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Original poster

Are these girl's names too strange?

59 replies

MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 13:42

I've not discussed names with the other half yet - he's from the UK, I'm not (European/Israeli roots). I'm looking for a name I could use on the continent as well as here. I have a feeling my taste in names is a little too weird for the UK though :) Would really appreciate it if you could have a look at my 'long list' and let me know if they'd be too out-there! Which are your favourites?

Imogen
Yuna
Indra
Elisheva
Celeste
Delta
Orla
Tirza
Yara
Ophelia

Thank you!

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ashesandfire · 08/08/2015 21:58

Imogen is a brilliant name ;) (it's my name)
I also like Celeste and I think Elisheva is lovely.

LibrariesGaveUsPower · 08/08/2015 19:04

Elisheva is lovely, but may have pronunciation issues, if that bothers you.

The others vary from rare to popular but are all perfectly useable.

Nice list.Smile

ShadowStar · 08/08/2015 18:44

Tuna is surely just a spellchecker thing though?

Original poster
MaddieUK · 08/08/2015 17:53

Final Fantasy :) Can't say I played them all but I'm definitely a gamer, so I wouldn't even mind that too much. Can't shake off the Tuna reference now though!

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MiaowTheCat · 08/08/2015 17:36

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potap123 · 08/08/2015 09:55

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drinkscabinet · 08/08/2015 09:18

I like most of those names and don't think they are too out there. Indra is probably my favourite but DD1 has a similar name and I work with a lovely girl with a similar name so I'm biased.

Original poster
MaddieUK · 08/08/2015 09:12

Ha it doesn't mean 'foreskin' exactly - there's a biblical term referring to 'uncircumcised fruit' (and therefore not to be eaten I think) that is called 'orla fruit'. It's a good point though - 'Orli' is quite a normal name in Israel and Orla might be too close to that, but I think Orli sounds quite masculine.

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Pandora37 · 08/08/2015 07:39

Orla apparently means foreskin in Hebrew so with Israeli roots I'd probably drop that.

I don't think the rest are too out there at all. You might have pronunciation problems with Elisheva but it's very very pretty.

HighOverTheFenceLeapsSunnyJim · 08/08/2015 06:05

The only Indra I know is a boy, it's a Hindu god I think.

I wouldn't worry about names being too 'out there', unless you are going to live in a tiny rural village somewhere. We live in a city (not London), I would guess that about a third of my child's school class have names from non-British cultural origin.

lunalovegood84 · 07/08/2015 22:49

I've never heard Elisheva before, but I really like it. Definitely my favourite.

MamaLazarou · 07/08/2015 19:58

They are all lovely. Imogen is very popular in the UK at the moment - noy sure if this bothers you.

tomatodizzymum · 07/08/2015 19:10

When I was teaching in the UK I taught an Imogen, Orla and a Yara. The others are not all that odd either.

TopCivilServant · 07/08/2015 19:08

I hadn't heard of all of them but they seem easy to pronounce which I think is helpful and they all have a nice sound to them. I think they are lovely names! Don't feel the need to pick an anglicised name.
The only one I didn't immediately know how I would pronounce is elisheva.

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 19:05

Yes like Una (UK pronounciation)... it's a popular Japanese name as well. But terrified now of the Tuna association!

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JakeyBurd · 07/08/2015 18:51

I really like Delta and Elisheva. Also like Yara, although not a GoT fan so I wouldn't have made the association either.

Yuna is I take it pronounced like Una? I've never heard of anyone associating that with fish!

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 15:04

All the female members of my family (i.e. me, my mother, grandmother etc) have a form of Elisabeth as a first/middle name. The 'Elisheva' form has been my favourite since I was a child. Always thought it would be too uncommon as a first name though, so really considered it as a middle name. Surprised to see people like it!

(And I love GoT - completely forgot about Yara though! Seems the producers/George Martin have too ;)

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marinacortina · 07/08/2015 14:59

Imogen and Ophelia are in Shakespeare.
Celeste and Orla are not that unusual. Orla is quite popular now.
Delta is quite familiar from the singer Delta Goodrem.
Indra - quite similar to India which has been popular, and Indira.

This leaves:
Elisheva - Hebrew form of Elizabeth, I like it a lot.
Tirza - probably more familiar as Thirza or Thyrza. Unusual but not unknown.
Yara - there is a character of this name in Game Of Thrones.
Yuna - is the only one I find completely unfamiliar.

HelenaJohannsen · 07/08/2015 14:13

Orla Celeste is lovely

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 14:11

Haha thank you :)

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KoalaDownUnder · 07/08/2015 14:03

I absolutely adore Elisheva and Indra. Your list is awesome!!

FelixFelix · 07/08/2015 14:01

Celeste is my favourite girls name at the moment. If I had another dd she would be a Celeste Smile

whatarethose · 07/08/2015 13:58

I love Celeste and Ophelia!

Glindathegoodwitch · 07/08/2015 13:58

Make sure that you show him them written down as well as spoken.. I found this helped with my DH!

Original poster
MaddieUK · 07/08/2015 13:56

Thank you very much for your comments so far - I'm a little bit insecure sharing the names I like with the husband for some reason. Almost as if it's too personal? Having said that, it's really helpful to read that you actually like some of these :)

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