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Baby names

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

Original poster

This or that! Our final two names

35 replies

CatGos · 18/01/2022 14:45

After thinking long and hard about names that work in both Spanish and English without someone butchering pronunciation we've finally picked out two names for baby boy! Now we can't decide between them!

Álvaro or Emilio! We love both and just can't pick!

OP posts:
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MrsBertBibby · 20/01/2022 15:49

Alvaro, by a mile.

BasaltIsland · 20/01/2022 11:45

Much prefer Alvaro, but agree it’s open to mispronunciation in a way Emilio isn’t. English native speakers who don’t know Spanish will almost certainly put the accent in the wrong place.

However, I have a name that is mispronounced all the time and in numerous different ways. Cant say it has ever bothered me that much and I was shy at school. I don’t even notice that certain colleagues I’ve known years have their own unique way of pronouncing my name unless I stop and think about it. Friends get it right.

Snowiscold · 20/01/2022 11:37

Álvaro definitely. It’s a stronger-sounding name.

Derbee · 20/01/2022 11:30

Álvaro is lovely!

resm · 19/01/2022 21:23

I think Emilio is a really cute name for a child, but can also picture it on an adult (Emilio Estevez).

Surprised at posters thinking it’ll be confused for Emily as I’m sure all the wee Olivias & Olivers running about don’t get mixed up.

Synchrony · 19/01/2022 16:56

Much prefer Alvaro as I dislike Emily/Amelia type sounds. However, I did assume the stress was on the second syllable.

Kitkat151 · 19/01/2022 12:02

I like neither

SirChenjins · 19/01/2022 11:58

Scots won't have a problem pronouncing it

I’m Scottish and wouldn’t know how to pronounce it correctly Confused

Bluemamma · 19/01/2022 11:55

Both are very nice, I prefer Alvaro:)
I’m sure you’ve considered Javi (Javier) - I’m not Spanish but I’ve always loved that name!:)

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 19/01/2022 08:31

Álvaro is just great!

Scots won't have a problem pronouncing it and if he is used to writing the accent and it's used on forms people will know by the accent (or should do!).

Leeloo1233 · 18/01/2022 19:54

Alvaro is gorgeous! Strong but beautiful, international and interesting but familiar.

Emiliano makes me think of Emilia immediately and seems a bit feminine, but thats just me being stupid

Original poster
CatGos · 18/01/2022 18:33

As suspected a 50/50 🤣. @SnowdropFox think you may get be tight, might need to see which one jumps into our mouths when he arrives!

@flippertyopWe live in Scotland so I think the long ahhhh sound a lot of English accents have wouldn't be so much of an issue 🤞

OP posts:
LakeShoreD · 18/01/2022 17:54

Alvaro! It’s a lovely name!
Emilio is too close to the many similar and very popular girls names.

PattyPan · 18/01/2022 17:52

Emilio - it's much more likely to get a correct pronunciation and spelling

flippertyop · 18/01/2022 17:45

I would pronounce it Al-VARRR-O. I think most would so maybe Emilio is better.

irishfarmer · 18/01/2022 17:28

@EileenGC sorry I looked it incorrectly! Thanks for the pronunciation :)

SnowdropFox · 18/01/2022 17:21

I like both so would probably wait until he arrives and see what felt right Smile

MerryMarigold · 18/01/2022 17:04

Also the way most English pronunciation goes, he'll get called Al VAAAR oh. You can correct people but it depends how confident you are at secondary school. Lots of different teachers. Plus, many people just don't listen. I have a very easy to pronounce name but some people still don't manage even after being corrected.

EileenGC · 18/01/2022 16:45

The accent will definitely be dropped, as are most special characters on UK documents, school records…

@irishfarmer it’s pronounced AL-vah-roh, stress on the first syllable. And it’s spelt Álvaro with 2 a’s not an e!

Fl0w3ry · 18/01/2022 16:38

Emilio

DoodleBelle · 18/01/2022 16:24

I think Emilio is too close to Emily/Amelia type names and they are very popular names so I would go with Álvaro

irishfarmer · 18/01/2022 16:21

I prefer Álvero, no idea if I am pronoucing it correctly though, Al-ver-o? But most people can say a name correctly once you've told them how to say it. I think Emilio is too close to Emily etc and will be said incorrectly a lot.

BunnyRuddington · 18/01/2022 16:17

Emilio gets my vote Smile

AugustRose · 18/01/2022 15:50

Emilio definitely.

MerryMarigold · 18/01/2022 15:47

There's lots of Spanish names that work in English like Sebastian, Nicolas, Mateo. I still like Emilio though.

I don't think in this age of football slebs anyone would think of it as girly. Plenty of cool Spanish/ Mexican footballers around. Foreign names are totally normal these days.

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