Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Neala?

27 replies

Koalafications · 22/04/2015 23:07

I can't quite decide if I like it or not.

I liked still love Nuala, but I got my arse handed to me when I suggested that name!

Thoughts on Neala?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SuburbanRhonda · 22/04/2015 23:09

Pronounced "kneeler"?

If so, then no. Nuala is lovely.

villainousbroodmare · 22/04/2015 23:10

Is it for a girl? Provenance?
Nuala is a contraction of Fionnuala, the fair-shouldered, if that appeals...

VixxFace · 22/04/2015 23:11

I am loving Nella at the moment.

Koalafications · 22/04/2015 23:18

Pronounced nee-la Suburban

I don't like Fionnuala. I like Nuala though

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 22/04/2015 23:19

Could you spell it like that, Neela?

Much nicer than Nuala (sorry!) and obvious how to say it.

turdfairynomore · 22/04/2015 23:30

I think Neela means blue? It may be in Hindi? I knew a mum who called her baby Neela and it was based on her love of blue!

Koalafications · 22/04/2015 23:32

Neala is Irish and means 'female champion'

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 22/04/2015 23:45

I'm a fluent Irish speaker and have never heard of or met a Neala, or Nial(l)a which would be the Irish spelling of a feminine variant of Niall.

villainousbroodmare · 22/04/2015 23:47

Obv not saying it's not a name, but it's anglicised and must also be very uncommon.

Koalafications · 22/04/2015 23:47

Link here: www.babynamesofireland.com/neala villainous

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 22/04/2015 23:48

I live in Ireland and have never heard of or come across a Neala either.

I quite like Nialla!

griselda101 · 22/04/2015 23:50

I'm not sure - it just reminds me of "neal" with an A on the end.

Koalafications · 22/04/2015 23:52

I've not heard of it before either... Was just looking through Irish girls names and couldn't quite tell if I liked it or not.

OP posts:
Maryz · 22/04/2015 23:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Maryz · 22/04/2015 23:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

villainousbroodmare · 23/04/2015 00:00

I did see that source, Koalafications, and what I thought was sort of inauthentic about it was that it doesn't distinguish between names in the Irish language, anglicised Irish names and a few almost-certainly-made-up names.

I thought this (Wikipedia! blush!) list was a better resource in that it clarifies that.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish-language_given_names

tazzy73 · 23/04/2015 00:01

koalafications

I live in Ireland also, I do know a Neala. Great name.

DramaAlpaca · 23/04/2015 00:04

I've just been having a browse on that site, it's full of names that Americans fondly believe are Irish but Irish people have never heard of. Some of the suggested phonetic pronunciations are wildly off too.

Koala, I really think you should go for Nuala if you love it. It must be due a revival Grin

humlebee7 · 23/04/2015 00:07

I met a Neala. She was Irish and a recruitment consultant who got me a job. I quite like it. Think better than Nuala.

What's Simbas girlfriend in the Lion King called - is she not something like Nuala?!!

Maryz · 23/04/2015 00:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheAwfulDaughter · 23/04/2015 00:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Millipedewithherfeetup · 23/04/2015 00:16

I like it, was it tbe name of neelix, s girlfriend on voyager ?

Maryz · 23/04/2015 00:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VenusRising · 23/04/2015 02:15

I agree, it's not irish. A bit madeuppy perhaps. Like Chardonnai, or Krystal.

Nialla, sounded a bit like nailer... Not sure I'd go there. Neasa is quite nice.

Nuala is lovely, or nala, but I don't like neala, it doesn't mean anything irish anyway.

RedCheckedTablecloth · 23/04/2015 02:25

Nuala is great but I have never heard of Neala.

I always have to correct myself when I see the name Caitlin. I see Kathleen.