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Baby names

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

The name Nala/Nahla

18 replies

Jessiefountin373 · 12/02/2016 13:20

I love this name and as she will be half African and the name Nala is African it fits well, but that's not why I like it I just like the name. I know people think of lion king but I've never seen it so not really on my mind.

What's your opinion on the name Nala?
Best spelt Nala or Nahla?
Any contributions to the middle name? Currently I like iris for a middle name as that was my great nans name and the name of my sister who was still born.

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Whosthemummy16 · 12/02/2016 13:23

I think it's lovely, I prefer the Nahla spelling just to take away from the lion king spelling !
But I think Nahla Iris is pretty, individual but not too out there !!
But I am calling my baby the same name as a popular children's book character!!

BathTangle · 12/02/2016 13:25

I love Nala - would have considered similar names if I'd had a girl, e.g. Mara or Nyah (Thandie Newton's character in Mission Impossible). Also like Lyali.

Do you want an "English" sounding middle name?

Vixxfacee · 12/02/2016 13:25

Nahla Iris is lovely.

I also like nyla

MrsCaecilius · 12/02/2016 13:45

I would probably pronounce Nahla as nar-la and Nala as nalla (short a sound). I don't know if you have a preference based on that?

BikeRunSki · 12/02/2016 13:58

I've never come across it, but I think it's lovely, especially paired with Iris.

Jessiefountin373 · 12/02/2016 14:41

I want in to be pronounced Narla. I thought nala might get people calling her nalla, I prefer the spelling "Nala" but don't want her to go through with wrong pronounciations. My twin spent her life being called sigh Anne (she's called Sian) and knew how annoying that was

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 12/02/2016 14:43

I think it's best spelled Nahla, then you get the pronunciation you want.

Nahla Iris is beautiful. I love that it has meaning for you.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 12/02/2016 14:48

I think it's really very lovely. Nice to have a meaningful middle name too. I'd pronounce both spellings as you're hoping so go with whichever you prefer or is more traditional.

MouldyPeach · 12/02/2016 14:50

I love it.

Havalina1 · 12/02/2016 14:56

Lovely name!

LongWayRound · 12/02/2016 15:26

Nahla is an Arabic name, meaning a drink of water. The h in the middle is pronounced as though it were the start of a syllable. Depending where you live, you might find yourself having to explain to people that it's actually pronounced Narla rather than Na-h(a)-la. (Then again, you might never meet anyone who knows the Arabic name.)

CityFox · 12/02/2016 15:40

Love it, does remind me of the lion king though, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.

manicinsomniac · 12/02/2016 22:08

Lovely name.

I instantly thought Lion King but then I've just done a production of it so it's fresh in my mind. I think I prefer the Nala spelling despite that. The h looks unnecessary somehow. I don't think you'll get Nalla rather than Narla because everyone knows the Lion King.

Nala Iris is beautiful, especially with such special significance.

If you decide against it I think the similar sounding/looking Nia, Nyah, Mala, Mara, Mila and Noa are also lovely.

Other middle names:
Nala Elise
Nala Marie
Nala Rose
Nala Diane
Nala Louise
Nala Christine
Nala Estelle

IoraRua · 12/02/2016 22:33

The ar sound you want is an accent thing and not really incorrect pronunciation, you will get people saying Nah la if you spell it Nahla or Nala.

Tbqh the name screams Lion King to me. It is nice though

sugarplumfairy28 · 17/02/2016 19:24

Love it, but I did call my cat Nala, but she was absolutely beautiful! I wouldn't be bothered about the Lion King connection, if anything she is lovely character and it's a great film/musical. Lots of names can be linked to well known films. I can't hear the name Beau without thinking of smokey and the bandit!

Tinkalinka · 17/02/2016 21:47

I love Nala but my dog is Nala. I have a Nia which is Welsh but I think African too as I met one in Disney world and she told me it was an African name.

leccybill · 17/02/2016 21:52

Nahla Iris is a beautiful name. I love it.

timemaychangeme · 18/02/2016 00:35

Really lovely.

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