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Baby names

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

Original poster

Gaia

41 replies

Lallydallydune · 24/11/2024 15:50

I met a little girl the other day. And her name was Gaia. I just thought it was so cute and unusual. What do you think? It's another word for Earth.

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 05/12/2024 23:15

Gorgeous name, never understood why it was so underused when similar Maya/Maia is fairly popular (I suppose possibly because Maya has other etymological origins). Glad it’s finally increasing.

TempsPerdu · 05/12/2024 12:25

@Lallydallydune Just adding that the 2023 name stats have been published today by the ONS and there were 81 Gaias - still only #490 on the list, but way up from when we were naming DD in back in 2017.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/12/2024 23:24

Gorgeous

Original poster
Lallydallydune · 01/12/2024 19:40

It was so cute on a little girl.

She was so sweet

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Dustyunicorn · 01/12/2024 19:36

I know an adult Gaia, I think she is Italian. I wouldn't choose the name personally as it just isn't to my taste but it has a lovely meaning and if you love it I say go for it!

FayCarew · 01/12/2024 19:34

By that, I take it you find Iris a naff name too.

bridgetreilly · 01/12/2024 13:57

scoutingfortwirls · 01/12/2024 13:20

I can only assume you don't know who Gaia is?

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I know, I just think it’s a naff name for a person. Perfectly fine if you actually are a goddess.

scoutingfortwirls · 01/12/2024 13:20

bridgetreilly · 01/12/2024 10:03

I think it’s a bit naff, tbh. Trying too hard to give a name a meaning.

I can only assume you don't know who Gaia is?

TempsPerdu · 01/12/2024 10:09

Really like Gaia, and it was on our shortlist for DD. As a pp mentioned it's currently a very popular name in Italy, and DP and I were learning Italian when I was expecting DD and kept coming across it. The tragic case of Gaia Pope, which was in the news just before DD was born, put us off though.

While I still think it's lovely I'm glad we didn't go with it, as in hindsight it's not really 'us'. I'd definitely admire it on someone else's child though!

bridgetreilly · 01/12/2024 10:03

I think it’s a bit naff, tbh. Trying too hard to give a name a meaning.

scoutingfortwirls · 30/11/2024 17:23

Berlinlover · 30/11/2024 14:31

I don’t like it and I think a lot of people would struggle with pronunciation.

No they won't

scoutingfortwirls · 30/11/2024 17:23

Absolutely love it

sanityisamyth · 30/11/2024 17:15

Makes me think of the top spec models made by Ford, with their Ghia badges on them.

Theak · 30/11/2024 17:14

I like it, have heard it before and wouldn’t struggle with pronunciation. It’s probably more of a middle-upper class name.

Original poster
Lallydallydune · 30/11/2024 17:08

Berlinlover · 30/11/2024 14:31

I don’t like it and I think a lot of people would struggle with pronunciation.

I don't think many people would struggle with the pronunciation.

Gaia is a well known word. It's on a lot of tv shows.

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Berlinlover · 30/11/2024 14:31

I don’t like it and I think a lot of people would struggle with pronunciation.

Firsttimebabymummy · 30/11/2024 14:26

Really like it!

needhelpwiththisplease · 29/11/2024 18:57

Lovely name with a lovely meaning

Jeschara · 29/11/2024 18:56

I really like it.

Silenus · 26/11/2024 09:55

MillyMichaelson · 24/11/2024 17:45

I really dislike it. To me it's akin to calling your child Eden or Heaven or a name of that ilk. It's just very aggrandising or something.

I think it’s a bit aggrandising as well. More like calling your child ‘Ancestral Earth Mother’.

It’s also a yoga/meditation video streaming site.

massistar · 26/11/2024 09:50

It's a pretty common name in Italy by the way. Not at all considered like Heaven there.

Prisonpillow · 24/11/2024 18:40

I love it.

MillyMichaelson · 24/11/2024 18:39

Fair enough!

Original poster
Lallydallydune · 24/11/2024 18:33

MillyMichaelson · 24/11/2024 18:19

And very possibly not her actual name?

It was her real name.

She told me.

Her mother liked angelic names.

She told me that her mother was either going to call her "Angel" or "Heaven".

And she decided on Heaven.

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MillyMichaelson · 24/11/2024 18:19

And very possibly not her actual name?