Layla or Lyra?

[Gabbie0728]

I really like both names, and I can't seem to choose just one. Which one do you guys prefer? What kind of girl do you picture with the names?

P.S. I pronounce Lyra as Lee-rah, not Lie-rah.

Hm.. Both names seem pretty popular! I've seen on the BehindTheName site that Layla seems very ethnic, and the same goes for Lyra. Do you guys think so too?

Layla is great, Lyra sounds like lycra to me.

Why not spell it Laila? Are you keen on the Y?
Lyra is pronounced Lie-ra and makes me think of the Amber Spyglass series.

I love the name Lyra. More unusual and classy

'Very ethnic', well Layla is an Arabic name that has become popular in the West, does that bother you? I prefer the spelling Leila which is a little more authentic I think, and looks nicer written down IMO.

Lyra has a different origin I think and the first association I have, like most people I suspect, is the character in the Philip Pullman books. And the only pronunciation I was aware of was lye-ra.

What about Liora?

If you're going to pronounce Lyra Lee-ra, then spell it Lira like the currency.

I like them both. Also like Lela (lee-la).

(Sorry, no help).

I think a combo! Lila or Leela.

Lyra all the way for me (pronounced lie-ra)

Much prefer Layla, whatever the spelling, though there are 3 in my Dd's year. I wouldn't say it is a particularly ethnic name anymore.... What about Lyla? seems to take a bit from both the names you like.

i like layla

Ethnic, hackneyed pop song, less authentic. So weird reading people critique my own name! (Which, by the way, I get lots of compliments on)

I like Layla (and Leila).

I think most people would say Lyra - it's the logical pronunciation based on the spelling (Lycra, Lyre) and t's the way the famous character's name is said.

I don't think Layla, Leila, etc, is a particularly "ethnic" name any more, or has been for many years - it's crossed cultures, I'd say. Though the one I know is Iranian.