Am I crazy...? Lilja

[1horatio]

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...?

Or just go for Lilya. Pretty straightforward imo.

VimFuego, I know the film too - it's the first thing I think of when I hear the name Lilja!

It's a beautiful name though. Love it.

From the age of about six I wanted a daughter called Lilia

I don't think your version/spelling will be overly problematic.

I think this should replace Miranda in your Top 2. I still really like Louisa.

My first thought is the film too, but it is a nice name. I prefer Lilia though.

It's weird, I've never really liked unique/misspelled looking names. And now I'm seriously contemplating Lilja (it makes me feel compassionate towards parents that chose an unorthodox version of a name...).

Lilia... It's probably better than Lilja (even though I do love that it means lily in Swedish...). And it's lovey:)
But quite a few people here seem to have known how to pronounce the name.

Or maybe it's just my "hormone addled brain" and I should go back to names I've always loved...
Anyhow, thank you for the answers. :)

At least it ISN'T unique/misspelled - it's a very well established Scandinavian name, as PPs have also said, so I think you could easily use it and nobody could accuse you of being yooneek

Although Lilia sounds more delicate and feminine. Lilja to me is a very strong female name.

I like the name. Lilja sounds very special!

BeautyGoesToBenidorm, I agree, the names make me think of somewhat different people. I imagine a Lilia to be easygoing, extroverted and creative.
Whereas I imagine a Lilja to be focused, a bit calmer and strong.
It's weird how I have a picture of rather 2 different people in my head. Louisa is (imo) somewhere inbetween.
These are just my preconceived notions, obviously. Probably mosty because I've never met a Lilia or a Lilja.

Btw, if the LO is a Lilja and nothing like my preconceived notions that would be obviously perfectly fine (and the same goes for a Lilia or Louisa, obviously)

Funny isn't it, how changing one letter makes you view a name completely differently?

I think both versions are lovely. I grew up in a Nordic country and know a lot of Liljas, I know a Lilya (another very pretty spelling), and know a little Lilia. It's still unusual over here, but people still know how to pronounce it - I really think you're onto a winner

My middle name is Maija, which I think someone mentioned upthread - nobody ever has trouble pronouncing that either.

It's nice and not weird. People won't know how the say it initially but it's easy to learn. I like it.

I really like it. Majority of people will be able to pronounce it.

Lovely name. I know a Croatian woman called Lilija.

It's awesome that Lilja got such a positive feedback :) And thanks for all the replies :)!

If the LO won't be a Lilja all these comments convinced me that she'll at least have a Scandinavian middle name (probably not Lilja, Louisa Lilja or even worse Lilia Lilja would be rather ridiculous).

And my DH thinks a Scandinavian first or middle name would be absolutely brilliant, so yay :)