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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jiya, Maya, Siya or Ruhi? Indian baby girl living in the UK

111 replies

meera454 · 16/12/2020 11:13

We have scrapped most of our previous list and are leaning more towards simpler names. What are your thoughts on Jiya, Maya, Siya and Ruhi? Be as brutally honest as you like :)

Really love the name Ruhi in particular but written down it looks a bit incomplete to me? Maybe we could use this as a nickname for Rohini or Ruhani? Ruhi has a beautiful meaning in Hindi.

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riddles26 · 16/12/2020 18:37

I love all 4 of them but would lean towards ruhi and jiya too because I know countless named maya and siya and are under 5 years old.

My personal preference was for an Indian name that wasn't completely unique but equally not extremely popular and (most importantly for me) easy to read and pronounce

NeedToKnow101 · 16/12/2020 18:01

Maya is lovely!

Luckyelephant1 · 16/12/2020 17:59

Hey, I'm a fellow British Indian with quite similar tastes to you.

Absolutely love love love Maya and had this planned as a name for if I have a baby girl since I was about 14. Unfortunately my husband is not so keen 😭 plus it is getting very very common.

I like Siya a lot but I prefer the spelling Sia.

Jiya is nice enough but a bit jarring. How about Diya?

Not a massive fan of Ruhi unfortunately, I'm not sure why. Possibly the way it looks on paper? I can see why it's popular though!

ForestNymph · 16/12/2020 17:45

[quote meera454]@riddles26 Thank you! :) Is there any one out of these names that stands out to you? I agree, I have come across quite a few Mayas as well! It’s popularity doesn’t put me off, the main criteria is for the name to sound pretty and strong at the same time.

Ruhi and Jiya seem to be liked by quite a few of you, I’m surprised! I thought I would get responses saying that Ruhi is awful. I was hoping that you all like it, It’s quite an unusual name, whereas Jiya, Maya and Siya are a bit more common in the UK I think.

I’m definitely leaning towards Ruhi and Jiya at the moment.. I like Siya but for some reason, there’s something not quite right about it Confused - maybe it sounds a bit too sharp to my ears. Maya sounds a bit flat. Jiya and Ruhi have an energy to them.[/quote]
Jiya is lovely.

midnightstar66 · 16/12/2020 17:44

Maya is lovely but it is a popular name in so many cultures that they probably won't be alone in their class (we have 1 Indian, 2 polish and one traditional Scottish spelled Maya's in our school year alone)

Original poster
meera454 · 16/12/2020 17:25

@riddles26 Thank you! :) Is there any one out of these names that stands out to you? I agree, I have come across quite a few Mayas as well! It’s popularity doesn’t put me off, the main criteria is for the name to sound pretty and strong at the same time.

Ruhi and Jiya seem to be liked by quite a few of you, I’m surprised! I thought I would get responses saying that Ruhi is awful. I was hoping that you all like it, It’s quite an unusual name, whereas Jiya, Maya and Siya are a bit more common in the UK I think.

I’m definitely leaning towards Ruhi and Jiya at the moment.. I like Siya but for some reason, there’s something not quite right about it Confused - maybe it sounds a bit too sharp to my ears. Maya sounds a bit flat. Jiya and Ruhi have an energy to them.

OP posts:
NoddingTulip · 16/12/2020 16:51

Ruhi is lovely, I like Jiya too.

Schummakker · 16/12/2020 16:45

Ruhi sounds lovely.

Katgolde · 16/12/2020 16:43

I like Siya best and don't think it's too much like See Ya.

crosstalk · 16/12/2020 16:34

Love Ruhi. FWIW.

riddles26 · 16/12/2020 16:29

Absolutely love them all, came very close to using Maya myself but we live in an area that is densely populated with Indians and wanted something less popular (completely personal preference and no judgement on anyone who prefers a popular name).

All very easy to read and pronounce in UK (essential if bringing child up here imo)

Original poster
meera454 · 16/12/2020 16:17

@FlyingSquid I didn’t think of that, thanks for pointing it out! Siya is said more like “Leah” but it’s is pretty close to “see ya later” which is annoying. Might have to rule that one out.

@Chilldonaldchill That’s great, thank you! :)

OP posts:
Chilldonaldchill · 16/12/2020 15:12

I like Ruhi best and would have pronounced it as you said.
I think it feels like a full name...

FlyingSquid · 16/12/2020 15:11

Those are lovely. I'd perhaps avoid Siya, if it's genuinely pronounced like see-ya-later. Ruhi is particularly nice.

Original poster
meera454 · 16/12/2020 15:07

Thank you everyone for the positive feedback, looks like all these names are a safe and good option! :) Would you say that Ruhi looks like a complete name in itself or does it need to be a nn for Ruhani/Rohini? I prefer Ruhi as a name in itself and want to avoid having to choose Ruhani or Rohini. I still don't have any favourites out of the four, I like them all equally.

@81Byerley The pronunciations would be...
Maya: Maa-ya
Jiya: Jee-ya
Siya: See-ya
Ruhi: Roo-hee

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MotherOfDragonite · 16/12/2020 12:37

Maya is a beautiful name and works very well in lots of different languages and cultures.

I also like Ruhi but I can imagine it would get mispronounced quite a lot.

linda851 · 16/12/2020 11:41

@tyroterf I was going to mention the same but didn't. DS is in the same year group as a little boy named Rui. Much prefer the name on a girl, though.

MoChridhe · 16/12/2020 11:36

I like Maya best.
How about Gia and not Jiya.

AcornAutumn · 16/12/2020 11:36

Maya

TyroTerf · 16/12/2020 11:33

They're all grand! Any of them would be lovely.

Ruhi reminds me of a little boy I knew once called Rui, so I'd put that at the bottom of the list. I like Jiya the best.

linda851 · 16/12/2020 11:32

Maya is delightful.

shivbo2014 · 16/12/2020 11:31

Maya and Ruhi

PreRaphaeliteMotherhood · 16/12/2020 11:26

I really like Ruhi! It’s different without being totally obscure.

Maya is nice but pretty ‘average’ and she’ll spend her life with people asking ‘meye-uh or may-uh?’.

yikesanotherbooboo · 16/12/2020 11:25

All lovely ;
My least favourite is Jiya
Ruhi is prettiest imo

formerbabe · 16/12/2020 11:25

I like them all...especially Maya and Siya, although I know a Sita and prefer that to be honest.