Spanish names. Is this cruel of me?

[1Catherine1]

My partner and I have been choosing names and I'm really keen on keeping a Spanish connection. My OH is Spanish but we both live in England. I think it is important that my child has strong connections with Spain and the Spanish language. We have been name picking this week and have hit on a girls name that we both like "Estrella". The problem is this is only easy to pronounce if you have a basic understanding of Spanish and know that a double l is pronounced as a "y", so it is pronounced "Ess-stray-ah".

Do you think I'm making my child's life unnecessarily hard by doing this? I know us English are naturally lazy and want to abbreviate any name more than one syllable long so what do you think it might get shortened too? My OH says there isn't a shortened version of it.

Maybe get shortened to Strella I'd have thought. If you have an easy surname I'd say it's not that big a deal to correct people if they mispronounce it. Where do you live? Does it still sound nice in your regional accent? Where I am in London it might not be so pretty!

Think the pronunciation ignorance will be widespread in England but can't think of a shortening. It will be fine though- people will learn to say it right with practice. I think having a Spanish name is a great idea.

I think it's a pretty name as long as you won't get pissed off at the fact that she will be called estrela to rhyme with Stella though by many who she meets

I think most people know how to pronounce that. I could be wrong. I would have known. I like it.

I like Estelle too, and I think if it turns out to be really problematic, you could just 'allow' English people to use Estelle.

does it mean star? i like it :)

What about Estella? Not sure if that means something in Spanish.

I've always loved Pilar (and it's easy for both nations to pronounce).

What about Estella nn Stella? An Estrella living in England will be resigned to a life of people mispronouncing her name, having to spell it, having it commented on etc.
Beautiful name though.

i once knew a girl called Ana-Estrella and i think this is beautiful and often wish i had a spanish husband so i could use it

My DH is Spanish. Our DD has a Spanish name, lots of people have problems pronouncing it. Even though it is simple. For DS we chose a more widely recognised (pronounceable) name.

FWIW - I love the name Estrella. :)

It does mean star, which to me added to the beauty of it. I'm from Manchester but living in Surrey so it will be spoke with a Surrey/Hampshire accent.

Estella is actually French for star (according to my book at least) and I'm definitely trying to stick Spanish :)

Antonio Banderas called his daughter Estella. It's actually Latin so is used in Spain just as much as the rest of the Romance language countries.

I thought the French for star was Etoile? but im probably wrong.
Estrella is beautiful, I don't think having to correct people is a life of misery, my name's Cerys and im either spelling it out or correcting mispronunciation, but it hasnt effected my life! you only have to tell them once, and it's understandable, if you're not familiar with the spanish language (or welsh) it's nobodys fault that you say it wrong.
I think the spanish connection, the uniqueness and beauty of the name will out weigh any spelling hang ups, as much as get it wrong theyll also be saying "how beautiful! wheres it from?" etc just as much. loads of people have to spell out their names - can you imagine all the Jackie/Jaquie/Jacqui/Jackys there are?!

Really pretty name. Not cruel at all, but yes you will have a few pronunciation issues. No worse that all the Irish names which are quite popular at the moment.

Now, if you really wanted to be cruel to your child you could go with one of those weird Spanish religious ones like Concepcion or Immaculada. I once met a girl called Espiritu Santo (holy Spirit) or Espriri for short!

it's beautiful.

Essie could be a nickname

I like the name, also love Estella.

Esperanza is also a lovely spanish name (menas hope iirc).

If they watch dora the explored they will know how to pronounce it. Non English names are so common now that people just learn how to pronounce them. Go with the name you love.

Not cruel but it wouldnt be my first choice of Spanish names for a girl, I've heard much prettier ones (but of course that is just my opinion!!).

Plus it reminds me of how most Ozzies pronounce the name of their country...... Aus-tray-ah.

Sorry dora the explorer. Stupid iPod.

She catches stars

yep, dora, thats how i knew it means star, my 3 yr old told me

so going by that, i think it will be fine, if other dc are anything like my dd they will already know spanish pronunciation thanks to dora!

I think its a lovely name, I knew how to say it but I asked DP and he's just said Est-re-la! But he is a bit ignorant so don't let that put you off! :)

My cousin is an Esther and she gets that shortened to Est or Esty.

My friend's DH is Spanish and they have 2 daughters called Elisenda and Catherina (shortened to Eli and Cathy). TBH they have less trouble getting people to pronounce them properly than a lot of my friends with children with Welsh names, and we are in Wales!

You'll spend a lot of your time correcting it and grinding your teeth in doctors' offices, etc.

I would go for something with a pronunciation that would be more obvious to English speakers, tbh. (I have an Irish name that confuses most outside of Ireland, and it is annoying.)

Esperanza, Constanza, Corazon all lovely...

I'm doing the same even though I am currently living in the U.K (we will be moving back to Spain in a few years time) As long as it is an estb. name then why not!

The names with 'z' will also be trick but don't let it put you off!! As long as you know how to pronounce it, and your child will then there's no prob.