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Am I crazy...? Lilja

39 replies

1horatio · 23/05/2016 11:56

So, I thought we had figured it out, we had 2 top picks and wanted to make the final decision after the birth.

But then I saw the name Lilja and basically fell in love with it. Is this crazy...?

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lcoc2015 · 23/05/2016 11:58

I think its lovely - theres a Lilja on our street and its never shortened either!

StinkyMcgrinky · 23/05/2016 12:00

My only concern would be pronounciation. Is it Lil-ya? Lil-ha? Lilah?

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:05

Thanks :) It's Lil-ya :)
It's a Scandinavian name. Swedish is my dad's first language and I often went to Sweden in my early 20ies (and late teens).

But yes, I'm a bit afraid somebody would say Lil-cha or something.

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DramaAlpaca · 23/05/2016 12:09

It's lovely, especially as you have a Scandinavian connection.

VimFuego101 · 23/05/2016 12:10

It's lovely, but there is a movie called Lilja Forever that's about a prostitute that some people may associate that name with (it's quite obscure though!).

LaConnerie · 23/05/2016 12:11

Love it, love it! Unusual but not wacky, and you have a genuine connection to the name.

waxweasel · 23/05/2016 12:13

I like it, and I think it's obvious that it's pronounced lil-ya. Like Sonja - nobody would say 'son-ja' right?

Anyway you could call your child the easiest name in the world and someone would get it wrong. So don't let that stop you 😊

SoupDragon · 23/05/2016 12:13

I'm a bit afraid somebody would say Lil-cha or something.

I didn't know how to say it but my first guess was Lill-ya :)

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:34

Just googled the film... It (luckily!) doesn't seem to be overly popular. It doesn't bother me too much, probably because the name makes me think of lilies (lilja means lily in Swedish).

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DontDeadOpenInside · 23/05/2016 12:38

It's lovely and for what it's worth, I pronounced it as lil-ya when I read it. Smile

scandichick · 23/05/2016 12:41

I'm Swedish and my first association would be the film - lilja is the flower, Lilly would be the most similar name. If you live in the UK it probably doesn't matter so much, but it's not a Swedish name if that makes a difference to you. Maybe DanishGrin

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:49

Yup, it's not a Swedish name. In Sweden it's just a beautiful flower, I believe (I'm not a Sweden expert).
It is rather popular in Iceland and Finland but I'm not sure whether it's also a Danish name.

Nope, I don't live in Sweden. And I'm simply going to assume that my granny and her Swedish friends don't know the film :)!! Or are too proper to say so ;)

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 12:51

It wouldn't be very polite to mention this film when talking about "little Lilja", right? ;)

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SabineUndine · 23/05/2016 16:06

There's a French name similar: Lilia

LadyAntonella · 23/05/2016 16:42

I really like it BUT it is a lot like Lily which is quite well used where I live (along with Lila, Layla, Lola). Depends if that bothers you at all.

Thurlow · 23/05/2016 16:48

It's a really pretty name, but I would be prepared to have to correct/explain the pronunciation sometimes - people may say Lil-ya, but they might also say Lil-ee-a or even Lil-jar

ElaeudanlaTeiteia · 23/05/2016 16:54

First association for me would be the film, which is really, really bleak and sad. But yes, it's not exactly well-known.

Lovely name in itself though Smile

CruCru · 23/05/2016 17:14

It's a very nice name.

septembersunshine · 23/05/2016 17:15

To be honest I thought you were a little crazy till I read the thread. I though it was a made up, invented kind of name but clearly not! BUT, I do think it's odd looking. I wouldn't know how to say it and written down it looks like a mash up of every Lily type name I know with the odd add on of Ja.

TeradelFuego · 23/05/2016 17:24

Not heard of it before, but it's nice, and a bit different.

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1horatio · 23/05/2016 18:27

Yes, there are many Lily names... I've actually always liked the name, but it's just too popular (imo). So we decided that it would either be a Louisa or a Miranda...

And then I saw Lilja and simply fell in love with it.
How would one pronounce Lilia? Lil-ya or Lee-lee-yah? Lee-lee-ah?

(My first language is German, so finding out how a British/English person would pronounce something is a bit difficult. And in cases like this I know from experience to not trust my DH's judgement...)

There's obviously also Lilija or Liliya, but that would be too much (imo)... Plus I really like that Lilja means lily in Swedish.

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LadyAntonella · 23/05/2016 19:22

I would probably say Lil-yah. Smile

Nospringflower · 24/05/2016 15:21

Funny I read it as lil-ja and then Son-ja
Before it said no one would ever say Son- ja Smile

Tanaqui · 24/05/2016 15:25

I would have pronounced it as lilly-a, but I think it is pretty!

Tatiana11235 · 24/05/2016 15:28

I thought Lil-ya straight away but it is because i was raised up that (Scandinavian) way where names ending with -ja are common. Like Maija for example would read Maya. But having lived in England 10+ years I can see how it might cause some confusion to someone who never came across a name like this.
I know a girl called Liliha. Pronounced Lee-lee-yah. I think the French version Lilia is your best bet as it is hard to misinterpret on mispronounce.