Can I use this name?

[Jojo19834]

Hi mystery people of the internet. I know I can ask you and get an honest opinion. I love a name but I don’t want to find I am making a mistake. I like unusual modern names (but not made-up and just spelt differently). I am 100% British and I am a single mum by choice. The name I have landed on for my baby girl is Amaya. Can I use it? It’s not a typically British name but I personally think it’s lovely. Thoughts? Recently today seen Marlie on this board which I like, but surname ends in ‘ey’ so not sure I can can use two ‘eee’ sounding names together? This is my second long running name I have used, previously in love with Willow but think it’s going to be a popular name in 2020.

Help people!

It's beautiful and to be honest I'm not a great believer in names having to have a cultural link. My son has an Irish name and my daughter has an Italian name. Just because!

The only thing I'm not sure on is pronunciation, is it

Ah-May-Ah

Or

Ah-My-Ah

I've heard both (the latter is Owlette on PJ Masks, you'll become familiar with that soon...)

Thanks @finallysleeping
I’m the same re names but just want to get some sort of consensus that it’s ok

I also understand the pronunciation issue, but I’m ok with that!

It’s pronounced like Owlette and my sister pointed that out to me when I announced the name I liked so have already heard, although never seen PJ Masks. Plenty of time for that lol

How are you wanting to pronounce it? I think it’s nice either way but I prefer A-my-ah and I’d spell is Amaia. But that’s just me!

I also love Marley (prefer this way). We almost went with it for our daughter but I couldn’t stand the idea of it being shortened to Marls. Good job we didn’t anyway as one of our good friends used it for their son a few months later!

@spirali I hadn’t thought of Marls! Always need to think of nicknames duh!

Pronunciation is as you said and it can be spelt both ways, think your way is the Spanish way. As you have said that though I think people would get the pronunciation easier with Amaia so food for thought

Amaya is beautiful, Marlie reminds me of the dog, sorry.

Amaya is lovely! Marlie really isn’t, but it seems like you’ve decided against that anyway due to the surname.

It’s a lovely name! Anaya means ‘night rain’ in Arabic which I think is a lovely meaning.

Amaya is a lovely name (it’s Spanish in origin)

Go for it. It's a beautiful name. I know an Amayah but prefer your spelling.

Why shouldn't you be allowed to use it? Hundreds of mainstream names originate from other cultures (Niamh, Aoife, Amira, to name just a few).

Amaya is gorgeous. I'd pronounce it "a-may-a" though, because "a-my-a" sounds like "Am I a-?" similar to how Iona sounds like "I own a-".

Anyway, it's a lovely name and I think you should go for it. ♡

Thanks all. I agree with you all but didn’t want to find my opinion was the minority. I will stick!

Gorgeous and easy to pronounce. Amaya is the girl in PJ Masks but that'll only be relevant for a few years of your child's life.

Hahaha funny how everyone keeps picking up on PJ Masks! I like the name on an adult too so it will all be in the past by then and hopefully most will know how to pronounce it!

PJ Masks was my first thought too. It's not a horrible sounding name though

Amaya is very pretty. I've never heard of PJ Masks so no association there for me.

Yes it's nice, you can use it. I know people who called their daughter Suneisha which is not a traditional name but which is very nice.

Amaya is lovely. She was the little girl in the recent programme 'DEVS'.

Pronounced A-my-ah

It's not a name I'd choose, but I'd choose it over Willow.

I prefer the Amaya spelling

You're ok with it being pronounced either way, that's a good start because it will be!!

Two things to think about though

1. Due to PJ Masks it will probably become popular.

1. She will get Ami/Mia etc are you ok with all of those shortenings?!

Not sure why you think you can't use it if you want to though?!

It's fine, and I don't see an issue with using it. One thing though, If you're pronouncing it A-my-ah, just be sure to pay attention to how well it goes with your surname or any middle names, as it sounds like the phrase "Am I a?" If the middle name or surname is an object or a profession, it might sound like a question, eg:

Amayah Harper - Am I a harper?
Amayah Rose - Am I a rose?

That's really the only issue I can think of.