Amalia, Cara, Emmeline, Gaia, Juliet, Thea...

[Duhart]

DH and I were set on Emilia nn Emmy, but are now put off by the similarity and popularity of Amelia. So back to the drawing board. Of these which do you prefer?

Anya
Amalia nn Mali
Cara
Catriona nn Cat
Gaia
Emmeline
Juliet
Sasha
Thea

[HappyAsIAm]

I know two Amalias - one who is always called Mali, and one who is always called Amalia. I think its Portuguese. Its really lovely.

I like all of your other choices, but for Gaia which really isn't my cup of tea.

[MsMarple]

Juliet is a bit tragic - you might as well go the whole hog and give her Ophelia for a midddle name too.

But Cara, now that is a lovely name. And the only Cara I know in real life is a beautiful person inside and out.

[MushroomMagee]

Anya - ok
Amalia nn Mali - Love this, really beautiful and elegant
Cara - love this.
Catriona nn Cat - not keen, don't much like cat as a nn
Gaia - love but may get some unkind comments
Emmeline - like, but echo other poster does sound a bit like emily.
Juliet - love.
Sasha - ok
Thea - ok

[tammytoby]

I love Anya, Gaia and Thea. All pretty, feminine classics, but not overused.

I think Amalia might be a little too similar to the widely used, super trendy Amelia, Emilia, Emily, Amelie type names, sorry.

(p.s. love Titus for a boy too)

[JiltedJohnsGhoulie]

Duhart didn't say that it would be unkind to name her that, just that she may get some unkind comments from other children, and yes its because they may pronounce it Gay-a.

[scarevola]

Anya - ok
Amalia nn Mali - love Amalia, but not keen on a county's name as nn
Cara - ok
Catriona nn Cat - ok
Gaia - not to my taste, but a great name
Emmeline - ok
Juliet - lovely
Sasha - no, it's a boy's name all across Europe
Thea - lovely

[MarianneM]

Emmeline is a lovely name - our DD2 was going to be called Emmeline until I had a last-minute change of heart.

Gaia is also beautiful.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Like Juliet. Not keen on the others.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

Anya - nice
Amalia nn Mali - bad
Cara - lovely
Catriona nn Cat - lovely
Gaia - bad
Emmeline - ok
Juliet - nice
Sasha - nice
Thea - nice

[manicinsomniac]

Anya - really pretty
Amalia - not too keen on the sound but it's ok
Cara - nice, a little harsh sounding maybe
Catriona - like it (prefer spelling Katrina I think) but don't like Cat
Gaia - don't like it at all (Guy-a mascline, Gay-a nicer but could be teased)
Emmeline - Okay if pronounced Emma-lyn, don't like Emma-line or Emma-leen
Juliet - gorgeous, love it. Love Juliette even more.
Thea - Lovely
Sasha - Pretty

My favourite is Juliet followed by Anya, Thea and Sasha

[pommedechocolat]

Love Juliet and Thea (dh has vetoed both for us, horrible man).

Anya nice too but does make me think 'potato' a little.

Not so bothered by the rest.

[Aphria]

Surprised at the popularity of Gaia, think it's a very masculine sounding name. Like Thea from your list but love Emilia most of all.

[tyler80]

I like Thea, but can never make up my mind whether I prefer it in it's own right or Althea

[Duhart]

Thanks so much everyone for all the opinions... My favourites are Gaia and Thea while DH's are Anya and Amalia.

Amalia nn Mali - DH thinks pretty, unusual and international. There is a Dutch princess Amalia and my friend is from Eastern Europe. Like Emmeline/Emily, I do wonder if the confusion with Amelia again might start to grate. Also as DD is Lydia, are the -ia suffixes are a bit too matchy?

JiltedJohnsJulie - not sure why giving the name Gaia wouldn't be kind, is it because some people might pronounce Gay-a? I love the goddess/nature association

Thea also - I LOVE this but does it work with Lydia as the vowel sounds are the same?

MelinaM - Barack Obama's daughter is named Malia which is pronounced like Maria.

Juliet - beautiful but can you think of any nicknames. Not keen on Jules, or Julie (shudder)

Would be grateful for any other suggestions!
Especially any that don't end in -a / ia. Love Alice too but can't use.

This is our first go and girls names are far easier than boys!
Gutted we can't use Titus (that would be unkind)

[pootlebug]

Anya - love it
Amalia nn Mali - sounds too much like you're trying to avoid Amelia. I still think some will end up calling her Amelia by mistake
Cara - okay, don't love it
Catriona nn Cat - as long as it is pronounced Catrina!
Gaia - Not a fan
Emmeline - I'm not sure whether you intend to pronounce Emmeleen or Emmeline (to ryhme with rhine) but whichever way, some people will choose the other way!
Juliet - Okay, don't love it
Sasha - Don't love it
Thea - love it

[LynetteScavo]

Anya Juliet or Sasha.

I really love Thea, but could call DD Thea as my then 2yo could only say Fear.

[scarlettsmummy2]

I really like Emmeline. None of the rest particularly grab me, not fussed on Sasha, I think it could be a little bit populist, but not in a good way.

[AngieWatts]

I love Anya (classy), Emmeline (very sweet, brings Pankhurst to mind, good potential nicknames) and Juliet (such a pretty name).

Thea could grow on me. Thee-ah or Tay-ah, though?

Amalia sounds made up (I know it's not, but it sounds it iyswim).

Not keen on the others.

[pilates]

Def Emmeline, one of my favourite girls name.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Anya - lovely name
Amalia nn Mali - much prefer Amelia, think she will have to spend her life spellng it out and people getting her name wrong.
Cara - ok
Catriona nn Cat - love
Gaia - love but may get some unkind comments
Emmeline - only use if you REALLY love. Everyone will mishear and think she is called Emily
Juliet - love, was on our shortlist for DD
Sasha - ok
Thea - ok but very now.

[oohlaalaa]

First of, I love the name Emilia. DH would not agree to it though. I would not let the popularity of Amelia worry you.

From your list, I like best:

Cara
Catriona nn Cat
Emmeline

[MelinaM]

Anya - Like this
Amalia nn Mali - isn't this the name of Barack Obama's daughter? Sounds too much like Amelia and Marley for me.
Cara - Lovely.
Catriona nn Cat - Like.
Gaia - Beautiful!
Emmeline - No, again very like Emily,Emme
Juliet - Lovely, but prefer the spelling Juliette.
Sasha - Lovely
Thea - Like.

I'd choose Gaia, it's beautiful and not very common. Juliette is lovely too.

[ImpYCelyn]

Gaia or Thea - they were both on my list, lovely names.

Emmeline is nice too.

Sasha is a boy's name for me.

Not keen on the others.

[gallicgirl]

Emmeline or Juliet. Thea is ok too but not keen on the others. How do they fit with your surname? trying aying them out loud.

[pointydog]

Catriona (pr catrina) is quite nice.

Anya and Cara are ok.

I like Julia a lot.