Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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?)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
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.

OP posts:
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 :)

OP posts:
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?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread