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Baby names

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

Original poster

Leah, Lara or Elara

60 replies

Hibbs126 · 14/06/2021 01:51

I gave birth to our daughter on Friday but we can't decide on her name. We both like Leah, Lara and Elara which are all fairly similar just can't make a final decision as to which one so wondered what peopled thoughts were on them?

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KirstenBlest · 13/10/2021 09:49

@Marty13

Well, I'm not british but I always wondered what the point of the H in Leah could possibly be. Does it really change the pronunciation ? Sorry this always bugs me.

Anyway, I like Lara the most out of those. Elara feels like you just slapped an E in front of Lara for no particular reason ! Also makes me think of Lara Croft, good strong empowering name for a girl.

Lea is pronounced Lee. You'd need to spell it Léa, and accents can be a pita in the uk.

Agree totally about the Elara. The E weakens the name

Gemma2019 · 12/10/2021 19:35

Ah didn't realise it was an old thread. Wonder what the OP chose in the end Grin

Gemma2019 · 12/10/2021 19:34

I love the name Lara

MountainAshley · 12/10/2021 19:33

and I just realised I posted on an old thread. Not sure why that was on my screen!

MountainAshley · 12/10/2021 19:27

Lara.

Elara might get shortened to Ellie which there are too many of.

stuntfarter · 15/06/2021 19:06

Lara is lovely

Ellmau · 15/06/2021 18:20

Lara is the best.

Leah is the rejected first wife in the Bible, and Elara sounds invented.

DisneyBaby · 15/06/2021 17:46

Sorry to be the awkward one but I used to know a Leah and she was a spiteful cow to be honest, had a right chip on her shoulder...🙈

HairyPotter · 15/06/2021 17:19

Leah is beautiful. Not keen on the other two.

Dora26 · 15/06/2021 17:15

Leah by a mile! Congratulations 💖

Miller2021 · 15/06/2021 17:12

"Leah may get misspronounced/misspelt sometimes as Lee/Leia/Lia"

In my experience, this doesn't really happen aside from the occasional "Leia" pronunciation but nothing to get annoyed about! I think people nowadays are quite comfortable asking how you pronounce a name. My gran once wrote it as "Leigha" in a birthday card, but she was very, very old...

Sauvignonblanket · 15/06/2021 16:15

Leah, love it

MadeOfStarStuff · 15/06/2021 16:14

Lara

LarkDescending · 15/06/2021 06:02

Lara! Lovely.

Congratulations Flowers

Theoldwoman · 15/06/2021 05:41

If you pronounce Lara like Zara then I would choose that.

I prefer Laura though.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/06/2021 01:23

Of the three, I think Lara is your easiest option - elegant, internationally well used, classical (from Greek mythology), popular but not overused (hovers in and out of the uk top 100) and simple to pronounce and spell.

Leah may get misspronounced/misspelt sometimes as Lee/Leia/Lia and also doesn't look/sound quite as elegant as Lara imo (personal taste).

Elara is lovely but being quite rare, again may suffer from regular misspronunciation/misspelling (as well as possibly blending more into all the Ella's about at the moment?). It does have a nice sound though so if 3 syllables would work better with your surname...

Fundays12 · 14/06/2021 16:17

Lara is beautiful

glasshalfemptyneverfull · 14/06/2021 15:59

Leah

PennyArcade · 14/06/2021 15:54

Leah

TenThousandSpoons · 14/06/2021 15:44

Another vote for Lara.

applespearslemons · 14/06/2021 15:28

Lovely Lara. I also like Laura too which is under-used

Miller2021 · 14/06/2021 14:08

If it helps, my name is Leah and I've always loved it. Slightly unusual, feminine, not too weird. And the worst nickname you get is Princess Leah, which is quite nice.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 14/06/2021 14:07

Leah

DotDotDotDotDot · 14/06/2021 14:01

I’d choose Lara definitely, short but strong name. Not keen on Elara. Leah feels a bit 90’s to me but nice enough.

roobicoobi · 14/06/2021 13:03
  1. Leah
  2. Lara
  3. Elara

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