Baby Girl Names

[Anibas]

Only recently found out we are pregnant with our first child and have narrowed down girls names to this shortlist (will do another thread for boys). I know we have months to go, but am so excited! What are your thoughts on the following:

Katarina
Kyra
Elaina (don't like Elena because don't want Brits to pronounce as Eleanor)
Kiyara/ Kiara
Liana

We are thinking Rey for a middle name (Star Wars fans here, no shame)

I like Elaina and Liana. Will it be pronounced as Lee-ana or Lee-arna.
Kiara and Kyra are also nice but with Rey theyre a bit too R repetitive.
I'm not a fan of Katerina, sorry.

Katarina

@Awwlookatmybabyspider Thank you.
It would be Lee-ahn-ah with a long A. I really don't want it to be pronounced Lee-ann-ah , so I guess that could be a problem.
I agree about the R repeating too but, but hubby won't let up! 🤣

[quote Anibas]@Awwlookatmybabyspider Thank you.
It would be Lee-ahn-ah with a long A. I really don't want it to be pronounced Lee-ann-ah , so I guess that could be a problem.
I agree about the R repeating too but, but hubby won't let up! 🤣[/quote]
I meant Lee-aahn-ah, and the R repeating too much...

Katarina is beautiful. Not keen on the others, sorry (well, I like Elena - which I've only heard pronounced Eh -lay -nah, but Elaina looks misspelt to me)

Katarina.

Katarina - ok, prefer Katrina / Catriona
Kyra - nope, how about Lyra, Cara, Cora, Mira?
Elaina (don't like Elena because don't want Brits to pronounce as Eleanor) - not keen, Elena is lovely and don't think pronunciation would be a huge prob
Kiyara/ Kiara - no, I like Ciara / Kiera (Keer-ah)
Liana - not keen, how about Leona?

I think Kyra Rey would be quite cool tbh

I like Elena spelt like that but Elaina is too similar to Elaine for me which I see as being a "grandma" name (I would pronounce elena as eh-lay-na anyway which i think is the same pronunciation you want)

I dont like the others sorry!

A book is the place to start rather than random suggestions online surely.

Yes but doesn't that defeat the point of mumsnet @TatianaBis
I vote Kiara (prefer that spelling too) you won't often use the first and middle name together so doesn't matter in my eyes if it's R heavy

The point of MN is to whittle down your shortlist, bring it here, and have posters tell you they don’t like any of them.

Katarina.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam I prefer it spelled Elena too, but Brits tend to pronounce Helena and Elena with a short E, which I'm not keen on.

Katarina is lovely.

Liana will be pronounced Lianna whatever you do so forget it if you want the long a
Elaina will be a PITA for misspellings
Kyra and Kiara and especially Kiyara have a pretty downmarket vibe - but not if spelt properly ie Ciara.

@TatianaBis Lol, certainly seems that way!
Yes I've already narrowed down the list so like all of them. Just a strange human disposition to ask complete strangers their opinions lol.

Noone is going to pronounce Elena as Eleanor.

Elena is probably the best one on the list but not spelled Elaina

@partyatthepalace
Definitely thinking about avoiding Elaina/Elena and Liana for the mispronunciation and misspelling risks. Kiara and Kiyara are names in their own right, I am not trying to re-spell Ciara. Kiyara is of Sanskrit origin and hubby and I are both South Asian. I think it's a beautiful name :)

@ellenpartridge where are you from? I know that older folks here (UK) will pronounce Elena with a short E - like Ellen-ah.

@BumpLoading Thanks for your non-judgey comment in a sea of snark :)

[quote Anibas]@ellenpartridge where are you from? I know that older folks here (UK) will pronounce Elena with a short E - like Ellen-ah.[/quote]
I don’t think so. I’ve never heard of that pronunciation.

@Teeshirt Lucky you

I would definitely initially pronounce Elena as Ellen-uh.
Luckily I think lots of people wouldn’t and even the ones that did would be easily corrected. So it’s really up to you how much it would impact you!

I like Kiara and Elaina - and yes I like that spelling as it makes the pronunciation clear, and I like the look of it.