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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lena, Sara or Aya

40 replies

AmalFish · 08/04/2024 10:35

Hello,
We are looking for a simple but elegant baby girl name- which one of these do people like?
Thanks!

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FayCarew · 12/04/2024 07:20

Sara to my knowledge does not appear in the Quran. Lina does but not as a name of a person.

GoodVibesHere · 12/04/2024 07:05

How about Anya?

Mich8 · 12/04/2024 07:00

FayCarew · 12/04/2024 06:45

Just because a name like Sara might have Hebrew roots in Sarah (I assume), it doesn’t mean it can’t also be an Arabic name. I didn't say it couldn't be used as a girl's name by anyone.

I actually said it’s also an Arab name, in response to you saying only Aya is.

Yazzi · 12/04/2024 06:55

FayCarew · 12/04/2024 06:33

@Yazzi , the only one that's Arab is Aya.

That's incorrect. All three names are very common Arab names currently and through history. All three are mentioned in the Quran (though there are non Muslim Arabs who have these names).

If I said "Elizabeth is a common English name" would you quibble that it's originally Hebrew?

MariaVT65 · 12/04/2024 06:50

I’d say Lena. I would only know to pronounce it Lee-na.

Don’t know how to say Aya (eye-a?) In which case, PPs have a point about ‘hiya’

Sara is nice but i agree she will always be asked ‘is it sara or sarah’

FayCarew · 12/04/2024 06:45

Just because a name like Sara might have Hebrew roots in Sarah (I assume), it doesn’t mean it can’t also be an Arabic name. I didn't say it couldn't be used as a girl's name by anyone.

Mich8 · 12/04/2024 06:39

FayCarew · 12/04/2024 06:33

@Yazzi , the only one that's Arab is Aya.

Just because a name like Sara might have Hebrew roots in Sarah (I assume), it doesn’t mean it can’t also be an Arabic name. Lena and Sara are both very popular in Arab and Muslim communities.

Like the PP, I also assumed an Arab heritage due to these three names as well as the username.

FayCarew · 12/04/2024 06:33

@Yazzi , the only one that's Arab is Aya.

Yazzi · 12/04/2024 03:18

Usernamen · 12/04/2024 03:03

I don’t like any of them. None have an obvious pronunciation and they seem like they’re borrowed from another culture?

The only people I know IRL with those names or similar are Lebanese (apologies if you are actually Lebanese, OP!)

They're Arab names, and OPs username would imply she is Arab.

Plenty of people grow up with these names in the west. Thankfully the next generations don't make nearly as much of a fuss about difficulties with pronunciation as did gen X and boomers!

octoberfarm · 12/04/2024 03:17

Love Aya!

MyDentistIsCalledCrentist · 12/04/2024 03:04

I strongly advise against Sara. It's setting someone up for a lifetime of being called the wrong name.

It's a close relative's name and it used to drive her absolutely round the bend being called the wrong name. When she got married, she changed the spelling of her first name to avoid it because it was genuinely that bad. She goes by Sera now.

Usernamen · 12/04/2024 03:03

I don’t like any of them. None have an obvious pronunciation and they seem like they’re borrowed from another culture?

The only people I know IRL with those names or similar are Lebanese (apologies if you are actually Lebanese, OP!)

Yazzi · 12/04/2024 02:54

Lena is my favourite.

For others
It's LEE-na
AY(as in hay)- ah
SAra (as in Zara)

But of course in the west everyone gets used to lots of pronunciations :)

Mich8 · 12/04/2024 02:51

I’m assuming Arab/Muslim heritage OP?

Aya is lovely of faith is important to you given its meaning of a verse in the Quaran - or miracle.

Lena would be my choice. Assuming Lee-na pronunciation.

ScubaDivingSpiderMonkey · 08/04/2024 23:19

my grandmother was a Lena (lee-na). It was short for Ellen.

greengreyblue · 08/04/2024 23:16

Sara( to rhyme with Zara) but actually prefer Zara.
Lara or Lana I prefer to Lena.
Not heard of Aya but prefer Anya.

theduchessofspork · 08/04/2024 23:13

Sara is my favourite - nice and unusual without being odd. I’m assuming you want it pronounced like Zara with an S, if not it’s easier to spell it Sarah.

Lena is fine but way too many Lena/Lola/Leila/Lyra/Lara/Luna/Leah/Lila names around. I do think 99% of people will say it Lee-nuh though, so I wouldn’t worry about that.

Aya (Aye-uh?) isn’t great.

miniaturepixieonacid · 08/04/2024 21:20

All nice.

I teach 3 Saras at the moment, all pronounced like Zara with an S but a huge number of people call them Sarah.

The only Lena I have taught was a Lee-na. I wouldn't think to pronounce it another way.

I've never met an Aya.

I think my favourite is Sara.

Moreteaandchocolate · 08/04/2024 15:40

I like Lena - the pronunciation variation wouldn’t bother me because it’s only occasionally that people read your name before hearing it said, and it’s easily corrected.

Sara - I like but possibly a bit dated

Aya - sounds like Hiya or Heya. I like Ayla, if that’s an option?

FayCarew · 08/04/2024 15:01

@ab03 , we have a few Helenas in the family tree and they're 'Heleena'.
Helena Kennedy is a Heleena too.
Lena and Ena were fairly regular names about 80+ years age, usually short for something.
I'd only heard Lena said as Leena or Lenna until the Tindalls had one. I think their Mia is a 'Mya'.

Watchthedoormat · 08/04/2024 14:51

Love Lena.

Lee-na

ab03 · 08/04/2024 14:49

@FayCarew I never would have thought to say Leena! Even more confusing then! I thought layna because I know a Magdalena and Helena pronounced that way, and my daughter goes to nursery with a Lena pronounced 'lenna'

FayCarew · 08/04/2024 14:49

I don't think there'd be much confusion with Sara. It's like Lara, Cara, Zara and Clara.
I know several Zaras so it seems quite ordinary.
I think it was almost compulsory to have a family member called Sarah in my age group.

WaltzingWaters · 08/04/2024 14:38

Lena. Sara will just get a lot of confusion over pronunciation. I have a friend Sara (said as Sarah) and she’s always annoyed when she’s called otherwise.
Aya I like the look of but not so much the sound of. That will also get a lot of confusion over pronunciation.

Pipecleanerrevival · 08/04/2024 14:32

Aya sounds like someone just stood on your toe.

Sara and Lena both lovely.