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Baby names

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

Original poster

Am I crazy...? Lilja

39 replies

1horatio · 23/05/2016 11:56

So, I thought we had figured it out, we had 2 top picks and wanted to make the final decision after the birth.

But then I saw the name Lilja and basically fell in love with it. Is this crazy...?

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SabineUndine · 23/05/2016 16:06

There's a French name similar: Lilia

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:51

It wouldn't be very polite to mention this film when talking about "little Lilja", right? ;)

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:49

Yup, it's not a Swedish name. In Sweden it's just a beautiful flower, I believe (I'm not a Sweden expert).
It is rather popular in Iceland and Finland but I'm not sure whether it's also a Danish name.

Nope, I don't live in Sweden. And I'm simply going to assume that my granny and her Swedish friends don't know the film :)!! Or are too proper to say so ;)

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scandichick · 23/05/2016 12:41

I'm Swedish and my first association would be the film - lilja is the flower, Lilly would be the most similar name. If you live in the UK it probably doesn't matter so much, but it's not a Swedish name if that makes a difference to you. Maybe DanishGrin

DontDeadOpenInside · 23/05/2016 12:38

It's lovely and for what it's worth, I pronounced it as lil-ya when I read it. Smile

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:34

Just googled the film... It (luckily!) doesn't seem to be overly popular. It doesn't bother me too much, probably because the name makes me think of lilies (lilja means lily in Swedish).

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SoupDragon · 23/05/2016 12:13

I'm a bit afraid somebody would say Lil-cha or something.

I didn't know how to say it but my first guess was Lill-ya :)

waxweasel · 23/05/2016 12:13

I like it, and I think it's obvious that it's pronounced lil-ya. Like Sonja - nobody would say 'son-ja' right?

Anyway you could call your child the easiest name in the world and someone would get it wrong. So don't let that stop you 😊

LaConnerie · 23/05/2016 12:11

Love it, love it! Unusual but not wacky, and you have a genuine connection to the name.

VimFuego101 · 23/05/2016 12:10

It's lovely, but there is a movie called Lilja Forever that's about a prostitute that some people may associate that name with (it's quite obscure though!).

DramaAlpaca · 23/05/2016 12:09

It's lovely, especially as you have a Scandinavian connection.

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:05

Thanks :) It's Lil-ya :)
It's a Scandinavian name. Swedish is my dad's first language and I often went to Sweden in my early 20ies (and late teens).

But yes, I'm a bit afraid somebody would say Lil-cha or something.

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StinkyMcgrinky · 23/05/2016 12:00

My only concern would be pronounciation. Is it Lil-ya? Lil-ha? Lilah?

lcoc2015 · 23/05/2016 11:58

I think its lovely - theres a Lilja on our street and its never shortened either!