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Baby names

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

Girl name thoughts

34 replies

DoctorBambino · 26/08/2020 16:14

Hi everyone,

I've only recently got my BFP but am trying to distract myself from anxious thinking with baby names. We are set on a boys name but I would love your opinion on these options for a girl:

Maya
Kaia
Effie
Skye
Mila
Noa

Or any suggestions you think are similar? I like short, pretty but not too little girly as I want the name to be suitable for an adult too 😊

Thanks! 🤍

OP posts:
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pinkpinecone · 28/08/2020 12:50

Great list, OP. They all have a lovely soft feminine sound to them without being overly frilly. I think Maya and Mila are my favourites. I think Noa is really nice for a girl but it's really common for boys so she may be teased a little.

A few other names you may like

Lilah
Gaia
Nina
Rosa
Romy
Mara
Luna
Alba
Lula
Reya

17caterpillars1mouse · 28/08/2020 10:31

I'll suggest Essie as a similar but alternative to Effie

You also might like Willa

17caterpillars1mouse · 28/08/2020 10:30

Maya - it's ok
Kaia - not a fan
Effie - lovely
Skye - I find it a bit down market
Mila - dislike
Noa - I really like it. I find it very elegant on a girl, but Noah is number 3 in England and Wales for boys so I imagine despite the different spelling she would spend her life being assumed to be a boy before meeting her, which could become tiresome

DoctorBambino · 28/08/2020 10:21

@PlantPotting, thank you I love Aria but don't like how it sounds when DH says it!

@Wolfgirrl hahaha thank you for that comment this is exactly why I'm asking! I love Freya from your list but already one jn my family.

@Oneandabean that was my worry about Kaia and Skye.

@Ricekrispie22 I like Anya and Cleo but already have a Cleo in the family.

@babyguffingtonstrikesagain, thank you. I like Cleo from your suggestions.

@Outwithreason thank you that's food for thought.

@leCreusetLover thank you, I know lots of people would initially think the same about Noa so maybe its a bit unfair to put a kid through that!

@zigaziga thank you nice to hear someone likes them!

@woollyHeadedMammoth thank you, I love name meanings

@monkeyonthetable I like Mia but it doesn't sound right with our surname. Lia is ok too.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider I like Keira but think of it as a bit chavvy maybe?? I also kind of like Cara but maybe sounds too posh?? 🤭 not heard of Nola before, quite like that too

@ILoveStickers thank you, not keen on Maria though

@theRosariojewels I kind of like Lara

@Tavannach thank you, I like Esme but always think "it's me"

@mikeuniformmike thank you. Hard to not choose names of the moment.. what names are not of the moment? I guess classic names like Emma and Sophie?

@littlebillie I do like Lucy actually, probably the only classic girl name I like! I also like Tula but dont think I'd be brave enough.

@CBeebiesrehab Aww I think Effie is lovely too! I quite like Eira and Joni thank you.

@sweetnosugar thank you I quite like Elsie

@sunyla thank you! I like Ayla and Aria

@enough4me love Maia thanks

@subbu12 thank you Mila seems to be one of the least hated at least haha!

@theresaplaceforus that seems to be lpts of people's opinion on Skye. Thank you

@Sawyersfishbiscuits thank you i quite like Nola

@onestepup thank you, I'll add Cara and Lara to the list.

@namenerd thank you, glad I'm not the only one! I loke Edie and Marlee, also Leia but dont think I could get away from the princess leia thing!

OP posts:
namenerd · 28/08/2020 00:37

All of your names are absolutely gorgeous! I especially adore Maya, Mila and Noa.

You may like: Thea, Edie, Maeve, Marlee, Quinn, Billie, Leia, Erin and Ferne.

Onestepup · 27/08/2020 12:35

Lara
Gemma
Stella
Cara
Holly

Sawyersfishbiscuits · 27/08/2020 12:13

I like Maya or Maia

Names I like which are similar are:

Norah
Nola
Ada
Mara

theresaplaceforus · 27/08/2020 10:45

Maya - really pretty
Kaia - not as keen
Effie - like this
Skye - no, a bit dated I feel and much more ‘down market’ for want of a better phrase than all of your other options
Mila - like this but I always wonder is it mee la or my la
Noa - ok

Subbu12 · 27/08/2020 05:00

Mila is short and good one.
Some more girl names liked by me
This
Geera
Vinnie
Anni
Meerja
Nidhi

Enough4me · 27/08/2020 01:06

Maia (Mya)
Lyra
Erin

sunyla · 27/08/2020 01:00

I love all except Effie!

Ivy
Aria
Quinn
Belle
Ayla
Wren
Sage
Addie
Demi

sweetnosugar · 26/08/2020 21:35

Thea
Ivy
Elsie
Marnie

Cbeebiesrehab · 26/08/2020 21:26

My daughter is Effie. Never gets particularly positive comments on MN but it suits her perfectly-she just is an Effie. She is Evelyn on her BC.
I really like Noa too. I tend to gravitate towards shorter names, others I like are:
Olive
Nora/h
Nell
June
Joni
Eira
Lena

littlebillie · 26/08/2020 20:46

Nina
Lucy
Vera
Tula

MikeUniformMike · 26/08/2020 19:51

Maya - May-a or My-a? Too many similar names - May, Mia etc
Kaia - Hiya Kaia
Effie - Effin awful
Skye - ok
Mila - Me-la or Myla. Too many similar names around
Noa - too similar to Noah

They are a bit 'of the moment' and are unlikely to date well.

Tavannach · 26/08/2020 19:43

I like Skye, Mila and Maya. Effie is a name I personally really don't like. It's short for Euphemia which might be why.

Kezia
Merle
Iona
Esmé
Calla

TheRosariojewels · 26/08/2020 19:25

Daria
Lara
Nova

ILoveStickers · 26/08/2020 19:19

Maya is lovely - how about Maria? So cute on a toddler, but very grown up too

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 26/08/2020 19:14

Pearl.
Nola.
Cora.
Delilah

user1493494961 · 26/08/2020 19:13

Don't really like any of them to be honest.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 26/08/2020 19:07

I’m not fussed on any sorry. I particularly despise Effie. So as not to be too negative Kaia isn’t too bad.

Keira.
Clara.
Summer
Cara.
Nova.
Amber

Ricekrispie22 · 26/08/2020 18:33

Marnie
Merle
Dalia
Noelle
Honour

monkeyonthetable · 26/08/2020 18:00

Katja
Cara
Lia
Pia
Mia
Pola
Juno
Wren
Klara
Zelda

WoollyHeadedMammoth · 26/08/2020 17:56

Noa is a (feminine) Hebrew name dating back to the Old Testament. Derived from No'ah, it technically means movement or motion, but has more recently been interpreted as uprising or revolution. It's very popular in Israel at the moment - has been top ten since 2008 - as well as in many European countries (Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, France).

The male name Noah comes from the Hebrew Noach, meaning rest or repose - so different root, same-ish sound.

LeCreusetLover · 26/08/2020 17:53

@zigaziga

I think people would assume "Noa" was a typo for Noah!

I thought Noa is actually the feminine version of Noah, so is definitely a real name?

I quite like all your names. Not enough to use them myself but they’re nice.

@zigaziga Oh fair enough - I hadn't heard it used for a girl. In that case I do actually quite like it!