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Original poster

What do you think of Viola?

34 replies

Feb25 · 08/04/2014 14:51

Good or bad?

I love it and I think it's a wonderful alternative to Violet! My husband likes it too, but says that it might remind people of the musical instrument or worse it might remind them of "violence"...

It can be pronounced vie-O-la, VIE-o-la or VYO-lah. I just LOVE the latter!

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EllenJanesthickerknickers · 08/04/2014 14:55

Lovely, but it will never be pronounced correctly.

ChickenMe · 08/04/2014 15:58

If you love it why not. I don't love it but that's just my opinion. Read the Shakespeare play with viola in and see if you still like it after that. Or google people who have it as a first name and see if it works

bakingtins · 08/04/2014 16:17

I like it. The two associations are the instrument and Twelth Night, both positive.
I'd say Vye-o-la (similar sound to Violet)

nyldn · 08/04/2014 16:22

viola can be beautiful, but people will unfortunately pronounce it like the instrument, which is the least pleasant sounding.

Mintyy · 08/04/2014 16:24

Absolutely love this name. I am fairly sure I would choose it if I were to have a baby girl now.

WowserBowser · 08/04/2014 16:28

I like it...although my first thought is Herbert Viola

WowserBowser · 08/04/2014 16:31

Can someone explain the different pronunciation to me?

I would pronounce the name VY O LA and the instrument the same?

Is the instrument Vee o LA?

CPtart · 08/04/2014 16:34

Immediately thought of the musical instrument.

Northernlurker · 08/04/2014 16:44

If I had dd4 (which I won't be doing) she would have been Viola. My others have Shakespearean names. I think it's a fab name.

Mintyy · 08/04/2014 16:45

The instrument is pronounced Vi - OH - la

The name is pronounced VI ola (like violet)

magentasurprise · 08/04/2014 22:17

Beautiful name but I was worried about mis pronunciation too.

mummy1973 · 08/04/2014 22:23

Not for me. I think of the instrument and think Violet is much nicer.

lessonsintightropes · 08/04/2014 22:26

I think of the instrument too.

I also couldn't do Violet having read Margaret Atwood's MaddAdam trilogy

NomDeClavier · 08/04/2014 22:29

People will say it 'viler'. Not a winner for me.

TheBookofRuth · 08/04/2014 22:36

So pretty!

ToffeeMoon · 09/04/2014 00:32

I like it in theory. But it does make me hear "violate" in the same way that Violet says "Violent" to me.

crabb · 09/04/2014 00:48

Immediately thought 'voila'!

Polonius · 09/04/2014 01:40

Viola! (Vwa-La!)

Gorgeous name.

Dovahkiin · 09/04/2014 02:13

Gorgeous name - but sounds bad in my accent, or really forced. If that's not an issue for you, go for it.

telsa · 09/04/2014 08:49

Very pretty. It also like Violette....with a soft I.

TinyTear · 09/04/2014 08:56

Too much connotations with the instrument.

you wouldn't call a boy Piano or a girl Tambourine

GreatAuntDinah · 09/04/2014 18:06

Not sure how relevant this is, but it's the past tense of the French verb meaning to rape. That would put me right off it.

Libby456 · 09/04/2014 18:10

Its a very pretty name! never occurred to me that its linked with violence, i always think of musical instruments!

peppinagiro · 09/04/2014 19:10

I have the same problem with it as a PP re: the 'rape' association. In Italian, viola (same spelling, pron VEE-o-la) means he/she rapes/violates. Puts me off. Otherwise, it's a pretty sound.

Viviennemary · 09/04/2014 19:11

It's very pretty. I like it.