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Baby names

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

Original poster

Louisa,Maura or Letitia

61 replies

motherdeer · 03/04/2023 20:13

I am thinking about an appropriate name for my unborn child. Which of the name I have mentioned that you think is the most beautiful?
Any middle names ideas? Thank you!

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WhatFreshHeckle · 05/04/2023 16:52

😂😂

I'm crap at Irish! And it does really vary depending on the accent. So don't despair yet 😉

Dishwasherdisaster · 05/04/2023 16:26

I give up so @WhatFreshHeckle😂
I've never heard it said like that myself. The one Moira I know says it the same as Maura/Mawra

WhatFreshHeckle · 05/04/2023 12:10

I'd pronounce Máire Moyyy-ra @Dishwasherdisaster but my Irish is rusty at best!

MissMarplesbag · 05/04/2023 12:07

Louisa Constance
Louisa Violet
Louisa Frances
Louisa Bethany
Louisa Edith
Louisa June

Dishwasherdisaster · 05/04/2023 12:02

The friend I'm talking about is from Donegal @WhatFreshHeckle there seems to be a y at the end of Máire when she says it (ya at the end). I actually don't know if she says Maura the same.

WhatFreshHeckle · 05/04/2023 11:30

I'm from NI and my relative (Maura) was Belfast born and bred (Falls Road). She said it to rhyme with Laura. So it possibly varies from person to person.

Lots of people say Mary like Meeeeyary in NI, but I say Mary to rhyme with hairy

Dishwasherdisaster · 05/04/2023 11:12

Pemba · 05/04/2023 03:14

And I suppose it's because in English phonetics the letters 'oi' make an 'oy' sound as in 'boy'. For example in the words choice, coil, boil, foil, loiter, toil, soil, etc. Both then I suppose Moira is not an English name, so maybe that's where confusion came in?

Interesting that both Maura and Moira are anglicised variations of the Irish name Maire (sorry, can't do accents on my keyboard) how is that pronounced?

I say it like Maura, but my friend from the North of Ireland says Morya. It's hard to describe it, it has a y but in a different place to the way you say Moira

BubziOwl · 05/04/2023 06:49

Letitia 100%! Beautiful name

UnpropitiousNightmares · 05/04/2023 06:49

Louisa

thebaneofmylifeisacat · 05/04/2023 06:13

Maura sounds like a moaning sound. Letitia Luke a poodle.

Louisa is lovely. Middle names

May
Jane
Marie
Anne
Elizabeth

Pemba · 05/04/2023 03:14

And I suppose it's because in English phonetics the letters 'oi' make an 'oy' sound as in 'boy'. For example in the words choice, coil, boil, foil, loiter, toil, soil, etc. Both then I suppose Moira is not an English name, so maybe that's where confusion came in?

Interesting that both Maura and Moira are anglicised variations of the Irish name Maire (sorry, can't do accents on my keyboard) how is that pronounced?

Pemba · 05/04/2023 02:16

Dishwasherdisaster · 05/04/2023 01:13

Maura and Maura are both English spellings of the Irish name Máire so I don't see why they'd be pronounced differently?
I'd choose either Loiusa or Maura. All I can see is tit in the middle of Letitia sorry

Show quote history

I don't know why but they just are. Moira as Moy-ra and Maura rhyming with Laura. I suppose the different spelling indicates the difference. That's how it is said in England anyway. I know that it used to irritate the Maura I knew when people called her Moira, moy-ra.

Perhaps it's different in Ireland?

Viviennemary · 05/04/2023 01:19

Not keen on Maura or Letitia. Louisa is quite nice.

Dishwasherdisaster · 05/04/2023 01:13

Pemba · 04/04/2023 22:44

Yes Moira = Moy-ra.

But Maura rhymes with Laura, Cora, Dora and Nora.

Maura and Maura are both English spellings of the Irish name Máire so I don't see why they'd be pronounced differently?
I'd choose either Loiusa or Maura. All I can see is tit in the middle of Letitia sorry

Gillipips · 04/04/2023 22:59

Louisa..but biased..we have a 14 year old Louisa Alice. Didn't come across another one until she started secondary.

IceMagic · 04/04/2023 22:52

Louisa

Pemba · 04/04/2023 22:44

Yes Moira = Moy-ra.

But Maura rhymes with Laura, Cora, Dora and Nora.

StopFeckingFaffing · 04/04/2023 22:08

What's the difference between Maura and Moira? I'd pronounce them the same

I'd pronounce Moira like Moy-rah
Maura more like Moor-ah

Lavenderlemongrass · 04/04/2023 22:06

What's the difference between Maura and Moira? I'd pronounce them the same.

StopFeckingFaffing · 04/04/2023 21:57

Louisa by a mile

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/04/2023 21:56

Louisa is nice enough (don’t spell is Luisa, she’ll spend her life explaining that)

Letitia is alright

Luella
Lydia
Lowenna
Fernanda
Adela
Maria
Marina
Miranda

Maura is awful (to me) - very mid century vibe but more depressed barmaid than chic.

SquigglePigs · 04/04/2023 21:55

I don't like Letitia but the other two are lovely.

I have a real soft spot for Louisa and thing it's very pretty. It's the one I'd go for.

I do like Maura but I think there's real potential for pronunciation issues ("Moira") or being mistaken for Laura.

Exl · 04/04/2023 20:26

Well not Letitia there would be too many schoolboy jokes about tits.

Both of the others are lovely .

WhisperingAutistic · 04/04/2023 20:25

Louisa

DuchessOfSausage · 04/04/2023 20:18

I went to school with a Letitia - she hated it as it was ALWAYS misspelled.
It's been misspelled on here despite being in the thread title