Anjali vs Anoushka, how do we decide?!

[Monsoon31]

We were all set on the name Anoushka but now the name Anjali has really started growing on us and the meaning of Anjali is delightful, whereas I don’t think Anoushka has a meaning in Sanskrit.. Please help clear our confusion!

Sorry @Monsoon31 - sloaney as in ‘Sloane Square type’, so posh, wealthy, horsey / upper class types! It’s not necessarily a negative, just a series of connotations.

I recomend trying out one at a time when referring to the baby, just between yourselves. We had a few names we liked on paper but we realised we didn't when actually using them.

I like Anjali better, timeless classic Sanskrit name.

To throw another into the mix - Ansuya?

Anjali is really pretty, I would go with that

@DeusEx Oh thanks for clarifying! :)

@HazelWong That’s a great suggestion, we might just wait and see what suits her when she arrives, I have a feeling that I won’t be able to pick one until we see her because the confusion just isn’t clearing.

@Morgelyn Thank you, so glad the name Anjali has a positive response!

My son's girlfriend is an Anoushka and I love the name & she's a lovely girl, and so I am biased!
I like the Russian sound and it's quite fun to say.

Anjali is beautiful. Really don't like Anoushka at all...

I prefer Anoushka. I don't really like Anjali, though. True that Anoushka is also sounds like a Russian name, but I saw that it is Indi as well.

@Xoxoxoxoxoxox Thank you for sharing!
@BatleyTownswomensGuild Just curious to know, what swayed you more towards Anjali over Anoushka, what don’t you like about Anoushka? Is it the sound of the name?
@Eleonorex Why do you like Anoushka more than Anjali? Just wondering!
Thanks everyone! :)

Anjali is beautiful. I don't really like Anouskha

@Arrierttyclock Why do you like it more, is it the sound that you prefer?

@Monsoon31

Just curious to know, what swayed you more towards Anjali over Anoushka, what don’t you like about Anoushka? Is it the sound of the name?

Yep I don't like the sound. Sounds...squelchy...if that makes sense.

@BatleyTownswomensGuild That does make sense! Thanks for clarifying :)

It is the '-JA- sound of Anjali that I find rough. It doesn't seem refined to me or sweet. It sounds rough. I don't know the name or the origin of the name and I think what counts is the sound of names for me. Anjali is for me a bad form of Angiolina, Angela, etc. which sounds better to my ears. This said, different people will have a different perception of the name.

We considered Amala for our DD, but went off it because of the potential for different pronunciations: amAAHluh vs UHMluh, if that makes sense.

My MIL had a name where the middle letter was transcribed as an "a", but pronounced much softer - not like the a in apple. I (not Indian) found it difficult to get right.

Similar thing with Anjali?

Anouska is beautiful

Don’t like anjali at all.

@Eleonorex Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It’s interesting because some people also say that Anoushka’s “Shka” ending sounds harsh to them!

@Spindelina Yes it will be similar I think but I’m not too worried if they say “Ann-jali” instead of “Un”. Hopefully DD will learn to correct it! Both pronunciations are lovely!

@Porridgeoat Thanks! What makes you prefer Anoushka over Anjali?

Which of the two is the strongest and nicest sounding? I’ve been overthinking it so much that they have both started to sound the same in my mind. Maybe Anjali sounds a bit cute compared to Anoushka.

I do feel like you might be over thinking it tbh. Maybe wait and see what suits her best when she arrives?

Anjali would be the stronger one to my mind. Anoushka is a pretty but nothing-y sort of sound (I do like Anoushka though).

Oh Anjali is very old fashioned, it's the equivalent of a Maureen or similar. It was considered old fashioned when I was in school yonks ago. Not that it makes a difference to the prettiness of the name! But I also think it will be a struggle for most people to pronounce in this part of the world - even in India, different regions pronounce it differently - emphasis on different syllables. Anoushka is a lot easier, and more modern and the nick names are easier too - Anu, Nushi etc

I love both names.

As a non Indian heritage person, I would think Anoushka was Russian or French.
Anjali sounds much more Iindian, if that matters to you.

I think you are overthinking and should wait until she's here and decide.

My two cents - both great names. Anjali to me is bright and joyful, Anoushka strong and beautiful.

I guess also have a think about what friends will call them - Ana, Jali, Anja vs Ani, Ana, Noushka etc

@SionnachRua Thank you for all those points! :)
@BibbityBobbety I didn’t realise it was old fashioned! Is it really weird to call a child Anjali now? I don’t want DD to think we have burdened her with a frumpy name!! To me it sounds pretty but I don’t know now. Anoushka does have awesome NN potentials! I guess Anjali could be shortened to Annie or Anu

@steppemum It does matter a little, I would rather the name is as Indian as possible so that it represents our culture well, but also want it to be easy to pronounce and live with in a global sense. If Anoushka will be mistaken for a Russian name, it’s not bad at all but just a bit culturally misleading.

@TheDaydreamBelievers I definitely am overthinking it!! We will probably wait and see what DD is like, if she is really lively and energetic, we will definitely go for Anjali, and if she is more calm, maybe Anoushka will suit her better. So hard naming a human!

Love Anoushka it’s beautiful

@MrMeSeeks thank you!! :)