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Original poster

Opinions on the girl name Alba?

102 replies

OneBlueKoala · Yesterday 16:21

We love Alba for our baby girl.

The only criticism for the name I can imagine, is a likeness to Albert.
However I personally don’t foresee that as an issue.
We love the nickname Allie, as my mother’s name is Alison and she goes by Allie aswell.

Just wanted general opinions to see if there was anything I was missing with the name / any reasons not to use.

Middle name will be Sofia after my grandmother.

other options we still have running are:
Iris
Cassia
Gia
Margot

Not all with middle name Sofia, depending on flow of course.

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lottiegarbanzo · Yesterday 18:00

I’d expect you to be Scottish, though possibly living outside Scotland. Just as I’d expect Erin to reference Irish heritage.

BrainSoup · Yesterday 18:03

Hate it, it doesn’t ring well to me, and isn’t a pretty sounding name, I don’t know how to explain it but Albra (obvs not a real name) sounds flowing where as Alba sounds too short. My brain can only say it in a mocking way.

TheeNotoriousPIG · Yesterday 18:19

I like it! It goes well with Sofia (to my ears), and I also like Iris and Margot from your list.

Pinkspadeinthesunshine · Yesterday 18:19

In my opinion, the Alba rose is one of the most beautiful. So I think of that. On the flip side, it conjures up the Alba party and Alex Salmond. I think it gets pronounced Alapa or something like that.

Dandeloosha · Yesterday 18:21

I know two teenage Albas. Both have Spanish mums. I think it’s a gorgeous name.

DramaAlpaca · Yesterday 18:24

It's a No from me, not that my opinion should matter one bit, of course.

To me it's a clunky name and I don't like the look of it written down or the sound of it. It was used as a brand name for cheapy electrical items back in the day.

User6761 · Yesterday 18:44

Pinkspadeinthesunshine · Yesterday 18:19

In my opinion, the Alba rose is one of the most beautiful. So I think of that. On the flip side, it conjures up the Alba party and Alex Salmond. I think it gets pronounced Alapa or something like that.

Yes, that's the comment I was going to make - I'm not a Gaelic speaker but my understanding is that Alba in Gaelic is more than 2 syllables, but not quite 3 if that makes sense. Something like A -li - ba. (I'm sure a Gaelic speaker can correct me). But I presume most people using it as a name pronounce it as it's spelt? For me it's a bit close to Alma, and it also reminds me of the electronics company. I prefer Ada and Ailsa but then you wouldn't have the Allie shortening. FWIW I know two young Albas - one Scottish, one Spanish.

YourAmplePlumPoster · Yesterday 18:46

It's a fairly traditional Spanish name.

stepoutoftime · Yesterday 18:47

EmpressStorm · Yesterday 17:42

It makes me think of the Italian name Finalba, where they normally go by the name alba. I don’t like it for some reason, I do find it unfeminine sounding and I have a personal preference for feminine sounding names.

It’s not a very common name in Italy, never heard of it & I am half Italian

JoyousWriter · Yesterday 18:52

It's a company that makes radios.

NamingNoNames · Yesterday 20:12

Arlanymor · Yesterday 16:33

It's the Scottish Gaelic for 'Scotland' - like calling a kid Cymru in Wales. Nothing wrong with it - Enfys is a popular name here and it means Rainbow - Seren means Star. But my first thought was Scottish - that said there are plenty of Islas floating about who have no connection with Scotland either. It's a nice name, I know an Alban who is male and his dad is from Slovenia.

Enfys isn't particularly popular but Seren is. Seren's not great but Enfys is dreadful.
Alba is Scotland to me and 'too Alec Salmond',

beeble347 · Yesterday 20:15

OneBlueKoala · Yesterday 16:30

yes, I have seen that when researching actually.

it also means dawn and sunrise, depending on the language.

it doesn’t bother me, I didn’t see it as being an issue but not sure if that’s naive?

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I only know it as meaning Dawn. Gorgeous name and easy to spell and say, which is a plus. Alba Sofia I love! Also really love Gia but obv different middle name or another one to break up the rhyme

ItsOnlyMee1 · Yesterday 20:16

Reminds me of a budget hifi brand from the 80s/90s

haggisaggis · Yesterday 20:22

In Scottish Gaelic it is pronounced sort of like Alapi where the i is sounded like in pin

mcmuffin22 · Yesterday 20:22

It reminds me of A Time Traveler's Wife.

JustWalnut · Yesterday 20:27

You say Alba, I say Party. Great name if she wants to grow up and become an MSP.

Arlanymor · Yesterday 20:34

NamingNoNames · Yesterday 20:12

Enfys isn't particularly popular but Seren is. Seren's not great but Enfys is dreadful.
Alba is Scotland to me and 'too Alec Salmond',

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I know three people called Enfys so it’s not uncommon. I like it, it seems to be more prevalent among Welsh speakers in my experience, whereas Seren tends to be more ubiquitous and is used for English speakers pretty much anywhere in the UK.

Flannelfeet · Yesterday 20:34

emptygoosenest · Yesterday 16:31

It's the Gaelic word for Scotland so it's used quite a bit in Scotland as a result.

I was just going to say the same thing. Would make a lovely name if its a Scottish baby. I have a ryan and ara...couldn't call her barra 🤣. Both have middle names; ryan gerard and ara jane. Second name is Irish O'

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · Yesterday 20:37

Love it

ChocolateCinderToffee · Today 02:07

I like it. To me it’s the Occitan word for ‘dawn’.

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePleaseBarista · Today 02:12

There are quite a few popping up in our local area. I’m afraid it makes me think of the defunct political party and a neighbours Alsatian from the early 90’s - I’m sure others don’t have such specific thoughts Blush

LivingTheDreamish · Today 02:25

I think it's a lovely name. I also really like Cassia.

mathanxiety · Today 02:32

Alba Sofia is a gorgeous name. It has a lovely ring to it.

If little girls can be named Erin, then they can be named Alba.

Alma is also lovely, as is the Irish name Ailbhe (pronounced Alveh), sometimes anglicized as Alvy.

Sparklinggreen · Today 07:32

I prefer Cassia.

Not so much a fan of Alba.

Daffodilsinthespring · Today 07:34

Perfectly reasonable name but not to my taste. I also think of stereos etc.