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?

OP you've added that you want names that are international in case you move countries - I think all these names might work fine internationally.

1 Zara
2 Lara
3 Ella

Nope, none are exotic. Ella is incredibly common in fact. I think people thought Zara was exotic when Princess Anne used it in the 80s. It’s really not.

I grew up in a small village in the country had two Lara's and a Zara at school. All lovely girls

Know a few more now after moving to a bigger city. Wouldn't say exotic at all.

Lara is my fave

I'd expect Lara and Zara to be white English middle class people. Ella - cast the net a bit wider as it's a more common baby name.

Lara from Lara's theme in Doctor Zhivago, Lara Croft, people trying to avoid the more popular Isabella, Eva but still have something similar.

Zara - Zara Phillips

Ella - Deliciously Ella, Ella's Kitchen

Lara gets my vote.

Not exotic but Lara says Russian to me and Zara Middle East, purely from personal acquaintances

Stoke?

What about Cara, Dara, Mara, Sara, Tara? All nice names except Dara.

I would assume Lara was from Guildford and Zara was from Slough

I went to school with 4 Zara’s and 3 Lara’s and that was just in my year. So I’d say Wales- nothing exotic about them at all. Just bland names.

I wouldn’t assume either were from any particular country. They are all names with simple spellings so I can’t imagine you will have too much difficulty if you move countries. Don’t choose a name just because people on here like it though - go with something you love!

I remember the papers calling Zara 'exotic' when Princess Anne named her daughter but that was 30 odd years ago!.

I think Ella has s a bit over popular.
Lara is really pretty.

I don't think they're exotic but I do think they travel well.

I was expecting Spudulika (it's exotic, innit!)

Zara and Lara are lovely. Much prefer to Ella.

I love the name Lara. It is the Russian diminutive for Larissa. And of course, there is the infamous Lara (Larissa) Antipova from Doctor Zhivago. Julie Christie was a total babe in that film.

DD's friend is Zara, so I always think of her when I hear the name Zara.
Both names are beautiful, OP.

When I here Zara i think of the high street chain.Lara is nicer.

I was not expecting either of these names from the title...wouldn't say either were exotic in the slightest. I think they're both great names though.

I think Zara and Lara were once exotic but certainly aren’t now. And you can’t move for little Ella’s round here.

I live in London - I’ve met loads of English Laras and Zaras.

Ella has jumped the shark.

Obviously Lara as it’s my name!!!

My Lara is Welsh (as are the other 4 Laras I know - they’re all blonde, actually, so I probably associate it with that!). My dd is 9 but the other Laras are in their 20s and 30s.

I think those names would fit in anywhere.