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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help me pick from these! Girl.

56 replies

GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 14:50

Here are the top names. The baby girl is half Spanish-American with a Spanish last name.

Javiera
Julia
Maria or Martina

Thank you for the help. I have no idea which to pick!

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mathanxiety · 23/06/2024 19:56

Julia or Martina would be nice.

I'd avoid Galicia given the surname.

How about
Alma
Alba (nice, given your Scottish heritage)
Alana (also nice, given your Irish heritage)

flipflopsandsun · 23/06/2024 19:54

Maria is a lovely name.

NightPuffins · 23/06/2024 19:51

I think Javiera and Julia are both nice. You might also like Julieta or Juliana?
I'm not keen on Martina, and Maria just seen so commonly used, but I love Mariana.

skyofblue · 23/06/2024 19:41

RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:08

I’m sure they would be fine in the US, but if there’s a chance your daughter will one day travel a lot / move somewhere else, especially to Europe, please don’t call her Javiera or Galicia.

The first is quite strange, the second is a big no-no unless you’re in a country where place names are totally accepted and nobody bats an eyelid.

Many people in Europe (especially continental Europe) will know of Galicia as the autonomous region in Spain. Especially those into hiking / pilgrimage as Santiago - where the Camino de Santiago ends - is located in Galicia. A lot of French / Italian / German / Swiss people I meet are familiar with the Camino or have walked it. Their mind would jump at that most likely.

It’s just as weird calling her Galicia as it would be calling her Nebraska or Albania - I’m sure those would not be too out there in America, but everywhere else in the world they’re just nuts.

As a European I didn't question Galicia as a name. It sounds like it could be someone's name or even a last name and it's pretty and has meaning to the parents. It obviously is more of a unique name but I like it.

Lots of people are named after a location or a place/area it all depends on the sound, of the name, of place you are using. Probably why we see way more Aspens and Hudsons than we do Nebraskas or Albanias.

Although it's not a popular name now it did peak in 2005 apparently "In 2005, the name reached its peak popularity, given to 5 in every million babies." Im aware that, thats obviously not an awful lot of babies but it does show us that it's not completely "nuts" for a baby name and that people have used it as a name. I'm speaking as someone who has a very rare and unique name which I really love.

fusspot786 · 23/06/2024 19:40

I love Maria. Was a contender for our dd.
Julia is nice too but I probably prefer Juliet.
Not keen on the others.

skyofblue · 23/06/2024 19:39

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 19:32

RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:24

I think it’s a strange name but middles names aren’t shared with everyone you meet on a daily basis, so would probably be fine.

Will she have 1 or 2 surnames? Because for example in Spain people would assume the “Galicia” in Martina Galicia Johnson was a surname (if they saw the full name written down). Place names are very common surnames - but then again, this is a small or non-existent issue in your case if it sounds totally normal to American ears.

Show quote history

She’ll only have one surname.

It might be funny if her first name was Galicia and surname was a town in Galicia, even though no one would recognize it in the states. It’s like naming a baby “Scranton Pennsylvania” but in Japan 😂

DH and I are considering Galicia as a middle name.

OP posts:
Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 19:25

AstonMartha · 23/06/2024 18:53

Divorce the husband and use Claudia.

With so many gorgeous Spanish girls names I’m not sure how you have come up with this list.

Julia is beautiful but why not pronounce it as it’s meant to be pronounced in Spanish?

  1. LOL
  2. What other names would you suggest?
  3. Julia is a well known name in the US pronounced with a J sound. It would be exhausting for her to insist everyone always call her Hoolia. Javier is not an unheard of name here and everyone knows to pronounce it with an H sound. And there’s no Javier used with a J sound. So I’d do Spanish pronunciation of Javiera but not Julia. Maybe when she’s an adult she’ll strongly identify with her Spanish side and want to change the pronunciation. That’d be fine.
OP posts:
RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:24

GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 19:11

Thanks for sharing this view. Do you think Galicia would still be too strange from a European perspective to have it as a middle name?

Show quote history

I think it’s a strange name but middles names aren’t shared with everyone you meet on a daily basis, so would probably be fine.

Will she have 1 or 2 surnames? Because for example in Spain people would assume the “Galicia” in Martina Galicia Johnson was a surname (if they saw the full name written down). Place names are very common surnames - but then again, this is a small or non-existent issue in your case if it sounds totally normal to American ears.

Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 19:17

KirstenBlest · 23/06/2024 18:58

Galicia - like Alicia but with a G. but how do you say Alicia?
In the UK, Alicia is usually Aleesha or Al-iss-y-a. I'd say Galicia as Gal-isha or Gal-ith-ee-a.

Great point. We would Americanize the pronunciation to be Gah-Lee-see-ah.

OP posts:
Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 19:11

RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:08

I’m sure they would be fine in the US, but if there’s a chance your daughter will one day travel a lot / move somewhere else, especially to Europe, please don’t call her Javiera or Galicia.

The first is quite strange, the second is a big no-no unless you’re in a country where place names are totally accepted and nobody bats an eyelid.

Many people in Europe (especially continental Europe) will know of Galicia as the autonomous region in Spain. Especially those into hiking / pilgrimage as Santiago - where the Camino de Santiago ends - is located in Galicia. A lot of French / Italian / German / Swiss people I meet are familiar with the Camino or have walked it. Their mind would jump at that most likely.

It’s just as weird calling her Galicia as it would be calling her Nebraska or Albania - I’m sure those would not be too out there in America, but everywhere else in the world they’re just nuts.

Thanks for sharing this view. Do you think Galicia would still be too strange from a European perspective to have it as a middle name?

OP posts:
RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:09

PS Julia or Martina are beautiful! All the Martinas I have met have been awesome!

RobinHood19 · 23/06/2024 19:08

I’m sure they would be fine in the US, but if there’s a chance your daughter will one day travel a lot / move somewhere else, especially to Europe, please don’t call her Javiera or Galicia.

The first is quite strange, the second is a big no-no unless you’re in a country where place names are totally accepted and nobody bats an eyelid.

Many people in Europe (especially continental Europe) will know of Galicia as the autonomous region in Spain. Especially those into hiking / pilgrimage as Santiago - where the Camino de Santiago ends - is located in Galicia. A lot of French / Italian / German / Swiss people I meet are familiar with the Camino or have walked it. Their mind would jump at that most likely.

It’s just as weird calling her Galicia as it would be calling her Nebraska or Albania - I’m sure those would not be too out there in America, but everywhere else in the world they’re just nuts.

BoleynMemories13 · 23/06/2024 19:01

You can't go wrong with Maria. Such an international classic. Julia is too, but personally I'm much less keen.

KirstenBlest · 23/06/2024 18:58

Galicia - like Alicia but with a G. but how do you say Alicia?
In the UK, Alicia is usually Aleesha or Al-iss-y-a. I'd say Galicia as Gal-isha or Gal-ith-ee-a.

AstonMartha · 23/06/2024 18:53

Divorce the husband and use Claudia.

With so many gorgeous Spanish girls names I’m not sure how you have come up with this list.

Julia is beautiful but why not pronounce it as it’s meant to be pronounced in Spanish?

Moreteaandchocolate · 23/06/2024 18:47

GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 18:16

Speaking with DH, Julia and Martina are taking the lead. ⭐️

Julia is my favourite! And Jules is a cool option for when she’s a teen if she likes.

Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 18:24

skyofblue · 23/06/2024 18:19

Javiera - with H sound is my fave also sounds nice with Galicia as a middle name? Or even the other way around. Javiera Galicia/ Galicia javiera then she's got two names that represent both of your and also her heritage. unless you've got middle names already covered. If so what middle name you thinking, that would maybe make a difference.

This sounds lovely! We don’t have any middle names in mind yet, and would like something that goes well with the other two.

OP posts:
skyofblue · 23/06/2024 18:23

"A potential point against Galicia: Her last name is a town in Galicia, Spain. So maybe it’s a bit much."
All depends. Is it a nice place? There are plenty of people called Paris or London I don't see why not! If you like. I think it's a pretty name.

Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 18:20

Pliyo · 23/06/2024 18:15

NOT Javiera. It's lovely but as someone with a Spanish name I can tell you right now that no one will ever be able to pronounce it properly in the UK.

Interesting! Has it been a pain for you?

We’re in the US, so people are perhaps much more accustomed to Spanish names here.

OP posts:
skyofblue · 23/06/2024 18:19

Javiera - with H sound is my fave also sounds nice with Galicia as a middle name? Or even the other way around. Javiera Galicia/ Galicia javiera then she's got two names that represent both of your and also her heritage. unless you've got middle names already covered. If so what middle name you thinking, that would maybe make a difference.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 23/06/2024 18:17

Julia or Martina
Both lovely

Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 18:17

SuperbOwls · 23/06/2024 18:11

I vote Julia. It's a wonderfully international choice! Galicia sounds a bit clunky to me but would make a nice middle?

This is a great idea. Galicia might be better as a middle name.

OP posts:
Original poster
GummiBeari · 23/06/2024 18:16

Speaking with DH, Julia and Martina are taking the lead. ⭐️

OP posts:
Pliyo · 23/06/2024 18:15

NOT Javiera. It's lovely but as someone with a Spanish name I can tell you right now that no one will ever be able to pronounce it properly in the UK.