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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce the name 'malia'

85 replies

ShazGranger · 17/06/2019 14:28

Hi all!

We are wanting to call our baby girl 'malia' but am wondering how it's going to be pronounced? We want it pronounced like Obama s daughter. Will that work in the UK do you think?

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Goosethemoose · 20/06/2019 15:11

Mmm.... I'd probably pronounce Maliah as Ma-LIE-Ah, with the middle syllable rhyming with tie or bye. But I'd pronounce Malia as MA-lee-ah.... I think you're just going to have to train people!

Original poster
ShazGranger · 20/06/2019 15:03

I disagree but thank you so much for taking an interest in my question 😊 very sweet of you!

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 20/06/2019 14:21

Just been listening to Michelle Obama's autobiography on audio and it is pronounced Muh-LEE-ah. Which is totally different to how I had always said it in my head (MAR-lee-a).

If you want it pronounced Muh-LEE-ah, you won't be able to shorten it to Mali, because that the sounds are all wrong.

schnubbins · 20/06/2019 14:14

Maah lee ah

schnubbins · 20/06/2019 14:13

Mash lee ah .There is no ' R' in it.

Fullmoons · 20/06/2019 14:10

I personally don't see the point of adding an H.

Malia looks far prettier than Maliah imo.

Original poster
ShazGranger · 20/06/2019 13:29

Thank you for your help all 😊 much appreciated!

After chatting to lots of mums on the baby centre app forum it seems that Maliah is the prettiest spelling, gets the right pronounciation, and isn't a boozy Greek resort! So I think it'll be that! 😊

OP posts:
RainbowMum11 · 19/06/2019 14:53

Ma-li-a

Tyburn · 19/06/2019 14:43

This made me think of the wonderful Marlene Dietrich

Maleah looks to be the closest to the spelling that would get that sound! Yay :)

Fullmoons · 18/06/2019 18:02

Mullia or Mulia?

Quintella · 18/06/2019 17:25

Don't mess with the spelling, it looks nice as it is. Besides, some people will get it wrong no matter how you spell it.

DonkeyHohtay · 18/06/2019 17:23

Mah-lee-ah.

No "r" in it anywhere.

anyoldvic · 18/06/2019 17:20

I don't understand muh-lee-uh... That to me would sound almost like Moo-lee-uh which isn't very pretty.

Do you want it pronounced Mally-uh so that the NN Mali rhymes with Sally? If so then spell it Mallia

Fullmoons · 18/06/2019 17:10

Any spelling you guys can think of to guarantee its pronounced muh-lee-uh?

Muhleeuh? Muleea?

Original poster
ShazGranger · 18/06/2019 15:04

Thanks for all your help all!

Any spelling you guys can think of to guarantee its pronounced muh-lee-uh?

A bit of background - Malia is a Persian name (I'm Persian) and we would than like to shorten it to Mali, a Welsh name (pronounced like Sally) I'm also Welsh ☺️

OP posts:
Fullmoons · 18/06/2019 06:46

Ma lee a with the stress on the first syllable

I'm surprised how some pronounce the first syllable as Muh, Mar or Mall?

Durgasarrow · 18/06/2019 05:21

ma-LEE-a

Kokeshi123 · 18/06/2019 02:19

My brain thinks "MAH-lia" but then I self correct to "Ma-LEE-a" because that is Malia Obama's pronunciation.

Pretty name but the pronunciation issues would put me off a bit.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 18/06/2019 00:03

Rhymes with Dahlia

TooMuch87 · 17/06/2019 23:56

Mally-a (Mally rhyming with Sally).

DawgLover · 17/06/2019 23:55

Non-rhotics/an intrusive R still wouldn't explain the mar-lee part, as there is already a consonant separating the syllables.

Either way, its a very pretty name. I spent some time in Hawaii and always thought it beautiful

JustTheCrowsAndTheBeef · 17/06/2019 23:49

dawg non rhotic accents.

DawgLover · 17/06/2019 23:39

I'm confused as to why there's an R being added in for some posters? Mah- lee- ah is how I would say it in the context of the name rather than the greek location

I can imagine it being pronounced as Muh-lee-ah based on some of the regional accents near me. Both are quite pretty.

HeronLanyon · 17/06/2019 23:36

Mah Lee ah. Stress in first syllable

CantspellWontspell · 17/06/2019 23:34

Mah-lee-a.

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