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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nora or Eira for a girl?

62 replies

Taggys · 09/04/2025 08:51

Hey!
Which name is nicer for a little girl:

Nora
Eira (ay-rah)

She would grow up in England on the Welsh border, as Eira is a welsh name.

Thanks ☺️

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pambeesleyhalpert · 12/04/2025 07:20

Eira!!!!

Eenameenadeeka · 12/04/2025 05:07

They are both beautiful. I like Nora more than Eira, and Eira more than Thora.

mathanxiety · 12/04/2025 04:53

I think Nora is lovely.

Non Welsh speakers will get the R in Eira wrong.

Worldinyourhands · 12/04/2025 00:28

I know an Eira and it's pronounced EYE-rah. I do like it though.

Nora to me feels like a nickname/shortened name.

ODFOx · 11/04/2025 22:10

I would pronounce Eira the same as Eire (the country of Ireland/Eire), and wouldn’t be aware of any link to Wales.
As a sound, Eira, Cora, Nora, Isla and Flora are all pleasant to hear, as are Pria , Anna and Clara.
If she is English but you want a nod to Wales try Megan, Carys or Ffion.

LilyJosephine · 11/04/2025 21:57

Still Eira of the two but Thora definitely has a nicer sound than Nora imo.

Moreteaandchocolate · 11/04/2025 21:31

Taggys · 11/04/2025 21:16

Thanks everyone!! 🥰

And if the choice was between Eira and Thora instead (of Nora), which would you choose?

Eira 😊

Original poster
Taggys · 11/04/2025 21:16

Thanks everyone!! 🥰

And if the choice was between Eira and Thora instead (of Nora), which would you choose?

OP posts:
Amblesidebadger · 10/04/2025 21:28

Nora.
She'll get sick of being asked how to pronounce Eira.

LilyJosephine · 10/04/2025 21:24

Eira - looks and sounds really beautiful, even if it is fairly trendy/popular now (I’d pronounce it the way you do OP, I’ve not heard it another way).

Nora - I know it’s back in fashion now but I find it such an unpleasant sound (it almost sounds dowdy if that’s such a thing). If you want to go down that retro route then Cora is much nicer, the small letter change seems to make a big difference imo.

VenusClapTrap · 10/04/2025 09:01

Nora. Love it.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 10/04/2025 00:26

DanDin · 09/04/2025 23:01

As @iwentjasonwaterfalls undoubtedly knows, Gogs don't say it as Eye-ra or Ay-ruh.

It's Eir-a, the Eir is a short Ay sound, followed by a rhotic R, and the -a is 'ah' not a schwa (uh) sound.

The Norwegian name Eira might be pronounced differently, but it won't be 'Eira- it's Welsh for snow'.

Edited

This the best way I've seen of describing how to pronounce it correctly in the gogledd 😁

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 09/04/2025 23:08

I love Eira - probably would have said eye-ra first but like Ay-ra too.
I like Nora but think you may get some 'nosey Nora' references which wouldn't be very nice for her.

DanDin · 09/04/2025 23:01

As @iwentjasonwaterfalls undoubtedly knows, Gogs don't say it as Eye-ra or Ay-ruh.

It's Eir-a, the Eir is a short Ay sound, followed by a rhotic R, and the -a is 'ah' not a schwa (uh) sound.

The Norwegian name Eira might be pronounced differently, but it won't be 'Eira- it's Welsh for snow'.

LittleLabrador · 09/04/2025 22:45

I like Eira. Lots in dds Welsh primary and pronounced ay (like ray) -ra

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/04/2025 22:39

I love Eira, I'm from north Wales so pronounce it correctly ay-ra but live in the south so everyone around here pronounces it wrong eye-ra, so that's one thing to be aware of (they also pronounce DD's Welsh name wrong differently so 🤷‍♀️)

StScholastica · 09/04/2025 22:36

Eira is gorgeous.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 09/04/2025 17:28

Both lovely but I prefer Nora

FrootScoot · 09/04/2025 17:27

I’m not keen on Eira because I wouldn’t call a child Snow, plus being from North Wales I prefer that pronunciation which wouldn’t be guaranteed.

Nora is lovely. One of my favourite books growing up had a Norah as the protagonist and I loved it then.

DanDin · 09/04/2025 15:44

Eira is the nicer but doesn't sound nice said as Ay-ra or I-ra.

Nora doesn't depend on accent, so choose that one.

ThePinkPowerRangers · 09/04/2025 15:27

Eira.

Gundogday · 09/04/2025 13:53

Eira definitely.

Nora still has Nora Batty connotations for me, so sounds dated and fuddy duddy (sorry).

Clearinguptheclutter · 09/04/2025 13:52

Love both
I’d worry about English people pronouncing Eira as eye-rah and even if they get the first vowel right they won’t be able to roll their r
properly

Baggyprincess · 09/04/2025 13:50

I much prefer Cora to Nora.

Eira I pronounce as Eye-ra, also live in Wales.

Eira (Eye-ra) or Cora, both fab.

Moreteaandchocolate · 09/04/2025 13:29

I like both but particularly love Eira. I live in Wales and know several, but they all pronounce their names Eye-ra.

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