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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Baby boy, Aris, Elias or Zacharia

40 replies

Sofita90 · 18/09/2024 10:53

We just found out the gender and I was prepared more for a girl so not many baby boys names. I am Greek and my husband Moroccan and we live in uk. So we want a name to be easy and nice for UK but in our cultures as well. We short listed the above, which is your favourites? Aris I think is my favourite, what do you think?

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Theoldwoman · 18/09/2024 15:29

Elias.

sel2223 · 18/09/2024 15:48

Sofita90 · 18/09/2024 15:27

The name is pronounced like ee-LEE-as, 3 syllabus with emphasis on the second.

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With that pronunciation, I actually think Ilias works better.

Elias I would say as El-eee-us, whereas Ilias I would say how you've written it

user1471428569 · 18/09/2024 15:57

Sofita90 · 18/09/2024 13:45

What are your thoughts on the spelling Ilias? Instead of Elias?

Almost the same family background as you.
Our son is Elias. 😍
In Morroco they will pronounce it ee lee ess whatever the spelling.
I personally don't like the Ilias spelling.

shoopshoopdedoo · 18/09/2024 21:05

Like all of them. Would definitely avoid Aris due to the arse connection! Ari would avoid this though, and I like it.

GoodVibesHere · 18/09/2024 21:10

Ari sounds like you're saying Harry but dropping the H.

I like Zach.

KirstenBlest · 19/09/2024 08:57

Aris is the best of the 3, but cockney rhyming slang.
Elias is El-eye-as in England. Zac is ok.

I'd use Ilyas, or whatever the Morrocan spelling is.

user1471428569 · 19/09/2024 17:21

Sofita90 · 18/09/2024 13:45

What are your thoughts on the spelling Ilias? Instead of Elias?

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LondonLass61 · 19/09/2024 17:23

MagicianMoth · 18/09/2024 11:03

Just to let you know round our way aris is slang for arse.
I just looked up why that might be and it’s double Cockney rhyming slang - aris from Aristotle, Aristotle rhymes with bottle, bottle and glass = arse, which I didn’t know!

First thing I thought of tbh 😳

KirstenBlest · 19/09/2024 17:39

The 2 'Ilyas' I know say it as IL-y-as. One is Moroccan, other isn't.

Button28384738 · 19/09/2024 17:40

KirstenBlest · 19/09/2024 08:57

Aris is the best of the 3, but cockney rhyming slang.
Elias is El-eye-as in England. Zac is ok.

I'd use Ilyas, or whatever the Morrocan spelling is.

Yes in English Elias would be pronounced"El eye ass" so would spell Ilias if that bother you

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/09/2024 23:01

Ilias or Ari are fine - they aren’t well known in the UK but have no negative connotations and everyone will soon get used to the spelling and pronunciation you want to use - people will likely ask first since they are uncommon.

But Zacharia will have to put up with everyone adding an H to the end of his name and Elias will have to often correct the pronunciation - as Zachariah and “ Ee- lye- us” are much more widely used.

MagicianMoth · 20/09/2024 09:07

Bbq1 · 18/09/2024 11:50

Me too and not the point of the thread but wondering how gkass rhymes with arse. Glars?

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Yes that's how us Essex types say glass - glarss. Like barth for bath.
My husband who is Scottish says I put Rs in when unnecessary and take out the ones that should be there - eg in "car".

Daisybuttercup12345 · 20/09/2024 22:25

Elias is the nicest.
Iziah?

KirstenBlest · 20/09/2024 22:30

Is Iziah a name? Did you mean Isaiah?

m00ngirl · 20/09/2024 22:42

MagicianMoth · 18/09/2024 11:03

First thing I thought of too was "up the aris" unfortunately... 🙈 a lovely name but I'd be cautious of it in England. Agree "Ari" will be taken as "Harry". "Ares" could work if pronounced phonetically like "are" "res" or "a-res" (whereas cockney "aris" is pronounced like "Harris") but does also have the downside of being an anagram of arse..!

I always think if you really love a name just go for it though. What other people think should only matter a bit. Also maybe cockney is dying out, I'm in my 30s, I doubt teenagers would make the same association so who knows about your baby's generation.

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