Wondering if this name would work in the UK

[NordicNell]

Selja?

Any first thoughts? How would you pronounce it? It means elderflower in my language and I've been encouraged by MN to go with the name that I love despite it maybe being a bit tricky in other countries :)

My husband is English/French and he seems to like it too

Is it like Celia?
No idea about pronunciation tbh

I would pronounce it sel-ya.

I wouldn’t know how to properly pronounce it, so would have to ask if I met.
But I wold imagine something like say-er?

No. If we don't know how to pronounce it the poor child is going to have a heck of a time all through life.

I’d probably pronounce it sel-ya if reading it, but you can always correct people if they get it wrong at first .

Definitely go with a name you love.

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

No. If we don't know how to pronounce it the poor child is going to have a heck of a time all through life.

Why? Surely people will just ask her how to pronounce it?

It hardly seems like a huge hassle .

I would pronounce it

Sel-ja or Sel -ya.

Is it pronounced Selya or more like Celia? Because few people would know how to pronounce it, I would adapt the name to suit local pronunciation.

I would probably pronounce it ‘sell-jar’ but guessing that’s probably wrong.

Britain is a land of hard to pronounce place names (Marylebone, Leicester, Cholmondeley etc). If they can cope with those, they'll manage a Selja.

I would guess Sel-ya but I'd be wanting to know how to pronounce it right. Pretty name. Something quite elegant to it.

I would pronounce Sel-ja

People can be corrected, pick something you love

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

No. If we don't know how to pronounce it the poor child is going to have a heck of a time all through life.

This is just bollocks, my children's school is full of all different names, some are native to other languages, some are interesting takes on old names and some are completely made up. Op your child may have to pronounce it correctly the first time, but any person with a modicum of decency will remember therein.

I don't know how to pronounce it nor would try but I would ask and would remember.

Sel-ya

I'd pronounce it Sel-ya and I think it's gorgeous.

Unless you live in a very insular part of the UK, names from other cultures are generally fine I think - at school the kids are definitely used to names with different pronunciations from the usual English phonics (Alicja, Maja, and a South American-pronounced Julia are all seen as perfectly normal, 'because you see, Mummy, the letter J can make a different sound in different languages'.)

Selja is short and uncomplicated, it's fairly well understood that 'j' makes different sounds and she will probably spend less time spelling it than I spend spelling out my entirely standard version of a classic ( though a little bit too classical for my tastes ) English name.

I’d say Sel-ya or SE-lee-a. Beautiful name.

I'd pronounce it sel-ya too. I think it's lovely, really pretty (unless it's pronounced discharge or something but I think that's unlikely )

Go for it. I'm a supply teacher and every new register is full of names I have no idea how to pronounce. I'm in London so it's a diverse mix sometimes. It's not a problem, I give it my best shot, the child corrects me if I'm wrong and I then try my best to remember it. Selja I would pronounce 'sel-ya' and wouldn't be surprised if it was corrected to .sey-ya' or sel-ee-ya.

Thanks everyone, it is pronounced Sel-ya. As long as it doesn't mean anything bad in English it should be fine I guess

I'd pronounce Sell-yah. I don't see why you shouldn't use in the UK if you like it?

It’s pretty.

I would also pronounce it Sel-ya.

I have an Anglo Saxon name which is nearly always mispronounced. It's annoying, but people get the hang of it and I've learnt how to swiftly correct people without it being awkward or rude. She'll be fine.

What language is it from?

@NordicNell

Thanks everyone, it is pronounced Sel-ya. As long as it doesn't mean anything bad in English it should be fine I guess

See now I know and I'd never need to ask again. It's lovely.

Like see-lee-a
A bit like celiac?

It's lovely

You might need to correct people first time if they are reading it and haven't heard it spoken but its easy enough to remember once you've been told

@NordicNell

Thanks everyone, it is pronounced Sel-ya. As long as it doesn't mean anything bad in English it should be fine I guess

It doesn't mean anything bad but sounds similar to how some English people say "Sell you" e.g., "I will sell ya that for £50"