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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 :)

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CorianderBee · 11/08/2021 12:30

Em-maah-lee-ah

Givemebackmylilo · 11/08/2021 12:30

How are people changing AM to the EM sound 🤨

Givemebackmylilo · 11/08/2021 12:29

@ChessieFL

My first thought was Em-AH-lee-a so for me it doesn’t do what you want it to do.
Agree
Seesawmummadaw · 11/08/2021 12:28

Agree it will be shortened to Emma (which is a nice name).

I would say Em ma lee ah

What about Emmaline ?

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 11/08/2021 12:27

I'd also pronounce Em-ah-lia.

It just doesn't look right written down. Very laboured.

I don't think many people will think it says Emma-Leah.

Seems a lifetime of correcting pronunciation and spelling for your poor DD...

brokenbiscuitsx · 11/08/2021 12:27

I’d pronounce it EMM-AR-LIA too.

Elouera · 11/08/2021 12:25

I too thought it was Em-MARL-i-a.

I initially thought it was a misspelling of mammalian!

Megan2018 · 11/08/2021 12:25

Yuck, I hate made up names. They look like you just can’t spell.
I’d say it Em-ahh-lee-ahh anyway so it doesn’t do what you want.

You are better off with a real name like Emilia.

LittleMysSister · 11/08/2021 12:24

My initial thought was Em-ah-leeyah, so not quite what you want.

I agree with PattyPan, why not just call her Emma-Leah?

soupforbrains · 11/08/2021 12:23

Emilia is most commonly pronounced the same as Amelia. But I know 2 Emilias who pronounce it as Emma lee ah like you want.

cannotfindanickname · 11/08/2021 12:20

I think that whatever way you do it people will most likely shorten it to Emma.

PattyPan · 11/08/2021 12:17

No, I would pronounce that as Em-AH-lia. Just call her Emma-Leah?

lemonyfox · 11/08/2021 12:16

Em AHH Lee A

chesirecat99 · 11/08/2021 12:08

I know an Emalia pronounced "Emma-Leah". Nobody can ever remember how to spell her name, even her family, and it is always pronounced incorrectly when people read her name out.

I agree Emma-Leah works better or Emmaleah is less ambiguous if you really want your own original spelling.

1940s · 11/08/2021 12:04

I'd pronounce as Emma-Leeya

JomeeSot · 11/08/2021 11:59

Emilia is better

Derbee · 11/08/2021 11:59

Em-MAY-lea

BareVanilla · 11/08/2021 11:57

I also get EmmAHlia but that said I love the sound of it. Especially when the Ah part is elongated. Sounds posh with a hint of exotic.

rainbowstardrops · 11/08/2021 11:57

I really like the name but when I first looked at it, I said Em Ar Lee a in my head.

ClaudiaWankleman · 11/08/2021 11:56

I'd pronounce it 'Eh-mah-lee-ah' with the first 'mah' sounding like the first syllable of 'father'.

I don't think it is very nice as a one word name. I agree with PP who suggest that Emma-Leah is nicer (and will avoid a lot of pronunciation issues).

VeryLongBeeeep · 11/08/2021 11:53

Eh-MAY-Lee-Ah.

I don't think it's a very pretty word written down. I get 'mammalian' vibes from it more than I do 'similar to Amelia'.

I agree that Emma-Leah would be better if you want that specific pronunciation.

Natsku · 11/08/2021 11:53

I'd pronounce it em-mah- lee-ah, can't quite figure out where I'd place the emphasis though, maybe slightly on the lee.

Dandy0911 · 11/08/2021 11:52

Emileah?

Otherwise I think the only way would be
Emma-Lia / Emma-Leah

Tinselandlights · 11/08/2021 11:51

You'd surely be better to spell it Emma-Leah as those are two recognisable names that would lead it to be pronounced in your preferred way in most accents.

If I saw Emmalia I'd pronounce it Em-MARL-i-a until I was told differently!

FictionalCharacter · 11/08/2021 11:51

It seems like a nice name but the poor girl would be constantly telling people how to pronounce it! And correcting people who mispronounce it, even after they’ve been told the correct pronunciation.

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