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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aria, Anika, Anoushka or Anamika?

35 replies

Tropicalsun56 · 03/01/2021 12:06

Just posted about the name Anoushka and thought I should add in a few more names on my list for opinions!
Aria
Anika
Anoushka
Anamika. (love this name, but it means “one without a name” in Sanskrit so I don’t know if that is a bit weird & a deal breaker?)

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Vitaminsss · 04/01/2021 20:30

I think Aria is the least suitable in that case as the others sound more culturally Indian! I prefer Anika or Anoushka

Housewife2010 · 04/01/2021 20:23

Anoushka reminds me of Babooshka too -fabulous Kate Bush song.

Housewife2010 · 04/01/2021 20:21

Anoushka is pretty. I'm not keen on Anaïs - too similar to anus and most people would mispronounce it. Think of the perfume Anaïs Anaïs which is usually mispronounced as "Anay" rather than "An eye ees".

Original poster
Tropicalsun56 · 04/01/2021 20:17

@Orphlids Thank you for such positive feedback! :) it’s lovely to see positive associations to the name!!
@Vitaminsss We are British Indian so we want a name that works well in both cultures but doesn’t lack the Indian sounds and meanings.

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Vitaminsss · 04/01/2021 17:32

I like Aria the most but I’m not a fan of the rest of your names. What culture are you from?

Orphlids · 04/01/2021 17:27

Anoushka is fabulous. I’d love to be named Anoushka! I was at school with one. She was tall, quiet, confident, intelligent, cool, and rather mysterious. Her best friend was named Anouk, a name I also love. I don’t find Anoushka frilly at all; quite the opposite, actually. I think it’s that hard ‘ka’ sound at the end, which gives it a pleasant sharpness, but the lovely ‘oosh’ sound is very gentle by comparison. A perfectly balanced name. I’d assume Anoushka would be a clever, interesting woman, maybe artistic, and well travelled. Someone I’d want to know more about.

Original poster
Tropicalsun56 · 04/01/2021 16:28

I am considering Ariana as well. However this is not a very common name in my culture, so I would rather use Aria but it’s still a lovely option

OP posts:
MercyBodle · 03/01/2021 22:22
  1. Anoushka
  2. Annika
Original poster
Tropicalsun56 · 03/01/2021 19:14

Thank you everyone for all your really helpful comments! I think we are going for Anoushka! Love the NN Anna or Annie for this name. I will start a new thread for middle name ideas :)

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YoniAndGuy · 03/01/2021 18:25

Hadn't thought of Anouk - that would be a better choice.

Anika - only a step away from Anita in English! - I think that's what puts me off Grin

but, consider Anna. That's basically the name - why not use its shortest and most elegant form?

DramaAlpaca · 03/01/2021 17:26

I like Aria from your list, it's short, simple and pretty. I don't mind Anika, but it looks better to me spelled Annika.

Anoushka is about the fluffiest, frilliest name I can think of. It's really not my style. It's also as someone else said a Russian diminutive of Anna.

HarrietPotterska · 03/01/2021 17:25

Anoushka is gorgeous! I've known a couple; European, well travelled, intelligent women!

Allsizes8to14 · 03/01/2021 17:24

How about Ariana?

20viona · 03/01/2021 17:22

Aria

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 03/01/2021 17:12

I like sound of Anoushka but it's very Russian nickname/pet name (for Anna) to me. Anika is much more cross cultural, as well as being simple, pretty, and fairly uncommon -so would be my pick of your choices.

SoftSheen · 03/01/2021 16:33

Anoushka is nice.

Also :

Annick (an-eek)
Araminta
Annemieke

pilates · 03/01/2021 16:29

Anoushka, lovely

daisypond · 03/01/2021 16:28

I like Anoushka. How about Anoush?Anika or Anneka (variety of spellings) is nice.
Not the one that means “no name”. That’s offputting. Aria is a bit meh these days.

yummytummy · 03/01/2021 16:23

Personally I love Anamika because of the song and think it sounds lovely. Don't think the meaning matters too much

TheVanguardSix · 03/01/2021 16:21

What about Anouk?

Wellthisismorethanabitgrim · 03/01/2021 16:19

Anamika sounds like a brand of baby formula to me sorry! I like all the others. Have you considered Anusha or Anouk?

orangenasturtium · 03/01/2021 16:10

I'm not keen on Aria but love the others. I also love Anais.

Anisa and Anahita are similar names you might like, especially if you love the name Anamika but don't like the meaning, Anahita is very similar.

YoniAndGuy · 03/01/2021 16:05

If you wanted a less exotic version, I think Anna has the same classic, intellectual, strong and 'calm' vibe.

YoniAndGuy · 03/01/2021 16:04

Honestly, it's 'foreign' enough that I would expect someone with Russian/Polish ancestry. I don't think of anything beyond that apart from it being a pretty, and intelligent sounding name - it's got quite an intellectual feel, to me. It's not a light frothy name.

But if I met a little Anoushka in the playground I would probably assume cultural reasons for the unusual name.

Original poster
Tropicalsun56 · 03/01/2021 15:53

What do you think of when you hear the name Anoushka? What sort of person do you imagine?

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