Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

New Name... How would you pronounce it?

156 replies

elleaimeejohnson · 11/08/2021 11:46

Heya!

My baby girl is due in January, and I wondered what you all think of the name Emmalia, and how you would pronounce it.

I'm not as keen on the emphases in the classically-pronounced name 'Amelia', but I love the name pronounced Emma-LEE-ah. Does this come across in the spelling Emmalia?

I know it doesn't really exist, but I think it's just so pretty!

Thank you so much :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
peaceinourtime · 20/10/2023 09:20

You can still informally call her Emilia. I have a friend whose daughter is Emily and she sometimes calls her Emilia.

Original poster
elleaimeejohnson · 20/10/2023 08:29

I didn’t use it in the end - we ended up with Emily. I love that you used it though! I still love it. How annoying that it’s constantly mispronounced for you though. Hopefully your daughter will correct everyone on the pronunciation in time!

OP posts:
Natalie1999 · 20/10/2023 05:12

Did you ever use this name? I used it for one of my twin girls in January 2022 love her name I got it from my sisters old friend named Emilia but I spell is Emmalia everyone calls her Amelia and never says it the correct way witch is frustrating

MumofSpud · 13/08/2021 15:26

I would say
a) pronounce it Emma-Leah
b) please don't spell it your way as you / your DD will always have to tell people how to pronounce it

Kanaloa · 13/08/2021 15:23

And the difference between a name that was ‘made up once’ and one that you’ve just made up is spelling it out and repeating it for the rest of your life because nobody’s ever heard it before.

Kanaloa · 13/08/2021 15:21

Well every name originated somewhere but I wouldn’t give my child a name I’d just made up when there are good alternatives to get the same sound - like the above suggested Emma Leah.

thestrawberrygirl · 13/08/2021 12:55

Em - mal - ear. I don't live in UK so I probably put the accent in different places. Sounds a bit like the Italian girls name Amalia

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 13/08/2021 12:11

@Dutchesss

Surely every name is a 'made up' name? Confused The world wasn't created with a set of names we should use. I like it OP and I can't believe the rudeness of some people to actually write 'yuck'. Have we gone back to preschool?
Yes, I wonder if God said; "What do you think of Adam and Eve?" "Which one's for the chap and which one's for the lady?" "Oh I don't know, I hadn't thought of that" "Pass us your hat and we'll pick them out of that"
DoTheNextRightThing · 13/08/2021 00:08

My first though was Eh-mah-li-uh. I agree with PP that Emma-Leah might be safer.

Original poster
elleaimeejohnson · 12/08/2021 23:52

@Dutchesss

Surely every name is a 'made up' name? Confused The world wasn't created with a set of names we should use. I like it OP and I can't believe the rudeness of some people to actually write 'yuck'. Have we gone back to preschool?
Thank you!! That’s lovely to hear Smile as you say, every name was ‘made-up’ once!
OP posts:
Dutchesss · 12/08/2021 23:39

Surely every name is a 'made up' name? Confused The world wasn't created with a set of names we should use. I like it OP and I can't believe the rudeness of some people to actually write 'yuck'. Have we gone back to preschool?

LittleGwyneth · 12/08/2021 23:20

Em-ahh-lee-ahhh

Original poster
elleaimeejohnson · 11/08/2021 18:35

Yes, as did I 😊 the double M in ‘Emma’ suggests a non-rhotic ‘R’ sound. Everyone I’ve asked in person who lives where I do has pronounced it the same way 😊
Thank you

OP posts:
Lulu1919 · 11/08/2021 18:01

Mmm my first thought was
Em marr Lee a

pumpkinspicee · 11/08/2021 18:01

I'd probably say emm-ar-le-ah if I was to pronounce that name, if I'm honest.

Maybe the spelling: emmileah would help make sure people pronounce the name how you like it?

Kite22 · 11/08/2021 17:57

If you want Emma-Leah, then I'd spell it Emma-Leah.

Yes, people will drop the second part of the hyphenated name BUT, they will shorten a long name and just use the first part anyway, so that's no different.

LadyEloise1 · 11/08/2021 17:53

Eh Mah Lee Ah

minatrina · 11/08/2021 17:52

@Muma1992 also from the north but I'd say MAR-lia - I guess it just depends on how the first person you meet with the name pronounces it, and it just sticks in your head!

TheWayTheLightFalls · 11/08/2021 17:49

Emmalia just looks made up or that you made a mistake on the birth cert. Please don't condemn your child to a lifetime of 'no, not like that, this is how you spell it'.

This. Third/fourth Emmeline, Emily or Emilia.

Muma1992 · 11/08/2021 17:42

@minatrina explained it better than me! :)

Muma1992 · 11/08/2021 17:41

[quote AwaAnBileYerHeid]@Muma1992 oh I see. Maybe a regional thing, I've never heard folk adding R onto the end of Emma.. or any other word that doesn't actually have an R in it.[/quote]
I am from the North, so I pronounce Malia like Mah-Lee-Ah. I wasn't aware there was another way!

minatrina · 11/08/2021 17:30

As I've seen other posters mention, Emmeline is a beautiful name!

Using the same spelling logic as Emmeline, I'm wondering if Emmelia would work for you OP? I'm sure you'll still get people pronouncing it the same as Amelia but I think the double m would be enough to put people off?Smile

Sorry if that's already been suggested, I have not read every reply!

RhonaRed · 11/08/2021 17:29

it makes sense @AwaAnBileYerHeid if you don't actually pronounce Rs but they serve to lengthen the vowel sound.

minatrina · 11/08/2021 17:26

[quote AwaAnBileYerHeid]@Muma1992 oh I see. Maybe a regional thing, I've never heard folk adding R onto the end of Emma.. or any other word that doesn't actually have an R in it.[/quote]
I don't think it's the Emma bit that's making people think it would be pronounce em-MAR-li-uh, it's the lia bit.

Lots of names that end in -alia are pronounced "are-lia", like Talia, Malia, Natalia, etc...

PattyPan · 11/08/2021 17:24

I can envision it incorrectly being pronounced Emily

To be honest whichever spelling you go for there is a high chance that it will be mistaken for Amelia or Emily so if that will bother you I would just choose a different name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread