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!

I didn't think it would upset anyone just thought it was weird to name a kid after somewhere you'd been backpacking.

Indie is lovely

I know more India's than Mya, I personally prefer Mya

I like India and it goes with your older dd name but it’s certainly not unusual, I know loads, all three of my dc have friends called India and I know two baby India’s . I don’t dislike Mya but prefer Mia or Maia , also very very popular in all its spellings

Myra

Sorry Mya!! Posted too quickly

I really like PP's suggestion of Indigo. Then India nn Indie, then Maya. Mya looks mis-spelled to me.

India and Mya both nice although I like Maya for the spelling.

Indie I'm not keen on, feels very nick-namey to me and in Scotland it's associated with the independence movement. Not a good thing for me but I suppose for some it is! I do know a baby Indie and her parents are nationalists.

Mya is a horrible spelling, it looks odd.
It also doesn;t help with pronunication, as I looked at it and wondered how you wanted me to say it.

I know loads of Maya/Maia's. For each one you just have to learn how it is said. Some use My-a and some use May-a.

India is colonial, Mya is dull compared to Cassandra & two a penny.

Aurelia
Raffaella nn Raffy
Venetia
Gabriella
Romilly nn Romy
Sienna

Not Indie - I think Indie and Cassie are a bit twee together.

I would go for Indie as I don't think it's a good idea for white British people to use India, and I would use the normal spelling of Maya. It looks much better and I've never heard anyone mispronounce it, I think changing it would add confusion rather than take it away.

Both lovely names, though!

India and Mya are both lovely names.

Indie is also nice, but I think if it as being slightly hippy - like the feminine of a name like Bodhi. I think because of indie music.

Thanks everyone! I think we’re going to go with India...possibly India Grace so she has a more common ‘normal’ middle name to create some balance.

Culturally insensitive choice OP.

@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.

Cloth-eared comment.

Context is everything. Not sure what ‘actual Indians’ are - but a person of Indian heritage using the name is completely different to a white British family using it - in which context it can only ever look colonial. I’ve never actually met a woman of Indian heritage called India, the nearest is Indira.

I asked for opinions so happy to hear the good and the bad! I think on balance feedback has been positive though and I personally think of India as a beautiful country where I met my daughters dad and fell in love rather than the history of the British raj. I think as others have pointed out, it seems to be white British people offended rather than people with Indian heritage.

I think that Indie is lovely. I love Cassie too!

Probably not so much offended by India more embarrassed about what British people did in it.

India sound good but I would be wary of using it. But Mya sounds very bland against Cassandra / Cassie.

I think as others have pointed out, it seems to be white British people offended rather than people with Indian heritage.

No, posters who don't really grasp the issue have made that excuse, that's all. That you even say that shows that you really are not at all sensitive to the issues raised by using the name.

What about Melanie. I'd go back and look at other Greek mythology names that will stand up against Cassandra.

I hate the name India sorry. Why name it after somewhere you went backpacking?

@DressedUpAtAnIvy

Because it’s weird to name a child after a place where your country committed genocide.

This x100

Indie!

@Noogar Ah it's not just somewhere I went backpacking...I've been all over! It's where I met my husband / father of our child and have been back many times. I think it would be more odd to choose a place name you haven't been to / didnt like surely