Thoughts on these names?

[Mamabear4180]

Boy-Eneko (means my little one/dear little one)
Girl-Emaya (Normally spelt Amaya)

Both Basque origin. I'm English. I love them but I'm a bit nervous they're ifferent, especially Eneko.

Eneko is normally pronounced En-Ek-ko but I would pronounce it En-neek-ko

I really don't want to sound impolite, and perhaps it's just me, but it seems a little disrespectful to take a name from a different culture and ignore the normal native spelling and pronounciation.

Inigo is the English language version of Eneko. Plenty of good precedents, eg architect Inigo Jones.

Amaya is Arabic; Amaia is Basque (it means 'the end'). Amaya is a town in Spain. Again, you can call your baby what you like, but Emeya is not Basque, to the best of my knowledge.

Thanks. Not keen on Inigo. Emaya is spelt like that with an A, only difference is the first letter.

I don't mind if it's basque or not, was only mentioning in case anyone wondered!

How about Yooneek or Yooneeque?

'I really don't want to sound impolite, and perhaps it's just me, but it seems a little disrespectful to take a name from a different culture and ignore the normal native spelling and pronounciation.'

This. It also looks a bit - I dunno - not very bright. I know I roll my eyes at the German parents who jump on the Emily bandwagon that's going on in a big way here but spell it 'Emely'.

If you're not of Basque origin then I wouldn't use a Basque name.
And you can't decide on a name then just decide to change how it's spelt. That's like me calling my child Harry and deciding it's pronounced Kate.

I don’t mind Amaia/Amaya but I don’t like it spelled Emaya.

I’m not keen on the boys name, sorry.

If you’re going to pronounce it that way then I’d just use Niko instead.

I like the girl name, but spelled Amaya.

I also like Amaya rather than Emaya. Niko is nice too.

Thanks. I might rethink Emaya but I don't see the problem with pronouncing Eneko slightly differently. Most people won't know the name anyway? Besides if you listen to a pronounciation it's hard to tell if it's neck or neek because of the accent! It wouldn't bother me if anyone pronounced it the correct way or my way either.

I agree with PPs. I think it's disrespectful. To be honest I tend to find it weird in general when people use names from other cultures they have no connection with just 'to be different'.

It might not bother you. But it's not going to be your name is it? Don't saddle a child with an incorrectly spelt or pronounced name.

The name Eniko is pronounced either way you are intending to prominence Eneko. It’s a girls name, so that’s going to add confusion too.

*pronounced the way

They are made up names really aren't they? Bit silly to say they are basque when you are changing spelling and pronunciation

My name is a traditional hebrew name, only pronounced slightly diffrent and spelt completely different. Please don't do it. Every day I have to correct people and I have people, including my fil who never pronounce it properly. I don't correct them any more which upsets my mum, but it's her own fault for giving me such a stupid name.

To be honest I tend to find it weird in general when people use names from other cultures they have no connection with just 'to be different'.

Not to be different no, I like the meaning of Eneko and Emaya is spelt with an E because the first 3 letters are my late sisters initials and the name May has a lot of meaning to me so maybe don't presume a different name doesn't have any meaning.

Eneko is also a version of my (male) midwife's name who helped me through my previous 2 pregnancies. He's spanish. So quite a bit of meaning really! I never pick names that don't have personal meaning, all 3 of my older DC have meaningful names.

Call them Eneko and Amaya, spelt and pronounced properly. Both nice names and with good reasons for using.

Thanks for all input. Going to rethink Emaya.

It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it, people will pronounce it how they think it’s spelled, he/she will have to correct them their whole lives (first hand knowledge of this and it’s annoying/embarrassing).

As for where names originate from, it’s like saying you can’t use George, it’s Greek and a thousand other examples.

According to everything I've read Eneko will be mis pronounced whether I pronounce it right or not! Emaya is more unique but it is a real name too, it's American and there's quite a few in the Asian community too because they love Maya I suppose.

When I say I don't mind how people pronounce it, I mean it doesn't matter because En-EH-ko is the correct way anyway.