine name. Doubt it would stop you getting to the top of a chosen career path.

Lila is lovely!!!

Google Bloombergs list of the 15 highest paid female global executives and you will find some very feminine names populating that list!

Personally, I have had leela layla lala luluh and other ridiculous mispronunciations over the years. I worked with a guy for 2 years who continually got my name wrong. I didn't mind. It was a running joke in the office, and he was the one who looked the twat.

How else would you pronounce Lila?

Sorry but maybe I am missing the point but I really do not see anything negative about a little girl having a name that is too feminine. Mind you I love all girly and pretty names.
Lila is beautiful. You can't change her name now. I mean I know someone who changed their little boys name after 5 days but at all most 2. They know their names

I agree with Saulgood - great posts

OP, I work in a Corporate environment, traditionally male-dominated (but that is changing rapidly!) and wouldn't bat an eyelid at a colleague being called Lila at all. I understand you are anxious (the things we mothers find to feel guilty about ) but I really don't think this lovely name will hold your daughter back, whatever she chooses to be. Please don't worry

Oh and I completely agree with SaulGood.

And besides, it's a beautiful name . It means "beautiful night" or "dark haired beauty" in Arabic.

You sound quite anxious. What is it about teaching Lila words that makes you so worried? Is there anything you can do about the grandparents taking more of an interest? Have you spoken to your husband about it?

Sorry I'm not being purposefully nosey but maybe if you can sort out these problems your anxiety will ease up a bit.

I guess what I'm clumsily saying is that we shouldn't achieve things in life by pretending to be more masculine or rejecting stereotypical or obviously feminine tropes. Not at all. All that does is reinforce the terrible misogyny that's gone before.

Your daughter deserves to know that she is who she is. She might be very stereotypically feminine and that might just be the person she is meant to be. Don't let her think she has to hide who she is or label herself differently because of some ridiculous, patriarchal hierarchy which we will only abolish through not conforming to it.

Remember also that your dd has been born into a different world to the one even Taylor S was born into. We've some work still to do, granted but you absolutely should not reject the feminine because it's seen as negative. Quite the opposite in fact. Equality is more evident now than it was 20 years ago and will be, I hope, taken for granted by the time Lila is taking the world by storm.

Your wonderful, unique and lovely girl will go all sorts of places. She'll take with her the name you chose for her. It won't be an anchor holding her back.