Is it ok to name your child after a place?

[miracletime]

Our DD will have one Turkish parent and one Dutch. Decided to go with a Turkish name for our DD but something that will work well in England where she will be brought up. The name we like is Antalya.

Obviously Antalya is a place in Turkey and isn't actually a Turkish girls name, but we really like it as a name. We've met one English girl with the same name but some years ago.

Any Turkish people out there who think it would sound silly in Turkey? Ie: Like a British persons naming their child 'London'?

Any others that think it sounds silly given it's a popular holiday destination?

I think Antalya is a lovely name, but I have no idea how it would sound to Turkish ears. I know of a child called London, and I think it sounds ridiculous personally, but people from other countries might like it. You need to talk to the Turkish side of the family to see what they think.

Poulay what's wrong with Peckham then????

It sounds a bit like Alitalia, the Italian Airline. I'm a bit Hmmm....

I like Antalya. I think it is pretty and unusual. I have named my DD after a place too.

you are not calling her Blackpool are you i think its quite a nice name and goes with her heritage , unless the place is quite scuzzy then i wouldnt use it ,

It might sound odd if you go on holiday and visit Antalya. But if you won't be spending a lot of time there, you're probably fine.

It may sound odd to Turkish ears though.
My sister had a colleague once with the same first name as a town local to us, and we thought that was hilarious

Take the Turkish views into account. How would you feel if something tragic happened in Antalya. Thinking Lockerbie, Hungerford, Aberfan - eek - it wouldn't be nice for your daughter.

According to Wiki Antalya was the ancient Greek port of Attalia. babynamesworld has lots of lovely similar names and you can look up the meanings. The Hebrew girl's name Athaliah appeared in the Bible and means 'God is praised'.

Antalya is pretty but I think marriedinwhite has a point. Would anyone name their baby Adolf?

I know an 11 yr old Antalya! Suits her, she is also of Turkish descent too. I didn't know it was a place until your thread .

Scuse me ignorance, but how exactly is it pronounced? Like an-TAL-ee-a?

It's pretty. No idea if it would cause eyebrows to be raised in Turkey. How about just Talia?

I think it's a lovely name.

Fwiw dd1 's middle name is Skye because we loved it there and liked the name too.

is it alright? of course it is? its your child!

I think it's a nice name. Presumably your partner is Turkish? and he likes it.

Obviously name your child what you like. But tbh I do think naming your child after a place name is a bit...common

I like it. Forget what everyone else thinks- your child your choice.

Might be a bit biased, my ds is named after a scottish island

I think marriedinwhite has it. I find the naming-after-places thing interesting- I would LOVE Etruria for a girl (place in the Potteries) but I came to the conclusion that it would be too odd.

You have to ask TURKISH SPEAKING PEOPLE.

It's all very well asking Brits if it "sounds pretty" but it does not matter if it "sounds pretty" if it sounds ridiculous to native speakers.

Not for me. More because of the cheap holiday associations than anything else.

There are loads of place names. India, Chelsea, Dakota, Arizona etc. Some sleb called their kid Ireland.

Place names are Ok depending on the place. Antalya is a pretty name. Just don't be too literal with the place. Like Ally, Mercedes or Heather

It's a pretty name to English ears.
I know a Tamar, and two boys called Devon, here in Devon. Those two do raise a few eyebrows though.

A friend's Mum is called Athens (Athena), as she is from Athens.

Both Iona and Isla (meaning the island Islay,) are both places and are lovely girls names.

I'm laughing at the thought of naming children after where they were conceived. My daughter would be called Wormadale. Nice.

JoanofNark "Some sleb called their kid Ireland.". But this IS a name - the Gaelic spepelling is Eirin or Erin, but it does mean "Ireland".