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Baby names

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

Original poster

Kaia, Kiera, Ciara or Kyra?

39 replies

Snowbell99 · 11/03/2022 21:32

These are all on my list but as I could only use one of them (as they sound very similar) I was wondering which one you prefer?

Kyra - KY-ra, really love the soft and warm sound of this but bothered by the missing/unclear etymology and the fact that it seem too trendy.

Kiera - KEE-ra, I love the way this looks but wondering if it could be mispronounced as Kierra or confused with the more common Keira all of the time. It was also popular in the 90s/00s so maybe feels too tired or dated?

Ciara - KEE-ra, I like this too, will it get mispronounced? Too 90s?

Kaia - KAH-ya (or KY-ah, they sound basically the same said quickly to me), I like this a lot but sometimes it feels insubstantial. I also like the Scandinavian spelling of Kaja and Kaya but fear these would get mispronounced.

What do you think?

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ladygindiva · 11/03/2022 22:46

LOVE Kaia/Kaya/Kaja. I'd be bold and go for the j spelling, but they all work. Clear winner.

FunnysInLaJardin · 11/03/2022 22:44

Kira is by far the best!

Thewindwhispers · 11/03/2022 22:43

Kyra is lovely but they’re all nice.

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 11/03/2022 22:40

@BungleandGeorge

Isn’t Ciara/Keira pronounced Keer-ah?
KEE-ra. I tried to say KEER-ah but it causes me to sort of pause between KEER and the ah.
OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 11/03/2022 22:36

Isn’t Ciara/Keira pronounced Keer-ah?

HomeHomeInTheRange · 11/03/2022 22:19

Kia Ora?

Zillamop · 11/03/2022 22:13

Another one - Chiara pronounced Kee-AH-ra

BusinessMindThoughts · 11/03/2022 22:02

Interesting, thanks!
Ciara is nice, I do like it. Just think with nearly any name that can have several spellings or pronunciations you'll get people needing correcting...

Luredbyapomegranate · 11/03/2022 21:52

@BusinessMindThoughts

Kiera would definitely be assumed to be a misspelling of Keira.

Wasn't there a singer Ciara that rhymed with Tiara?

Kaia is a bit wishy-washy imo with all those vowels! It's not bad though!

Kyra is my favourite I think. I think of Kyra Sedgwick.

@BusinessMindThoughts

Keira is the misspelling of Kiera - Keira Knightlys Dad spelt it wrong accidentally on her birth cert, then she got famous and everyone copied it. The original spelling is Ciara because there is no K in Irish.

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 11/03/2022 21:51

I am not considering Cara. It's nice but not something I want to use.

OP posts:
Fortyminutes · 11/03/2022 21:49

Cara beats them all imo

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 11/03/2022 21:49

Kiera is the "original" anglicisation (Ciara is the original). Keira is more modern but became more popular because of Keira Knightley. The funny thing is that I read that her parents actually wanted Kiera but her dad, I believe, mixed up the letters.

Ciara is KEE-ra in Irish. It is an old name. Ciara (see-AIR-a) is a modern invention.

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 11/03/2022 21:48

Ciara is the prettiest, though Kiera is fine.
Kyra will just get pronounced the same as Ciara eg Kyra Sedgwick

Agree Kaia is insubstantial

BusinessMindThoughts · 11/03/2022 21:44

Kiera would definitely be assumed to be a misspelling of Keira.

Wasn't there a singer Ciara that rhymed with Tiara?

Kaia is a bit wishy-washy imo with all those vowels! It's not bad though!

Kyra is my favourite I think. I think of Kyra Sedgwick.