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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aziza, Izuka, Iruka and Zikora

105 replies

NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 13:37

They’re girls’ names. What’s your immediate reaction to each of them, please?

They're all meaningful and from our cultures, but - putting that aside - I’m looking for immediate reactions/first impressions.

Thank you!

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beAsensible1 · 16/01/2025 14:15

NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:07

I grew up in England, as did my husband. I can honestly say I don’t know anyone under the age of about 30 who does this/is fine with it. Whilst it was definitely something older generations did to assimilate, we’re more about celebrating cultural differences (including names) at this point. Which is a good thing, imo.

But, thank you.

Show quote history

Same OP

i know many people with non western names who don’t shorten and don’t allow others to shorten them either.

they all manage fine

Ihopeyouhavent · 16/01/2025 14:13

Awful. Setting your kid up for a life of repeating and spelling it all the time.

beAsensible1 · 16/01/2025 14:11

I love aziza and iruka

Oceangrey · 16/01/2025 14:11

Everydayflowers · 16/01/2025 13:46

My first reactions:
Aziza is my favourite. Iruka seems to have a harsher sound and I don't like it as much as the others. Izuka and Zikora seem nice too.
I pronounce them AZ-ee-za, eye-RU-ka, IZ-oo-ka, and ZIK-or-a when reading then in my head.

I don't know any of them but I like them all. Preference probably the same as this poster, although I would have assumed I as in Iridescent as you said.
Lovely options.

Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:11

leafinthewind · 16/01/2025 14:06

I know a Zikora, but she often goes by Zizi. I think it would be easy to avoid the shortening, though, at least until your daughter can make up her own mind. I think Z is a fun initial, I think it's easy to pronounce and I like the one I know - so that would be my pick!

How funny! I just posted about ‘Zizi’! 😁

I do really like Zikora.

OP posts:
Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:10

QuimCarrey · 16/01/2025 14:03

You might want to factor that into your choice then? Some of these are more easily abbreviated to a Western name than others. You can't stop kids shortening and nicknaming obviously, but some are more Western sounding than others. Like I'd think Aziza would be Zeez or Zeezy if she/her mates are that way inclined.

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Zizi (zeezy) would traditionally be how both Aziza and Zikora would be shortened. I think it’s cute.

OP posts:
KnickerFolder · 16/01/2025 14:09

Aziza is beautiful and easy to pronounce and spell for people unfamiliar with the name (if that bothers you).

Zikora is also beautiful but you can’t really control what nickname your DC end up with at school so there is a good chance she will end up as Kora/Cora.

I really like Izuka too but she will probably end up as 1 of many Izzys at school, if you don’t want a Westernised nickname.

I love all 3 of them.

Iruka is okay but a bit clunky. I prefer soft sounding names with S and Z.

MagpiePi · 16/01/2025 14:08

Izuka - bazooka
Zikora is giving me Zoflora vibes, or reminds me of Zika virus

I would pronounce Izuka and Iruka with an 'ih' sound, as in iridescent

Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:07

LauraNicolaides · 16/01/2025 14:03

This is fair enough, but bear in mind that your daughter might feel differently when she's older, especially if she's grown up in the West.

Show quote history

I grew up in England, as did my husband. I can honestly say I don’t know anyone under the age of about 30 who does this/is fine with it. Whilst it was definitely something older generations did to assimilate, we’re more about celebrating cultural differences (including names) at this point. Which is a good thing, imo.

But, thank you.

OP posts:
weebarra · 16/01/2025 14:07

I know an Izuka, think it's a lovely name.

leafinthewind · 16/01/2025 14:06

I know a Zikora, but she often goes by Zizi. I think it would be easy to avoid the shortening, though, at least until your daughter can make up her own mind. I think Z is a fun initial, I think it's easy to pronounce and I like the one I know - so that would be my pick!

QuimCarrey · 16/01/2025 14:03

NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 13:59

We’re pretty against the shortening of names to ‘westernise’ them, so no.

Show quote history

You might want to factor that into your choice then? Some of these are more easily abbreviated to a Western name than others. You can't stop kids shortening and nicknaming obviously, but some are more Western sounding than others. Like I'd think Aziza would be Zeez or Zeezy if she/her mates are that way inclined.

Botanikal · 16/01/2025 14:03

Iruka is my favourite. Ee - roo - kah is how I would pronounce it, but more flowing together so not so much emphasis on each sound.

LauraNicolaides · 16/01/2025 14:03

NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 13:59

We’re pretty against the shortening of names to ‘westernise’ them, so no.

Show quote history

This is fair enough, but bear in mind that your daughter might feel differently when she's older, especially if she's grown up in the West.

whiteroseredrose · 16/01/2025 14:03

Unfortunately they sound like brand names for pharmaceuticals.

ClashCityRocker · 16/01/2025 14:01

Everydayflowers · 16/01/2025 13:46

My first reactions:
Aziza is my favourite. Iruka seems to have a harsher sound and I don't like it as much as the others. Izuka and Zikora seem nice too.
I pronounce them AZ-ee-za, eye-RU-ka, IZ-oo-ka, and ZIK-or-a when reading then in my head.

Pretty much the same as this! I'd have also made the same assumptions re pronunciations but would of course call them by the correct name once i'd been made aware.

They're lovely names. Iruka is probably my least favourite purely on the phonetic sound - think the combination of the 'r' and the hard 'ca' evokes 'verruca' but that's probably a bit of a stretch!

Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:01

SagittariusDwarf · 16/01/2025 13:51

The first and last make me think "Zika" (sorry). Iruka probably my favourite if I had to choose, but it sounds (in my pronunciation at least, which may be incorrect) a bit like verruca

Fair enough! I did ask for honesty. 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 14:00

snowqu33n · 16/01/2025 13:57

Iruka means dolphin in Japanese

What a lovely fact! I didn’t know. I love ‘crossover’ words.

OP posts:
Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 13:59

Cecilly · 16/01/2025 13:56

I like Zikora. Her nickname could be "Cora" which can be pronounced easily by many here in the west.

We’re pretty against the shortening of names to ‘westernise’ them, so no.

OP posts:
littleluncheon · 16/01/2025 13:58

All nice, maybe Iruka is my least. I like Izuka

snowqu33n · 16/01/2025 13:57

Iruka means dolphin in Japanese

Cecilly · 16/01/2025 13:56

I like Zikora. Her nickname could be "Cora" which can be pronounced easily by many here in the west.

boysmuminherts · 16/01/2025 13:55

I would read them as I roo ka ? (I like in)
And I zoo ka
They're very unfamiliar to me.

Original poster
NameGameBame · 16/01/2025 13:52

Everydayflowers · 16/01/2025 13:46

My first reactions:
Aziza is my favourite. Iruka seems to have a harsher sound and I don't like it as much as the others. Izuka and Zikora seem nice too.
I pronounce them AZ-ee-za, eye-RU-ka, IZ-oo-ka, and ZIK-or-a when reading then in my head.

Thank you. Pronunciations mostly correct. IR (as in, iridescent) - rook - ah and Zik - cora.

OP posts:
SagittariusDwarf · 16/01/2025 13:51

The first and last make me think "Zika" (sorry). Iruka probably my favourite if I had to choose, but it sounds (in my pronunciation at least, which may be incorrect) a bit like verruca

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