Everyone is getting my baby's name wrong

That would work, except the OP wants the world to pronounce Emila as Emeela.

Otherwise we are just being lazy.🙁

@L0bstersLass Good idea - and after a while OP won't have to worry about friends mispronouncing her baby's name, because after a few passive-aggressive exchanges like that, her friends will keep their distance until she's got over herself !!

I would think it was Emilia. Looks misspelt. If you'd added the I you could have saved yourself and her a lifetime of correcting people.

@YourBrickTiger Exactly - and then as long as she never meets anyone else ever again, you'll never have to correct anyone. Sorted.

@Laura3091 Do we just shorten it to Mila? (Mee-La) to make it easier for everyone?

Definitely not. Keep repeating and correcting. People will get there in the end.
I know it's not popular on MN, but I'm a big fan of a bit of passive-agressive behaviour in these circumstances...

Friend (Susan) says "oh, she's gorgeous, and Emilia is such a pretty name"
You "Thanks Sarah"
Friend (looking confused) "Sarah? My name's not Sarah"
You (with a smile) "No, and her's isn't Emilia.

People remember that.
I couldn't care less if they thought I was being a dick. They'll remember and that's the important part.

Instantly reminded me of the Fugees and I couldn't help but sing to the tune of Fu gee la la 😂 - em ee la la

Sorry OP not much help.

Maybe call her Emmy/Emmie, for short?

I don't think you should have to change it at all. Why should you have to compromise for other people? She's your baby. Just have a conversation with people and her teachers once she's old enough. The more people that get used to it, the more people will get it right.

Maybe Emeuila!

I think the problem is not so much “it’s uncommon” but that it’s uncommon AND very similar to at least two better known names in this country.

Your DD is going to spend her life correcting it, I’m afraid. I have a common middle name spelt in a less common way and I have had a lifetime of returning official documents that have to wrong.

So I agree you would be better going with Mila. She’ll still spend her time correcting her formal name but at least on a day-to-day basis it’s less troublesome.

It is very unfortunate, but OMG you are so right. Once I read "Emila, like Tequila", it finally clicked for me.

Probably not the solution OP is hoping for, but definitely one that will work in Emila's teenage years.

I read it correctly but I’d pronounce it Em-ill-a, not Em-ee-la. I knew an Emala (pronounced Emma-luh) but everyone called her Ee-mar-luh which drove her mad. Unless it’s a common name like Amelia or Emily, it could go either way and your choice of pronunciation is a matter of preference so you can’t really get upset if people get it wrong.

But imagine if a child was called Oliva pronounced Oll-eeva instead of boring old Olivia. She’d be called Olivia constantly. Didn’t you anticipate this?

Ah and struggling with strange letter combos isn’t being lazy

Olivia hasn’t been used a million times in the last 30 years

Me too. I think there are two issues. The first is it is so close to Emilia and the second that even if I picture it and see the letters I still wouldn't pronounce it how you intended it.

What a beautiful name, OP. Just beautiful.

Mila is a good shortened version.

@Cakeandusername OP wants to pronounce it Em-ee-la, so unfortunately saying "it's like Emily with and A" won't work.

OP maybe you should tell everyone it rhymes with Tequila 😂

The name is fine, people will adjust. I have an uncommon name and just correct people and move on.

You don't need to be insulting about other people's names though.

It’s pretty and better than being a boring Olivia for example which has been done a million times over.

You sound nice.

OP, it's not "lazy readers", it's that you chose a name that looks like a typo! It's just how it is.

What everyone else says: it's not "lazy" for people to read normally, which is to skim and make inferences. That's how everyone reads. Saying that bothers you is like complaining water is wet.

If you like the name, keep it and spend a lifetime explaining. My child has a name from her father's culture and lives in my country, NO-ONE knows how to pronounce it and no-one can remember the spelling. (Note: we didn't make it up. It's extremely common in his culture and there's only one way to spell it.) She and I spend our lives explaining her name. We don't mind, she loves her name and so do I.

If you can't live with the fact that Emila will lead to a lifetime of mispronunciation and autocorrect, then change it.

But don't be indignant water is wet, and maybe don't scoff at other people's names choices #Olivia either?

Haven't read the replies so sorry if I'm repeating what others have said, but I suspect that many people who read Emila, will think it might be a typo or their brain is so used to seeing Emilia, they read and say that. I wouldn't change it - it's important your child has the name you always intended for her - yes, she will probably have to make it clear each time she meets someone for the first time, but once they know her they won't get it wrong again.

If you choose a name no-one has ever heard of before, what do you expect? The poor girl will have trouble, and need to spell out her name, all her life.

People call my son Jacob and his name is Joseph. People will always get names wrong

I wouldn’t worry too much.
i certainly wouldn’t change her name.

my daughters name is Isabel. And for a solid 6 months she was known as Isabella to close family 🙄

until one day I just snapped and said “ we don’t have a child called Isabella. Her names Isabel “ after 6 months of gently correcting them.

• edited because I spelt my own child’s name wrong.