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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sibling doesn’t like baby’s name - torn!!

90 replies

notactuallylolling · 24/07/2021 09:22

I know this annoys people when the OP doesn’t give specifics but I don’t want everyone to get distracted commenting on the actual name…

We just had a baby girl and picked a name that is pronounced differently in English and in Spanish. OH is Spanish so we opted for his pronunciation. Conscious that this will bring a challenge of telling everyone how to say it but hopefully people will just accept that. It’s not a strange or unique name, at the same time it’s not too popular but it’s nice and simple and I like it. Im not madly in love with it though and that’s probably why I’m torn. Saying that I don’t have another name that I’d prefer….

So we decided to ‘try out’ the name for a couple of days and ended up telling some people (mostly positive reactions). However yesterday her big brother said he really doesn’t like the name and got upset and said he wants us to change it. This really upset me in turn as I have been nervous about how other people would react to her name. Again there isn’t anything weird about it but I’m tired and emotional which won’t be helping!

So to get to the point…..the reason for my post is this….should I just keep the name and a) hope that DS (7) just gets used to it and b) accept that not everyone will take to it immediately/ know how to say it?

Should I consider changing the name? If I change it I will end up picking something that’s just ‘easy’ for everyone to like and say.

Sorry for the ramble but my heads a bit of a mess at the moment!!! X

OP posts:
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gogohm · 24/07/2021 13:05

Eva is well known with the Spanish pronunciation due to Eva Peron. In fact it's how I would automatically pronounce it.

BronwenFrideswide · 24/07/2021 13:05

100% agree with this....you're not in Spain....99% of people will pronounce it ee-va

I disagree, people will pronounce the name the way they hear you or your daughter pronounce it and if they don't they are just being rude.

Stick with it OP and pronounce it the way you want it pronounced.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 24/07/2021 13:04

[quote notactuallylolling]@CloseYourEyesAndSee to be honest I look at half the kids in my kids school classes and I wouldn’t be sure how to pronounce so many of their names! There are lots of children here with mixed nationality parents (Indian, Spanish, German, African etc) that there is a real mix of names and not all ‘trad english’[/quote]
Sure, but usually they will be parents who are either both from a different culture, or the names have cultural/religious significance, or they are immigrants who named them whilst living in another country. You are English (I assume) and named her whilst living here.
My DS is half another nationality and when we named him the main priority was phonetic spelling so it wouldn't be pronounced wrong in the U.K.

Howshouldibehave · 24/07/2021 13:03

am worried I will always have to explain that it’s not ‘Ee-Va’

Yes, you will! If that worries you, change it.

Do you mean you will pronounce it ‘ever’?

I love Eva-with the usual pronunciation Blush

Classica · 24/07/2021 13:02

In some ways I think it would be easier for her if she had a Spanish name, Elena for example, rather than one that will have 99% of people assuming the UK pronunciation.

pilates · 24/07/2021 13:01

Yes, stick to your guns

Original poster
notactuallylolling · 24/07/2021 13:00

@HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur we discussed that but Ava is not Spanish, Eva is……and we wanted a Spanish name

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 24/07/2021 12:59

Ds wanted the new dc to be Bob after his friend's ddog!! We declined his suggestion. He got over it..

Original poster
notactuallylolling · 24/07/2021 12:59

@CloseYourEyesAndSee to be honest I look at half the kids in my kids school classes and I wouldn’t be sure how to pronounce so many of their names! There are lots of children here with mixed nationality parents (Indian, Spanish, German, African etc) that there is a real mix of names and not all ‘trad english’

OP posts:
HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur · 24/07/2021 12:59

Could you use Ava, which is the best of both worlds as people pronounce it the way the Spanish pronounce Eva?

ivfgottwins · 24/07/2021 12:59

@CloseYourEyesAndSee

It's pretty bonkers to live in the U.K. and deliberately pick a name that will be pronounced wrong all the time...do you think that's fair to her?

100% agree with this....you're not in Spain....99% of people will pronounce it ee-va 🤷‍♀️

BunnyRuddington · 24/07/2021 12:58

I can remember crying my eyes out because my DPs had given my DSis one name and I wanted her named another. Soon got over it Smile

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 24/07/2021 12:57

It's pretty bonkers to live in the U.K. and deliberately pick a name that will be pronounced wrong all the time...do you think that's fair to her?

Original poster
notactuallylolling · 24/07/2021 12:55

@Geamhradh totally! I’m pretty sure the names ‘Fortnite’ and ‘poopoo’ have been on the cards for this very reason!

OP posts:
Original poster
notactuallylolling · 24/07/2021 12:53

Thank you all so much! This may be outing but that’s ok! The name is Eva. In Spanish pronounced ‘Eh-Va’. I am worried I will always have to explain that it’s not ‘Ee-Va’. I’ve decided that my DS is just going to have to get used to it.

The more I think about it the more I am sure I am making a mountain out of a molehill and actually it’s a lovely name.

OP posts:
Classica · 24/07/2021 12:44

I think your 7 year old's opinion is irrelevant really (lovely though as I'm sure he is!) because parents name their children. But you don't sound enamoured with the name and that's the main thing.

Congratulations on your new baby but give yourself a few days/weeks to find the right name rather than feeling she must have a name from day one.

bananaJamas · 24/07/2021 11:59

Is it Laura? I think English people would struggle to get it but you just have to persevere

Els1e · 24/07/2021 10:33

My neighbours are Spanish and English and they have called their daughter Gemma, which is similar sounding in both languages. I have an Austrian name which is unusual in England. I hate having a lifetime of spelling it. I gave up correcting pronunciation a long time ago.

rainbowstardrops · 24/07/2021 10:15

I wouldn't change it because a 7 year old doesn't like it but if you don't like it then that's a different story.

Lorw · 24/07/2021 10:13

Not wanting to be a Debbie downer or anything and you should definitely stick to the name if you like it. However if it is hard to pronounce/spell/or she has to correct everyone she meets it will be super annoying, I have a unique name and nobody knows how to say it or spell it so end up calling me all sorts and it is so annoying and I honestly hate it 😑 Sad

LizzieMacQueen · 24/07/2021 10:04

However yesterday her big brother said he really doesn’t like the name and got upset and said he wants us to change it

If he cannot vocalise why he doesn't like it that may just be because he doesn't have the vocabulary to say why ---- I'd guess pronunciation as you suggest it's an issue for others.

Is there a shortened version you can use.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 24/07/2021 10:02

tldr is is it being told to pronounce the name the Spanish way while speaking English that's making your dss feel odd about the name? I think this because that would have been the reaction of my own bilingual children at 7 - their natural instinct was to pronounce names, including their own, according to the language they were speaking.

icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 10:01

If you don't love it then don't use it.

It has nothing to do with the seven year old.

BillyIsMyBunny · 24/07/2021 10:00

I don’t understand how you can expect anybody to be able to give proper advice without knowing the name. How unusual/ hard to pronounce etc the name is absolutely makes a difference regarding whether your DS is being reasonable or not.

diddlediddle · 24/07/2021 09:59

I agree that your hesitancy is about your own feelings, not really your 7yos. If you were sure about it you wouldn't taken their opinion into account.

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