Opinions on final two baby girl names

[Ari7890]

Me and my husband have really, really struggled to agree on a girls name. We have it down to two choices we both like (but are quite different).

We like India / Indie and Mya.

We actually met backpacking in India 11 years ago so there is some significance for us but I know it still has negative connotations for some so that's my only reservation. I do like that it's not very common and she's likely to be the only one in her class.

Mya I just love the sound of. I also like Maya but think there is more margin for error and confusion on pronunciation. We like the My-uh sound rather than May-uh. However....I know there are quite a few Mayas, Myas, Mias etc.

I guess we're torn between a popular name (but popular for a reason I'm sure!) or an unusual name that could have negative reactions for some....

We already have a 3 year old Cassandra / Cassie...also quite different to the two names!

India (nn Indie) sounds better with Cassandra (Cassie) to me - it was also used as a girls name before British colonial rule so I wouldn't be that worried about it personally.

Mya will regularly have to spell her name which she might find annoying - I think if you do go for Mya, at least go for the Greek Mythology Maia spelling, fits much better with her sisters name imo.

I just asked my (Indian) DH what he thinks about MN posters deciding India is unusable as a name and he said "It's one of those things where white people decide, on behalf of brown people, that they should be offended, but nobody I know in India would ever be offended by it."

I wouldn't use India if you're white British. Because of the colonial connotations. Maybe as a middle name if you feel it's got meaning for you.

How about Indira (nn Indie), Sanskrit for beauty (although potential association with Indira Ghandi might not be what you want).

@balonzette Mumsnet love to be offended on behalf of others. Middle class PC brigade. Georgia has a history entrenched in slavery...that'll be offensive next.

@SecretKeeper1 has the best suggestion of Indigo with nn Indie. It certainly is more in keeping with your other daughter’s name.

Hmm @thinkover it's not really about being offended on behalf of others, it's about giving a baby a name which has negative associations to a lot of people.

I'm not sure it's appropriate calling your child India. It's just strange and I feel like people wouldn't call their child Canada or Sweden. It's only cause India is perceived "exotic". Although I guess there are also names like London etc. Hmm

Love India/Indie

@Balonzette thanks for this, I was wondering about the opinions of people with an Indian background / heritage as I’d be very concerned about offending people from India but less concerned about offending white people who are offended by the prospect of offending Indian people!

I do like Indigo but it was a no from my husband unfortunately!

Not mya
India ok, Indira is beaut and indigo is nice.

Where in India did you meet? You could choose the name of the town? (If it's cute, not if it's like bengaluru or something 😂)

@Balonzette

I just asked my (Indian) DH what he thinks about MN posters deciding India is unusable as a name and he said "It's one of those things where white people decide, on behalf of brown people, that they should be offended, but nobody I know in India would ever be offended by it."

I was thinking this, as well. I'm Indian and would think kindly of someone named India. It's a flattering name haha. And I prefer it to Mya/Mia which is just terribly overused.

Of course, I can't speak for the young British-born people of Indian ancestry -- they may think differently. That demographic seems more concerned with cultural appropriation and orientalism (at least compared to immigrants like myself).

You can't please everyone, OP. So if you love India, be bold and use it.

Love India ... lots of maya/Mia/myah about here.

Honestly I'd go back to the drawing board, Mya is really common just now and I'm not sure about India.

I like both.

India seems very popular on this thread for a name others have condemned unusable...

India is lovely.

Mya/Mia/Maya/ all merge into one undefined name.

I couldn't name my daughter after a country where women are inherently treated as an inferior species, even if you did have fun backpacking there. So I'd go for Mya, although as a previous poster said, the more classic spelling of Maia is pretty.

How very colonial to only view India through the prism of British rule.

I'm sure actual Indians think of many things about their country before they think of that.

I like both names. My name was uncommon, but not extremely 'out there' as a child. I was always the only one at my school with the name- which I loved.

We had 4 Rebeccas, 4 Sarahs and 3 Ambers in my year at high school! I was so grateful to have a different name. My middle name is Elizabeth and was told that if I hated my Christian name, I could choose the many variants of that instead- Beth, Betty, Liz etc. It might be something to consider, although I doubt she'd want to change it.

Gosh.
Entire countries and histories are so easily summed up by some.

British rule.
Sexism.
That's India.

Most people though will have a wide variety of associations with the varied culture and history of India.

I know a little girl called Indiana, nickname Indie, could be an alternative option if you decide against India. I prefer India to Mya

Mya (though I would use the Maia spelling as well, it’s more pleasing to the eye).

I’m not keen on India, it has yuppie connotations to me and I don’t think it is aged well.

Not India. I don’t think the fact that you met backpacking there helps. If anything, it makes it worse. Would you have considered Kenya or Nigeria as names if you’d met there?

@MalagaNights

How very colonial to only view India through the prism of British rule.

I'm sure actual Indians think of many things about their country before they think of that.

This ^

And as for the Sweden, Nigeria comments…pfft some place names work some don’t. Some work so well people don’t make the association and are happy to call out place names then have children called Florence, Sienna, Charlotte, Victoria, Georgia, etc. Same as some nature names work like willow and holly but I’m yet to come across a pinecone.

Go for what you love OP. That’s all that matters because name choices are personal.