Too exotic?

[greenglue]

Thanks for your comments on my other thread. I’ve now added Lara and Zara to my shortlist since it had quite good reviews.

Where would you assume a person with this name is from?

I’ve started to take a warning to Lara but I’ve only ever met a Turkish Lara. Where would you assume a Lara is from?

And where would you assume a Zara is from?

DH likes Ella.

Any preferences between those names?

*warming

Lara Croft. Could be from anywhere. Likewise Zara. Zara Philips. Both well known names in uk 🤷🏻‍♀️

They are not exotic names. How weird.

None of Lara, Zara or Ella are 'exotic' names - they could be from anywhere and are all reasonably popular in UK. All nice names, my favourite though is Zara.

None of them are exotic. I am Scottish and I know people called all those names here.

Thanks, just because online it says Zara is Arabic?
Lara is Russian...

Not at all exotic?! I was really expecting to see different names in this post! All the names you mentioned are fairly common and popular in the UK.

Exotic? I too was expecting an exotic interesting name

My SIL is called Lara. Never thought of it as exotic! Lots of common UK names have 'exotic' origins but wouldn't really be considered exotic any more.

I know 2 British lara's but no Zara's.

I know lots of little Ella's at the moment, it seems to be very popular in my area.

I know Ellas, Zaras and Laras from various places.

I mean they're not Anglosaxon names if that's your worry but they're definitely not exotic.

Not exotic at all and actually quite dull.
Yes Zara is Arabic but there are plenty of names from other languages that are common in the UK...look at all the Hebrew names we use, nobody thinks they’re ‘exotic’ wishful thinking OP

Not exotic at all. I like them both by the way but they are steady sort of names to my mind.

I know 2 Laras and 1 Zara , they are all from Huddersfield with British ancestry.

They may not be British in origin, but Zara and Lara have been absorbed into English speaking culture like Zoe, Erin, Rebekah, Samuel, Rory, Zachariah .....

I honestly don't see these names as exotic and they are quite normal in the U.K.,

I wanted to call my daughter Lara nearly 22 years ago, before Lara Croft was a thing, but my husband wouldn't have it. As it reminded him of the cricketer Brian Lara. So she's got a different name 🤣

I've never thought Lara was exotic. I know a couple of British Laras. It's one of those international names but perfectly British too (if that makes sense!)

Lara - Home Counties, I know a few. Certainly not 'exotic'.

Another one saying they are not exotic and fairly usual names in the uk. I went to school with a Lara, she'd be 32 now - she was from Kent! I have taught two Zara's one was spelt Zarah and Indian, the other was from Kent. I have taught a few Ella's one from Finland but the rest UK.

Both Ella and Zara were on my list, both beautiful names, I'd say Ella is the more popular of all 3 but not as popular as Isla, Ava, Evie...

Most names have a background in another language. If you like it, use it. Nobody else is going to analyse it the way you are

Perhaps because I live in a city I’ve never met a British Lara or Zara. But this may be because cities are so multicultural. I was concerned people would make assumptions. I prefer names that are international incase we move countries or something.

I wouldn't say exotic just not really common. Though I think over the next couple of years they will both gain popularity as I have met two baby Lara's recently and have never come across anyone with the name before hand

I grew up in the 1980s with a Lara and know of a couple of baby Lara's now. It doesn't seem exotic at all. It is a lovely name though.

I also don't equate Zara with being particularly exotic either as I've known a few over the last 35 years. I do however know a Zehra (pronounced Zair-rer) and that is much more unusual and exotic if you're looking for something less commonly used.

I thought it was going to be Frogmella

I don’t think any are exotic. All quite standard names now and could be from any background. I like Zara best. Lara is nice but seems bland , though I like it as short for Larissa. Ella is too bland for me.