Thoughts on Amalia?

[luckydays]

That isn't a typo. We're struggling to come up with a girl's name and a friend suggested Amalia. I've never liked Amelia, but replacing the E with an A seems to make such a difference. It's pronounced like you're about to say March or mars, not like May. Possible nickname is Mali (basically Marley) but I'm not too keen on nicknames so she'd never be referred to like that (unless school friends choose to). I'm worried about it being mistaken as Amelia.

Also please suggest some other names if you can! TIA

It will constantly be mistaken for amelia, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't choose it if you like it

It's a pretty name and nicer than Amelia IMO. Malia is also nice.

In Welsh Mali is Welsh for Molly and pronounced Mally. So if you go with Mali as a nickname you may find some people pronounce it Mally rather than Marley, especially if you live in Wales or near the border.

Malia is more obvious pronunciation wise and would make a lovely nickname for Amalia or a lovely name in its own right.

I know it’s a name but it just looks wrong, still struggling with how it’s supposed to sound

Was going to say the same as PP, in wales Mali is not pronounced Marley, it’s Mally.
Personally I don’t like Amalia, but like the suggestion Malia

Its a pretty name. I've only heard it pronounced Am-uh-LEE-uh though.

I really like it
Don't normally like a twist on a popular name names

But Amalia is really pretty

I loooove Amalia. It was my number 1 name until DH cousin took it 😤 Mali as a NN is so lovely as well

Look like a typo.
Teachers will say Amelia.

@NameChange84

I love it. It bugs me when people say “it’s a misspelling” etc, it’s been a name in its own right for centuries. Much classier than Amelia.

Do you like Amelie?

I think it's rotten to give her a name she'll spend her life correcting people over.

I didn't mean to quote that post

I like Amalia but if you are unsure, there is also Amali which is very similar and won't be confused with Amelia.

Amalia is a traditional name, widely used across Europe. It has been mentioned that two princesses currently bear this name. I am Italian and was looking for a name that works in both countries. I absolutely love it, so much that I chose it for my daughter.

It's much nicer than Amelia. I don't like the MEE sound in Amelia
Emily is much nicer than Amelie.

I think it might become popular in the way Olive has.

As two previous posters have said, Amalia is an old and well-known name, especially in Europe. It is much older than Amelia.
Amalia derives from the Germanic word 'amal' (= 'hard-working' etc)
https://www.behindthename.com/name/amalia

Some sources say that Amelia is simply a later variation of Amalia: https://www.behindthename.com/name/amelia

Others say that Amelia is a mixture of Amalia and Emilia (which is an Ancient Roman name): https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198610601.001.0001/acref-9780198610601-e-145?rskey=EViKHZ&result=345

I really like Amalia and don't think people (especially teachers who are used to all sorts of name variants) will see it as Amelia. We don't see Amelie as Amelia and that's also only one letter different. I think of is as A-mar-lee-uh but, to be honest, I think I've only ever seen it written down. Both ways of saying it are pretty though.

I also don't like the mealy sound in Amelia so think Amalia is much prettier.

However, Amaya, as suggested by a pp, beats both in my opinion. Beautiful name.

I see Amelie and Amelia as similar, and I'm a teacher.
If I had a list and it said Amalia, Amelia, Amelia, Amelia, Amelie they'd blur into one

My daughter Amalia is the only one in her school year, there are no other variations of the name to make it confusing (out of two groups of 28). She has had the odd nickname (Mali or Mia) at times, but she prefers to be called by her name.

The one I knew pronounced it Am-Ah-Lee-Ah and it didn't get mistaken for Amelia... however she was also a ghastly bully to me so it's a bit of a name that I have connotations with.

I feel like people will confuse her name with Amelia and she will constantly have to correct them

I like it, I’d be unsure on pronunciation though .

I love it - much prettier than Amelia. I came across an Amara a few years back and thought that was a lovely name too.