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Baby names

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

Original poster

Two similar girls names - please help us choose

38 replies

Lauwilk · 03/04/2024 18:31

Eve or Eva

I understand both are popular but these are the only names we can both agree we like, but can’t choose between the two!

Any opinions welcome :)

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breezefromthesea · 18/04/2024 13:32

I think Eva sounds a bit harsh.
I prefer the softer sound of Evie as it sounds friendlier.

naydd · 07/04/2024 21:07

I have an Eva and still love it as much as I did when I named her nearly 15 years ago. She has always been the only Eva in her year group, although there were loads of Evie's/Ava's. She often goes by 'Eve' by those closest to her. She has a one syllable middle name and we have a 2 syllable surname and it flows really well (in my very biased opinion!)

Comedycook · 07/04/2024 20:55

Definitely Eva. Gorgeous name...so feminine, international and glamorous.

Eve is it's frumpy, twee cousin.

Moreteaandchocolate · 07/04/2024 20:53

I think it’s fine to shorten Eva to Eve. It gives both options to choose between as she goes through life.

FayCarew · 07/04/2024 20:52

No. Quite normal in speech.

Original poster
Lauwilk · 07/04/2024 20:48

Thanks everyone - really appreciate your input!

we were pretty set on Eva but part of the reason we were hesitant was that we thought there’d be there’d be way more Eva’s than Eve’s around. Certainly if I look at the name rankings I think Eva is around 60 whereas Eve was somewhere around 180. We have never heard of either in our circle of extended friends though (although one Aoife which I guess is similar to Eva).

Our surname doesn’t start with a vowel so no issue there :)

for some reason I don’t feel like Eva can be shortened to Eve though - I feel like they’re completely different names. It would be the best of both worlds but would it be weird to do this?

OP posts:
FayCarew · 07/04/2024 16:54

There are twin sister MPs and both their names end in -a and their surname starts with a vowel. It always seems to sound like Regal not Eagle.

ButtockUp · 07/04/2024 16:41

My first name ends with an 'a.'
My surname begins with a vowel.

As a pp said, people tend to add an 'r' when saying my full name.

MumOfOneAwesomeHuman · 07/04/2024 16:15

Eva

FayCarew · 07/04/2024 16:01

Me too.

ShoesoftheWorld · 07/04/2024 15:57

Eve. I'm afraid I associate Eva with Eva Braun.

In terms of the religous link, nobody seems to have a problem with Adam.

RuthW · 07/04/2024 15:53

Eva. You can then shorted to Eve as the need arises. I like Eve but seems like it should be short for something.

Pemba · 07/04/2024 15:38

They are both lovely (and voting has finished now). I suppose Eva is slightly more unusual although probably still very popular.

Be aware that Eva can be pronounced 3 ways, there's the usual English language way 'Eeva', but in many countries (I know Spain is one) Eva is pronounced the same way we'd say Ava. Then in Eastern European countries it's said as Evva with a short 'e' (like the word ever).

Whereas Eve can only be said one way, as far as I'm aware.

JLT24 · 07/04/2024 15:30

Eva

Also love Evalin

PurpleReindeer2 · 07/04/2024 14:04

Eva 🥰

pambeesleyhalpert · 07/04/2024 13:53

Eve

FindingMeno · 07/04/2024 10:14

Eve.

Bax765 · 07/04/2024 10:11

Definitely Eva!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/04/2024 21:52

Eve - strong, simple, elegant and more timeless as it’s less used ( I know a few of differing ages). Plus the palindrome thing makes it sound cool too (probably why it seems to be often used in sci-fi/fantasy). The only thing that used to put me off about it was the slightly negative (to some people) Biblical link but since Eve’s become more popular in the last decade or two, I don’t think that’s so much of an issue anymore.

Eva is a pretty classic and more international but I feel it blends into a lot of similar vowely 2 syllable names that are so popular at the moment - Ella, Emma, Ivy, Ellie, Elsie, Isla, Ava, Evie… As a single syllable name Eve makes more of a statement and feels a bit more interesting to me (despite not being that unusual anymore and there being lots of Ev- names).

FayCarew · 04/04/2024 12:06

Eve. I don't like Eva or Ava.

Copperoliverbear · 03/04/2024 22:43

I like Eva or Ava not Eve. X

SkaneTos · 03/04/2024 21:10

I voted for Eva, but they are both lovely names!

pinkpanther84 · 03/04/2024 20:45

Eva

RavenswoodFalls · 03/04/2024 20:41

Depends on how you’re pronouncing Eva for me. I personally dislike it when pronounced Ee-vah so would go for Eve over that one, but prefer Ay-vah to Eve.

OwlBasket · 03/04/2024 20:37

Eva. I love Evelyn too.