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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Esra for a girl

57 replies

Elspethelf · 02/12/2021 00:26

We are not yet pregnant but daydreaming. My husband and I don’t often agree on a name, but miraculously both love Esra for a girl. Is this useable do you think?

It is a variation of the Middle Eastern name Asra. My husband is Middle Eastern. Other variations are Isra and Izra.

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GreenCereal · 02/12/2021 00:47

I think it looks lovely written down, but I do think you'll get a lot of people mishearing it for Ezra and thinking she's a boy sorry.

MrsEricBana · 02/12/2021 00:49

Agree with pp. I'd go for Asra, beautiful!

Jay185 · 02/12/2021 00:53

Hi it's a lovely name, it's a Turkish girls name and very pretty.

Rno3gfr · 02/12/2021 01:00

I think it’s a beautiful name. I am a Welsh speaker though and we pronounce things phonetically. I’m not sure if English speakers would pronounce it differently? Either way, you can always correct people, my son corrects people on his name and he’s only just 3.

Autumnamor · 02/12/2021 01:23

I think it's a beautiful name! Shhh keep it to yourself from now :)

DramaAlpaca · 02/12/2021 01:25

It's a pretty Turkish name. I like it, even though I dislike Ezra for a boy. Asra is even nicer.

Starface · 02/12/2021 01:54

Another version is Azra, which I like. And think is very usable, and more distinct from Esra, as I find the 'A' sound more different. You'd probably still have to correct sometimes but I think it would be OK.

Original poster
Elspethelf · 02/12/2021 02:21

I thought about Ezra but personally I lean towards gender neutral/ ambiguous names. I thought about mispronunciation but I think the most likely pronunciation is how I would say it. So really I was wondering if anyone could come up with an association that would ruin the name for me.

I decided to search the name on Mumsnet and found two old threads.

One says to read the name backwards….

OP posts:
Original poster
Elspethelf · 02/12/2021 02:23

I’m in America and I love the name so much PLUS hubby agrees that if we have a daughter I might just name her Arse backwards.

I do wish I didn’t do that search lol

OP posts:
cafedesreves · 02/12/2021 03:12

Oh gosh! I can't unsee it now. I taught a girl of African descent called Ezra. Lovely name.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/12/2021 06:38

Just go for one of the other spellings you mention, as otherwise it will get mistaken for Ezra, which is a popular boys name.

GemmaRuby · 02/12/2021 06:41

I like Isra the most. I haven’t heard it before but it sounds lovely.
It also feels more like a separate name and less likely to get muddled with Ezra.

RoseAndRose · 02/12/2021 06:43

I wouid go for Asra

Ezra is a well known boys name (Biblical, having a bit of a revival)

gukvguk · 02/12/2021 06:59

I know an Ezri.

Lovely name.

MrsPleasant · 02/12/2021 07:14

I used to teach a little girl called Ezara who was Turkish. Not quite the same I know...

clarrylove · 02/12/2021 07:22

Arse backwards. Not for me.

raintropics · 02/12/2021 07:28

I really like Izra!

CatDogAlpaca · 02/12/2021 07:32

Not keen on Esra or Ezra but I like Izra.

Shallwegoforawalk · 02/12/2021 08:27

Asra or Isra are MUCH better than arse backwards. Please don't do that to her!!!

Happy1982ish · 02/12/2021 08:31

Go with Asra

I love Ezra, but not for a girl.

DameAlyson · 02/12/2021 08:38

I like Asra. Esra is pretty but I agree it will be mistaken for Ezra.

BiBabbles · 02/12/2021 08:41

I lean more towards Isra, but all the options are nice including some of the other suggestions in this thread.

I did not notice the arse issue until it was pointed out.

Jay185 · 02/12/2021 09:19

Omg the backwards spelling 😩 I do love the way it's pronounced in Turkish it sounds so pretty. The 's' is pronounced properly and not as a 'z' and the r is a touch rolled as well but her classmates won't be able to do that bit lol.

Kitkat151 · 02/12/2021 09:21

Sounds like a boys name to me

irishfarmer · 02/12/2021 10:54

I think it's very nice. I wouldn't have copped "arse" if it hadn't been pointed out