Malia? Pls suggest.

[Zahrah5]

Really love the name Malia.

I think we are more or less set on it. Women in my family for generations carried name Maria and Malia is just a little twist on that just as our daughter will be- mixture of cultures.

What would be the nicknames for Malia? Can we call her Maya or Lia?

Would like suggestions for middle name. Looking for something more international as none of our families are english speakers. Our last name is ending with a.

So far we love Malia Eva, pronounced ava

Again this is fitting as my husband closest sister is Awa, so same name with little twist.

I love flower and nature names but my husband has old fashioned belief on naming after other people in the family.

Other combos I am thinking of

Malia Lily- might be mouthfull
Malia Iris

I prefer Maria or Amalia.

I really like it, I think it's pretty. If the above comments about the dodgy resort in Greece bother you then Amalia is a good alternative.

Much prefer your alternatives, Amalia and Amaya. Both lovely and not very popular.

I wouldn't use it. I can see why you like it, but honestly, 90% of people will think tacky holiday resort. It's a shame. Amalia is nice though.

I think it's really pretty. But then, I have never heard of the holiday resort.

I have a friend called Mala (mar-la) which I think is really lovely and unusual. Could be an alternative?

I just think of malia Obama which is IMO not a problem.

Malia Greece wouldn't have come to mind.

I think it's nice.

90% of people will think tacky holiday resort

I think that's overstating the case. I've never heard of the resort and clearly I'm not alone in that: maybe it's a generational thing? by the time the girl grows up the resort may well have changed reputation or been forgotten anyway. If you love it, OP, use it.

Not just a generational thing, perhaps also a class and cultural thing?

Class and cultural thing? I've never been, it sounds horrific, but I've heard of it because I read the papers.

Depends which papers you read, clearly!

Sadly all of the above ring true.

I actually like it as a name, though other posters are right in saying that some people will associate it with Malia the holiday resort.
What about Melia as an alternative?

If it's good enough for the Obamas, you'll be fine. I've never heard of the holiday resort.

I suppose it depends on your age Hazel. I'm 22, and although I haven't been to Malia (have been to magaluf though which is similar) I'm aware that it's the same sort of thing. Think Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents (a programme that was/is on BBC3. But Malia is forgivable as a name as it sounds lovely and exotic. Whereas compare it to something like Magaluf, it has a completely different tone!

As others have said, dodgy holiday resort.

Eva pronounced Ava is very common outside of the UK. Eva Mendes is a famous Eva pronounced Ava. But I think you'd have the Devils own job getting people to do so in the UK, because Eva and Ava are seen as distinct and separate names.

class and cultural thing? unless I'm misunderstanding I don't think you have to be a certain class to be aware a place exists.

I didn't think of either a resort,or a presidents daughter....I just thought it was a beautiful name.Easy to pronounce,easy to spell,and it sounds 'friendly',if you know what I mean?

In 5 years time,no-one is going to think of a TV programme/resort/presidential daughter.They will have moved on and replaced in the national psyche.You,on the other hand,will have a daughter whose name you and your husband adore .

I'd take this thread as one of your first lessons in parenting....sometimes you have to go with your gut and don't be bothered about what others say about your choices!!

You could go for Malia Rose,Malia Lis,Malia Fleur,Malia whatever the mother-in-law name is (always a vote winner!!!).

Yes but I one on one of those Malia holidays when I was 20 ... and that was 16 years ago, there is every chance it will still have the same reputation in another 16 years.

So true raspberry. Obviously only lower class people have general geographical knowledge!

GreatAuntDinah there was a fairly big news story regarding Malia and the drunken escapades of a British woman a few years ago. I bet it was even reported in to Guardian

So class and culture have no bearing on the names people give their children?

I don't think that was what was being suggested... It was that only people of a certain class or culture will have heard of Malia.