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Original poster

Lila or Molly?

33 replies

glasshalffull0 · 15/09/2026 13:12

Lila or Molly?

Gender is a surprise but we have our boy name sorted and we really can't decide on a girl name! We really like both options but we have a few reasons why 1 isn't a strong contender over another

Molly - my husband doesn't like that its the name of a drug and is a common dog name 😆

Lila - we don't know any Lila's it really isn't a popular name near us- is it too unusual? Will people mispronounce it? Is it too cutesy?

Thanks in advance!

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JoyousWriter · 25/09/2026 15:47

Lila is my brother's dog. Molly is so insipid but I'd have to go for that.

Autumnsunset4Y · 22/09/2026 19:43

I like both.

I would pronounce Lila to rhyme with Isla

AgentPidge · 21/09/2026 21:58

Lila is OK but it reminds me of Lil-Lets! I prefer Lara - it's beautiful. But I really can't stand Molly. I just hate the sound of it. But also there's the drugs nickname, and a Molly was some sort of disreputable person back in the olden days.

Mobley52 · 21/09/2026 21:53

I like both. But prefer the Lyla spelling

User6761 · 16/09/2026 23:45

Lila is ok but a little bit too cutesy for my taste. Do you like Leia, Lydia or Lara?

Molly is also ok but I like a lot of other M names more - e.g. Marnie, Mairi, Marianne, Maggie, Morven.

dogsaremybusiness · 16/09/2026 22:23

Well I have to vote Molly, because that’s my daughter’s name!! She is the light of my life. She’s 28 now and I miss her so much (she emigrated to Australia) .

NamingNoNames · 16/09/2026 22:17

PancakeCloud · 16/09/2026 22:13

I like Lila, I don’t think it’s as hard to pronounce as everyone thinks - the Lie-La pronunciation much more common in English. I also like the spelling Lilah.

I also think of drugs when I hear the name Molly.

It's not but if you have several similar-looking names it's easy to get it wrong

PancakeCloud · 16/09/2026 22:13

I like Lila, I don’t think it’s as hard to pronounce as everyone thinks - the Lie-La pronunciation much more common in English. I also like the spelling Lilah.

I also think of drugs when I hear the name Molly.

1982abc · 16/09/2026 22:09

People will mispronounce Lila (either way) for eternity!

That said... Molly I don't love

floofydoofy · 16/09/2026 22:06

I spent time in Germany growing up so would assume Lee-La as a pronunciation (like Line/Lina which was every other girls name there in the 00s it seemed!). I think if you wanted that pronunciation without hesitation here in the UK you'd have to do the Futurama spelling of "Leela" which is much less pretty/classic looking imo.

If you want the same pronunciation as Lyla I would probably spell it Lyla OR name her Delilah and shorten to Lila.

If you want Lil-ah, I'd spell it Lilla.

I think Lily is lovely too.

Not a huge fan of Molly, sorry!

Fifthtimelucky · 16/09/2026 14:53

Daffodilsinthespring · 15/09/2026 18:23

There are loads of similar L names around at the moment -Lola, Lila, Lyla, Lyra, Layla - they all blend into one.

Molly is ok but a bit dated . Most Mollys are 20-30 now.

I agree with this, except that the Mollys I know are in their 70s/80s! The drug association these days would put me off.

CruCru · 16/09/2026 12:54

Lila is much nicer than Lily BUT if people pronounce it Lee-la, will that annoy you?

I don’t like Molly very much.

CharlieBoo · 15/09/2026 22:33

Definitely Molly! Have always loved it.. There are so many Lila’s under 4 where I am.. seems to be the new Isla.. I’d personally avoid

Giraffehaver · 15/09/2026 22:27

I love the name Molly. There have been several woven through both our families and it's the name I always say I'd choose for myself but if your dh doesn't like it that's it

Lomonald · 15/09/2026 19:56

backformoreofthesame · 15/09/2026 18:05

I don’t know how to say Lila - lie -la ? Lee La? Lil -a

I would say lie - la but I think it is lil a

BoleynMemories13 · 15/09/2026 18:33

I would assume Lie-la. I've only ever known it to be this, although it can also be spelt Lilah or Lyla. I like Lie-la, I dislike Lee-la.

I prefer Lila to Molly, which I find a bit twee.

NamingNoNames · 15/09/2026 18:24

@backformoreofthesame , Lie-la unless they correct you. Mila is Mee-la but Milo is My-lo, I think.
The milky drink Milo is Mee-lo (meal-o)

Lila disappears into the Isla/Lily/Lola/Lyra/Luna... names

Daffodilsinthespring · 15/09/2026 18:23

There are loads of similar L names around at the moment -Lola, Lila, Lyla, Lyra, Layla - they all blend into one.

Molly is ok but a bit dated . Most Mollys are 20-30 now.

backformoreofthesame · 15/09/2026 18:05

I don’t know how to say Lila - lie -la ? Lee La? Lil -a

Lomonald · 15/09/2026 17:42

I really like Molly that is what I voted for, Lila is fine, i think there is lots of L names around atm and the sound a bit samey to me.

whippersnapper55 · 15/09/2026 17:40

I love Lila!

hididdlyho · 15/09/2026 17:38

I do like the name Molly, but she might get teased once kids start to understand the drug reference. How about Milly?

Drivingselfmad · 15/09/2026 17:26

There are loads of Lila, Lyla, Leila, Lyla, Leela variations at the high school where I teach. I still think they are lovely names tho.

seahorsessky · 15/09/2026 17:24

Love Molly, and it's quite classic. As in popular now, but also an Enid Blyton name. Most dogs have human names now (you seldom hear Fido or Rover now), so whatever you call them, there will be a dog called that.

NamingNoNames · 15/09/2026 17:19

Molly's nice enough. I don't like Lila at all, it seems faddy.