Mahnoosh or Mahgul?

[Babynamespring]

Mahnoosh: eternal moon
Mahgul: moon flower

This is my current shortlist, which one do you prefer? I’m guessing pronunciation wise Mahnoosh will be better…

The first one.
The second one makes me think of the place in Liverpool, Maghull.

Is it for a boy or a girl?

For a girl

Both lovely meanings. How are they pronounced, if you will be staying in mainly English speaking country is one spelling closer to the pronunciation?

I think the first sounds prettier and more feminine, and I like the 'noosh' sound!

The second looks like it might sound a little harsh for a girl.

Mahgul sounds like a baddy's name, the Nazgul in lord of the rings, or a ghoul (horrible ghost). I much prefer Mahnoosh.

I prefer the first one too.

Mahnoosh is lovely!

Thanks for all these comments!! Going off Mahgul as I do agree that it sounds quite abrupt & harsh for a girls name, even if the meaning is beautiful.

Would you assume seeing Mahnoosh for the first time that it’s a girls name?

Agree with everyone that Mahnoosh is much prettier. I’ve never heard of either name, so wouldn’t have a clue about whether it was a boy or a girl name. But I think that’s quite nice.

I wouldn’t know which sex either of them were but I prefer Mahnoosh

I like Mahnoosh - I immediately thought of “Little Noosh”, one of the nice elf characters in the book A Boy called Christmas. She’s a little girl elf in the book, so I’d have guessed girl. I haven’t heard the name Mahnoosh before, but it’s v nice.

I think I would reserve judgment if it was a girl or boy's name. But I know an Anoosha so I think I would think more likely female (although the 'a' ending is more female...I know a Nisha too).

They both sound quite masculine to my British ears. The first is nicer; the second sounds quite harsh to me.

I prefer Mahgul. But I prefer harder names.
I'm afraid I assumed both were boys.

I haven’t heard either of these names before but have heard Mahnoor etc so would have known it’s a girl’s name.
Pronunciation of the H in “Mah” is a little problematic for a British accent but they’ll get it!

Manouches, pronounced same as Mahnoosh is the French word for Romani gypsy, I think a lot of people will know this if they're into music because of Django Reinhardt, gypsy jazz musician who was a Manouches.

So I would go for the second

I prefer Mahnoosh but wouldn't know if boy or girl.

They do both sound like boys names.

Any other options?

Mahgul is my preference.

I think both sound like boys names. In fact Manush is a very common boys name where I'm from. Also the variations of Manish, Manesh are all male.

Do you have a wide Pakistani circle? Because Mahnoosh could easily taken the mick out of by calling her Manhoos (unlucky/evil). If you don’t, then it’s fine, doubt you’ll ever have that problem.

Mahgul reminds me of the place, Maghull, which houses Ashworth hospital

Mahnoosh

Thanks for all these really useful comments!! @CatsRCute that’s a really good point!!
I think I’m going to rule out Mahnoosh based on the fact that it’s usually a boys name & also the Manhoos association has put me off!

So that leaves me with Mahgul… I’m not keen on Farimah or any of the other names on my original list anymore. I might need to keep looking if Mahgul is too out there. Mahgul has a bit of an old-school, poetic charm which I love but maybe I’ll keep looking & try to find something else. Some great suggestions on this thread and my other one :)