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Baby names

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

Original poster

Love the name hate the spelling

145 replies

CiciLapin · 25/03/2022 22:43

Baby girl due in 2 weeks and we are set on the name pronounced ARE-lee-yah.
Struggling with spelling although are leaning towards Arlia.
Aware it's probably a marmite name.
Other names we liked were Ophelia/Aurelia/Amelia/Delilah but for various reasons they aren't top.

Any thoughts on a better way or is ours okay? Not sure I like how it looks? (I have a name always mispronounced/spelt wrong and it's not been an issue so have no problem with that for her) just not sure Arlia is too literal a spelling. Other ways we've looked at are: Aalia, Ahlia. Aware it can be spelt Aaliyah/Aliya/ Aliyah but we don't like the y and h.

Also any ideas for middle names?
So far we like grace, we are aware it's very common but seeing as her first will be unusual though best to not be too "out there". Thought a one syllable middle name would be best as first is 3 but open to other options. Last name is one syllable.

Thoughts? (Please don't hate on the name too much, we took forever to agree Wink)

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Haus1234 · 25/03/2022 23:10

The R makes me think of the huge dairy company (Arla) I’m afraid. I would use Alia - yes people will sometimes pronounce it wrong but only one then they’ll learn!

RiverRats · 25/03/2022 23:09

Aalia and Ahlia look best to me

Sisisimone · 25/03/2022 23:08

I've never heard this pronunciation. Aaliyah/Aliya/ Aliyah/Alia are all usually pronounced A-leea.

I think if you want that pronunciation you will need to spell it Arlia or Ahlia

girlabouthome · 25/03/2022 23:07

I would go Ahlia if pronunciation is importantly you.

Like Dahlia without the D.

MysteriousMonkey · 25/03/2022 23:07

I like the suggested of Ahlia or Ahlea. I think you just have to yell people til they get used to pronouncing it... I like Arlee too

Apileofballyhoo · 25/03/2022 23:05

If she ever lives anywhere else Arlia and Ahlia/Alia might not be pronounced the same.

Harrysutton · 25/03/2022 23:04

I’m in the north west and I’m saying this as “our Leah” a bit like Noel Gallagher saying “our kid”

saraclara · 25/03/2022 23:02

I'm confused. You want it to sound like ARE-lee-yah, but AH-lee-yah is wrong?

Are you English, or do you live somewhere where the accent is rhotic? Because to me they're one and the same.

heidihigh · 25/03/2022 23:01

I think Ahlia looks better than Arlia. I would pronounce Alia as AH-lia

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 25/03/2022 23:01

Aleah
Allia
Aleea

Luckyelephant1 · 25/03/2022 23:01

I think Aalia looks best and would be most likely to be pronounced how you want it. It's a nice name.

Arlia definitely doesn't look right, it looks silly like for example when people spell Lindsay as Lyndzi or something.

RuthW · 25/03/2022 22:59

I like Arlia. M

Alia I would say a-leah

MiniMaxi · 25/03/2022 22:58

I like Ahlia - looks prettier than Arlia to be, and pronunciation clearer than Alia (which can be pronounced “ay-lee-ah”)

butterfly990 · 25/03/2022 22:56

Alia Rose
Alia Beth
Alia Kate
Alia Terry

Whatever00 · 25/03/2022 22:55

Aliyah April

Whatever00 · 25/03/2022 22:54

What about AliyahApri

Original poster
CiciLapin · 25/03/2022 22:53

@Ellmau

Why not Alia? The r looks wrong somehow.
I think it's the r that makes it look wrong to me too. Alia was my original spelling but when I was testing sneakily everyone I showed it to pronounced it "AH-lee-yah" so husband suggested the r would remove that option. Same with the h. Also Alia now seems too short?
OP posts:
BlueFlavour · 25/03/2022 22:50

Alia is a good way to spell it.

Ellmau · 25/03/2022 22:48

Why not Alia? The r looks wrong somehow.

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 25/03/2022 22:47

Your spelling can only be read as you intend it to be pronounced so it’s fine. I quite like Ahlia too. And I like Grace, it goes well together.