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Baby names

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

Original poster

Èlia

34 replies

spanishsenorita2 · 15/09/2024 09:58

Looking for a Spanish girls names. Come across Èlia (with accent). Pronounced eh-lia.
What are your thoughts? My only concern is it seems to be very unisex.

The other names on my list are Sofia, Lucia and Lola. Love Alba but doesn't go with surname. Also quite like Vida but not sure if it can be used as a name.

Any other suggestions? Please do not suggest Maria, I associate this with people I went to school with or Alma which is a very old lady name.

Prefer names that cannot be shortened.
Will be living in Spain by time baby is born.

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elQuintoConyo · 19/07/2025 10:04

Oh, I taught an Élia, her twin sister was Sira, also a lovely name.

But Élia is a GREAT name, I love it.

KayEmAy · 18/07/2025 19:55

Èlia is gorgeous do that :)

Jessbow · 18/07/2025 18:00

Dahlia? Gives same sort of sound, with a def start sound (D-arlia)

HugoYorway · 18/07/2025 09:18

Without the accent it's the Italian form of Elijah.

elQuintoConyo · 18/07/2025 09:11

Vida would be weird in Spain, no one I've ever met is called Vida and I've taught children and adults for 20+ years!

elQuintoConyo · 18/07/2025 08:52

I've met an Alma in Barcelona, but her parents were Kiwi!

I have met: Julia, Noelia, Martina, Iris, Laura, Ariana, Nuria (of all ages), ainoa, Ilona (i-lona), Bea (Beatrice), Valentina, Delfina, Desiree, Teresa.....

TiredAH · 17/07/2025 22:44

Vega, Eva, Rocio, Martina, Aurora, Abril, Vida, Blanca, Nerea, Aroa
Never met an Alma in Spain, so not sure why you think is an old lady name.

rollup · 17/07/2025 22:31

To me, it’s very similar to the boys name Elias, which in Central Europe is pronounced el-ee-as. Lovely name though

BootballJoy · 17/07/2025 14:21

From when i lived in Spain i remember Nerea, Eva, Leire/Leyre, Patricia, Ana, Marina, Mariana and in Mexico Alondra, Soraya, Leilani, Juana, Mariela, Marisela, Elba, Saira

HugoYorway · 17/07/2025 09:35

I'd think Elia was a boy. I don't know about Spain but in some countries accents aren't compulsory on uppercase characters, so there might be some who would think is was El-ee-ah.

Sofia - nice but Sophia and Sofia are overused in the UK
Lucia - nice but there are different pronunciations.
Lola - showgirl or cockerpoo?

Popular Names in Spain 2023 - Behind the Name might have some ideas for you.

Susie387 · 17/07/2025 08:36

What about Camila? I love Sophia and Lucia too.

Blueuggboots · 17/07/2025 08:28

Alegria. Spanish for joy?

Eixample · 17/07/2025 08:12

I would only give a Spanish or Catalan name if you are Spanish/Catalan, otherwise it’s useful to have a name that says something about the child’s identity while being easily pronounced by locals.
I know a few girls called Èlia, nobody would confuse it with the word ella. Names you hear a lot at school at present are Martina, Julia, Mia, Emma, Lucia, Ona, Joana, Jana, Gala, Noa, Sofia, Aina, Lua, Olivia, Laia/Eulalia, Alicia, Ivet, Arlet, Bet, Elsa, Iris, Llum, Mel, Monica, Abril, Valentina. Occasionally I hear Queralt, Naia, Ares, Aloma, Estel. Three-letter two syllable names seem quite popular.

GoodVibesHere · 17/07/2025 07:25

Luisa
Margarita
Elena
Luciana

VSXY · 17/07/2025 04:46

My name is Veda, my middle name is
Maria~Elena it’s doesn’t go together but I love it .

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 16/09/2024 06:42

Vita?

dinmin · 15/09/2024 21:21

I also love Nerea and knew a few when I lived in a Catalan-speaking place. Think it’s actually originally Basque though

Original poster
spanishsenorita2 · 15/09/2024 21:18

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I've not seen Nerea on any of the popularity lists for Spain. We will be living in Catalonia.

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/09/2024 21:07

My favourite Spanish name is Nerea - might be too popular for you though? I also love similar Nereia (after the Nereids - sea nymphs) more but don’t think that variation is as widely used in Spain.

Turniptracker · 15/09/2024 20:33

I thought Elia was a boy's name actually (there's one in the Amazon series those about to die).
How about Nora? I know a Spanish girl called lia too

dinmin · 15/09/2024 20:29

I assume you are Spanish so presumably it’s already on your radar that that accent isn’t used in castellano - is it a Catalan name? Will the accent get missed as a result if it’s not a well-known name?

DuchessOfSausage · 15/09/2024 20:24

Susanna

JC03745 · 15/09/2024 15:03

Ramona
Verda
Daniela
Aida

DuchessOfSausage · 15/09/2024 14:55

Elia sounds like ella, she in Spanish, so a no from me.
'Living la vida loca' - Vida gets a no too.
Popular Names in Spain 2022 - Behind the Name

Original poster
spanishsenorita2 · 15/09/2024 14:00

Thank you @Enko
Thank you @MistyF I like Ines, think I'll add to list. Alaia is very pretty but unfortunately doesn't go with surname, a bit like Alba sadly.
Thank you @BoleynMemories13 Lucia is one of my top favourites. Vida I was concerned it's used more as a word than a name in Spain.

OP posts: