Manuela

[CornerShopping]

What are your thoughts on this name?
It's one of my favourites but for some reason I just can't bring myself to use it now that I'm based in the UK. It's a very normal name in Spanish speaking countries, one of which I'm originally from and it's to honour a very close family member.

No doesnt work in english speaking countries.

I think it will always be associated with Manuel from Fawlty Towers!

I teach a Manuela, lovely girl. Her parents are Spanish though.

Could you middle name it?

I think it would have pronunciation problems. Plus it might get shortened to Man.

I taught a Manuela a few years ago. She was lovely. That makes me like the name.

I really like it but I prefer Emanuela which I think is Greek rather than Spanish. I knew one who was shortened to Manu

Why doesn’t it work in English speaking countries? It’s a perfectly normal name. It’s easy to pronounce. It’s lovely.

It would be a great tribute to the recent mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena

As someone with Spanish heritage and Spanish name myself, I really don’t think Manuela would work in England. I was brought up here but used to spend summers in Spain and I don’t think I’ve ever met a Manuela. Manuel and Manolo yes but never a Manuela. In England, I’d say it sounds like a middle aged Spanish lady and I don’t think it sounds nice how it would be pronounced either. Maybe use it as a middle name?

My neighbour is called Manuella, she's in her 30's and lovely. Her 'heritage' is British as far back as she knows. Her parents just loved the name so called her Manuella. Her sister is called Sarah, but there's no Jewish connection either.

I really don't understand the 'can't use that name unless you're of that culture' brigade.

I know a lovely Brazilian Manuela and I love it. She goes by 'Manu' or even 'manny' as a nn and I think it's pretty cool

I hadn't really considered it as a middle name as I actually quite like it so thought it would be a lovely first name. I guess in this situation it might be better off as a middle name.

One of the things I'm not a big fan of are the nn, Manny or Manu, even Ella but I know the name is quite a mouthful so not sure people would actually say the full version every single time or eventually go for a nn.

I really like it. But imagine it would be shortened to a name you wouldn’t like. So that is something for you to consider xx

I wouldn't go for it if you really dislike the nn options... even if you and your family and friends stick to the full name, inevitably it will be shortened at school

@CornerShopping If you love the name, then use it. If your heart tells you she’s a Manuela then that is what she is. When she’s little, you will have control over nicknames and can correct people if they shorten it. When she’s a teenager, it’ll be different. If there’s a way she likes to shorten it, then I’m sure you’ll like it too. My DH’s cousin named their daughter Margaret after their nan. She’s 4 now and even though it raised a few eyebrows at the time as people said it sounded like an old lady name (and not the fashionable type), I couldn’t imagine her being called anything else. It doesn’t get shortened to anything and that’s just her name and it suits her.

Go for it, she'll make it cool and her own.

I love Manuela. Pronounced Man oo eh la.

I quite like it.

My great aunt's German Shepherd whrn I was a kid!

I quite like it OP but I agree with you that the potential nickname of 'Man' or 'Manny' is offputting.

At a push you could attempt to steer nicknames towards Melly/ Mel or Ella but school kids find the path of least resistance for nicknames so I'm sure you'd end up with Manny / Manu

Personally I think it works fine in English. Will she have a Spanish surname? If so it will seem even more "fitting" iyswim

I do think that shortening to Man or Manny is inevitable though as she goes through school. It's not really possible to prevent unless she herself chooses to be fierce about it.

(I have a name with a common nn that I do not like, and have always avoided being called it by saying "you can call me anything but [that NN]". I like other common-but-not-as-common nicknames.)

I think its lovely and would think beautiful name if any friends told me this was their babys name

I went to school with a girl called manuella, she was Spanish and nobody had any issues pronouncing it and that was in Ireland.