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Baby names

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Original poster

Orla, Mila or Aria?

66 replies

Princess200000 · 31/03/2020 23:11

Which do you prefer for a girl? And why? Thanks xx

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muggleaunt · 02/04/2020 23:35

Orla's very popular, there are 4, yes 4!! in my DC's small afterschool club (25 kids). Aria is very pretty, has a nice meaning and I can't think of any pronunciation issues.

Shahira78 · 02/04/2020 15:02

Mila is pretty but you will always get some calling her Myla and some Meela. Same with Mia. That would annoy her no end.

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 14:53

Do you all pronounce the O sound/Or sound in Orla and Orca identically so?
I'm sorry OP, I had promised you I'd shut up.
Maybe it's just me. I'm in Munster btw.
Wanders off dejectedly...

TerribleCustomerCervix · 02/04/2020 14:43

DH and I are a Dublin/Belfast mix and Orla is one of the few names we pronounce exactly the same

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 14:40

Indeed Grin

MindyStClaire · 02/04/2020 14:15

Grin I'm from Dublin, but do actually live in NI now. Relative with the name from Kildare would say the same. I've never heard them pronounced differently I don't think.

I think all Irish people can agree that Aw-la is an abomination though Grin

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 13:54

I should have known better than to bring up pronunciation issuesGrin.

@MindyStClaire
I'm guessing you're in the north of Ireland?

I still think the O in Orla should be pronounced as the letter is, ie Oh. Just in case anyone's unclear on that.

Okay, I'll shut up now, sorry OP Grin

MindyStClaire · 02/04/2020 12:41

I'm Irish and the start of Orla and orca are the same for me too.

dw23 · 02/04/2020 12:03

Mila 😍 I love that name!

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 12:01

@whitesoxx
Sorry, I probably wasn't clear. I was specifically talking about the pronunciation of the letter 'O' in Orla (as Oh, like in Uh Oh). I pronounce the 'r' as well.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 02/04/2020 11:59

Orla but only if you’re going to pronounce the r. Otherwise Mila.

becca3210 · 02/04/2020 11:53

Orla is beautiful. Agree Aria is a bit Princessy and will date.

whitesoxx · 02/04/2020 11:51

@LizzieAnt eh?

Every Orla I know pronounce it with an Or not a Oh.

schafernaker · 02/04/2020 11:49

Oh I love Orla but DH has vetoed it for our new DC

Wolfgirrl · 02/04/2020 11:47

@lizzieant

I see.

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 11:23

@Wolfgirrl
Yes, accents do vary of course, the pronunciation is quite different in mine.
The O in Orla is pronounced like the letter name, as Oh. (In the Irish language it's Órla, which indicates this pronunciation.) In Ireland the 'r' is pronounced too, but I know that might not be natural for a lot of accents. But the O is definitely Oh iykwim.

Of your three names my favourite is Orla OP Smile

PlantPotting · 02/04/2020 10:32

Love all 3

champagneandfromage50 · 02/04/2020 10:31

There are zero orlas in my DC schools and I haven't met one where I live. Only an adult female from Ireland. Might depend where you live

NearlyGranny · 02/04/2020 10:26

Mila: she will always be having to tell people how to say and spell it. Is it Myler, Miller or Meela? If you want Miller, go for the spelling Milla, like the end of Camilla. If Myler, consider an i to y change and go Myla. Or go Cornish and spell it Mylor. Use Mila only if you want the pronunciation Meela, or go with double e.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2020 10:20

Orla isn't unusual. I think the names are a bit dull and likely to be one of several in the age group.

missyB1 · 02/04/2020 10:18

Orla a beautiful timeless Irish name, classic names don’t date.

Mila is pretty and not too common.

Aria - sorry it’s always going to be associated with G.O.T and people will assume that’s why you chose it. Also I’m a nursery teacher and it’s a very common name at the moment.

champagneandfromage50 · 02/04/2020 10:15

I like Orla , It's unusual but in a good way

Wolfgirrl · 02/04/2020 10:13

@lizzieant

I hadn't noticed that Hmm

LizzieAnt · 02/04/2020 10:12

@Wolfgirrl "Orla reminds me of killer whales"
The first syllable of Orla and Orca are/should be pronounced quite differently though.

MindyStClaire · 02/04/2020 06:39

Yes I was also going to mention the Game of Thrones character re Aria.

I'm Irish and like Orla, but hate it pronounced Aw-la, so wouldn't use it if I were based in England.