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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alba or Besiana

70 replies

Seriouslytoomuchlego · 06/02/2017 09:36

Hi - both of these names are pretty normal for girls names in my country but I was wondering if either sounded better (or terrible) to UK ears as we live in the UK.

  • Alba
  • Besiana

I prefer Besiana but would love your thoughts.

Thanks.

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crapfatbanana · 06/02/2017 19:34

I think Besiana is lovely. Is it pronounced Bez-ee-ya-nah, with emphasis on the third syllable?

Jamhandprints · 06/02/2017 18:37

I like Flora a lot or Alba but Besiana is not good.

YouWillNotSeeMe · 06/02/2017 18:31

Ignore buttercup telling you to call how Elizabeth Ann!
You clearly want a name from your culture.
Alba/Flora are easier to say from written, but I love the pronunciation of Besiana, and the nickname Ana. If that's your favourite go for that

Sophronia · 06/02/2017 18:29

Alba or Flora

Lochan · 06/02/2017 18:19

I they they are both lovely names.

My favourite is Alba but that's because I'm Scottish!

beautyandthebump · 06/02/2017 18:15

P.s I think the Alba TV brand is old/outdated enough now that few would make reconnection.

beautyandthebump · 06/02/2017 18:14

I like Alba. It's the name of the daughter in The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger and she is pretty awesome.

I have a total love affair with the name Alba and this film is why! Unfortunately our surname is an 'a' sound too so I can't use it Sad

I also agree that Alba sounds better with an English accent than Besiana.

buttercup54321 · 06/02/2017 18:10

Don't like Alba at all. Besiana sounds too made up.Flora reminds me of a floor cloth. Elizabeth Ann on birth certificate, then Besiana as a nickname might be ok. Then the girl could choose for herself when she is older.

GeorgeTheHamster · 06/02/2017 15:30

Flora is fine, a name in its own right - before the margarine. Very pretty.

Frazzled2207 · 06/02/2017 12:56

Flora's the best, don't worry about the margerine

Cakingbad · 06/02/2017 12:20

The margarine does not make Flora a no-go. Flora is good. Alba and Besiana are both lovely too and work fine in the UK. Choose the one you like the best. You would be asked how to spell Besiana but that is not really a problem.

Veterinari · 06/02/2017 12:16

Worth noting that in Scotland Alba is pronounced A-luh-buh

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 06/02/2017 12:16

I was wondering how you pronounced Besiana, I was guessing Besharna. I like the actual pronunciation better, I think it's pretty.

GerundTheBehemoth · 06/02/2017 12:15

Alba makes me think of albumen and albicans - not keen. Haven't heard Besiana before but I think it's rather nice.

greeeen · 06/02/2017 12:11

I love the name Flora and know one who is an adult who has never had anyone mention flora margerine. I would go with Flora if it was my choice.

TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing · 06/02/2017 11:06

Alba is beautiful.

Besiana I don't like at all, sorry.

celtiethree · 06/02/2017 11:03

Alba is the Scots Gaelic for Scotland. If you come to Scotland then it may get pronounced as Al -a - pa

MrsJayy · 06/02/2017 10:48

I wouldn't associate Flora with the spread either it is a good enough name to stand alone imo

Elbi · 06/02/2017 10:46

Actually I had never associated the name Flora with the butter! How funny. I can see why you'd think that was a no-go but I know a couple of little Floras and no one mentions butter. Alba also nice. Not sure on Besiana I'm afraid - possibly because of bestial.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 06/02/2017 10:43

Alba, but love Ana more.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 06/02/2017 10:43

Besiana does not sound nice to me at all. Alba is beautiful.

goldenrachita · 06/02/2017 10:41

I quite like both Alba and Besiana. Besiana would be considered more unusual here and your abbreviation of Ana is nice.
I really don't like Flora. Not because of the margarine; I just don't like the sound of it.

Mummamayhem · 06/02/2017 10:34

Albanian names? Both lovely prefer alba. And flora is nice too.

Original poster
Seriouslytoomuchlego · 06/02/2017 10:32

Oh - and pronounciation is sort of Bessie-Anna or more like Bessie-Ya-Na - if that makes sense!

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Original poster
Seriouslytoomuchlego · 06/02/2017 10:29

Thanks for the replies so far. I think Alba does mean "white" in Latin and some other languages but not to us. Besiana has some connotations of "keeping a promise" or something like that which I quite like.

Nickname if Besiana would probably be Ana - but I guess as she grew others might decide something different.

PS ... the margarine makes Flora (as a 3rd option) a no-go - is that right?

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