Tara or Uma? And a middle name to go with it?

[Surya]

I'm Indian, and DH is English, and we're looking for a bicultural girl's name, which will be easy to spell and pronounce for both our families. We both really like Tara (with Uma as a close second), with Naomi as a middle name (after DH's much-missed grandmother), though since DH is a classicist and I'm a scientist, I have to admit to having a soft spot for Hypatia as a middle name.

This may however just be pregnancy hormones, and DH points out that Hypatia sound either like a disease or a body part (as in 'I have a pain in the Hypatia'), and I can't say I disagree with him. But any suggestions for classical sounding women's names with some associations with science welcome. Otherwise its going to be Tara Naomi DH's surname.

What does the mumsnet oracle think?

I really like Tara Naomi.

Tara Naomi is lovely! Two great names that go really well together

In my Dds class of 11 there are both Tara & Uma - coincidence? Sorry not helpful & I don't know either of their middle names. One is 1/2 Indian 1/2 American, other completely English. Do you like Anjali?

Tara Naomi is unique and lovely.

However for classical/ scientific what about Maria (Montessori, first female physician in Italy). Tara Maria sounds great to me.

I've always liked Tara. Hypatia no no no - it does sound disease like :s how about Tara Anita , Tara Bela or Tara Aditi?

How are you pronouncing Hypatia?

Anjali and Aditi are lovely (and I went to school with lovely people with these names), but to my ears, most English people would tend to misprounce it, as Ann Jali and a-DEE-tee, while I'd say Un-Jali ('un' as in 'unbelievable') and A-di-ti, with the beginning stressed (and to make matters more complicated, the t sound in Aditi doesn't really exist in British English). I'm totally used to my name being not said right, but I'd like to avoid giving to-be-DD a name which I know will be mispronounced.

I'm pronounce Hypatia as high-PAY-sha ('high' and 'pay' as in how those words are generally pronounced), but I fear that that name is a lost cause.

Maria is nice too, as is Marie (as in Curie), and the friend who introduced us has a name which is a variant of this as well. We were considering her name as a middle name as well, but DH is a Jewish, and we're a bit worried that his family might be slightly put off by having such a Christian middle name.

But glad to here that Tara Naomi is going down well!

Tara Naomi is gorgeous.

Love Tara Naomi.

Tara Naomi is a gorgeous name.

Million times better than all these old lady names around at the mo. Indian and Irish name too. Means star in Indian? Is that right?

Neither!

QOD, yes, Tara does mean 'Star' in Hindi/Urdu. And it was amazing (at least to me) how many Indian names that I liked turned out to work in an Irish context too. Yet another reason that DH should have been Irish

Turnip, any alternate suggestions? Or are you suggesting 'Neither' as a name ? We did have a bit of a discussion about whether to-be-DD should have my or DH's surname, so 'Neither DH-name Nor My-name' does have a certain attraction to it!

Ok my suggestion is Anya

Love Tara Naomi, and it works across cultures. Please avoid Hypatia!

Tara is okay, Uma makes me cringe (Thurman not withstanding).

Rosalind (Franklin)
Athene (Athene Donald, and goddess of wisdom)
Elizabeth (Blackwell)
Ada (Byron)

I love Tara and it sounds as though it fits your criteria perfectly.

Uma reminds me of a sound someone might make when they're trying to remember something.

Hypatia sounds painful and highly infectious.

Tara Naomi is pretty. Much nicer than Uma. Hypatia does sound infectious!

Tara Naomi is lovely.

Uma is a very odd name imo.

ps, coming back to say I agree with the other posters wrt hypatia! no no no. I can imagine ringing in sick with that. Won't be in til........oooh next Wednesday at the soonest.

Tara Naomi is great.

Other good middle names: Julia, Lydia, Jamila, Aviva, Allegra.

Tara is great. How about Marla? I understand it means garland.

Well I'm calked Tara (Irish parents) and I like my name. Not too popular. Tara anjali is lovely better than Tara Helen which is what I am

Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom
Minerva - Roman goddess of wisdom
Sophia - wisdom (Greek)

Okay, you lot have put me right off Hypatia (PMSL at 'Won't be in til next Wednesday, sick with Hypatia'). DH is extremely relieved and thankful. Tara Naomi it is!