Love the name hate the spelling

[CiciLapin]

Baby girl due in 2 weeks and we are set on the name pronounced ARE-lee-yah.
Struggling with spelling although are leaning towards Arlia.
Aware it's probably a marmite name.
Other names we liked were Ophelia/Aurelia/Amelia/Delilah but for various reasons they aren't top.

Any thoughts on a better way or is ours okay? Not sure I like how it looks? (I have a name always mispronounced/spelt wrong and it's not been an issue so have no problem with that for her) just not sure Arlia is too literal a spelling. Other ways we've looked at are: Aalia, Ahlia. Aware it can be spelt Aaliyah/Aliya/ Aliyah but we don't like the y and h.

Also any ideas for middle names?
So far we like grace, we are aware it's very common but seeing as her first will be unusual though best to not be too "out there". Thought a one syllable middle name would be best as first is 3 but open to other options. Last name is one syllable.

Thoughts? (Please don't hate on the name too much, we took forever to agree )

@Harrysutton

I’m in the north west and I’m saying this as “our Leah” a bit like Noel Gallagher saying “our kid”

Me too!

I've always said the name Aliyah as 'A- Lie -Ah' not 'A - Lee - Ah'.
I know the name Leah but I have never heard anyone called A-Lee-ah (whatever spelling).

I would have pronounced it "Ar - LEE - yah" if I had just seen it in written form.
Just be prepared to correct people for her whole life.

If you want it to sound like AAH-lee-yah, then it needs to be spelled Ahlia or Aaliyah. You're right that Alia will be pronounced with the normal phonic 'a' sound.

Arlia just looks horrible.

Is there such a name as Arlia' I've never seen it before. Where does it come from?

Of course, I suppose you can make names up if you want to, but to my mind that is a step too far.

Aaliya is beautiful

I think Arlia, Aalia and Ahlia would all be pronounced how you want it pronounced (mostly). I think Aalia looks nicest.

I do think Alia (Ah-Leah) is actually a nicer sounding name.

@Coyoacan

Is there such a name as Arlia' I've never seen it before. Where does it come from?

Of course, I suppose you can make names up if you want to, but to my mind that is a step too far.

Yes so I first saw heard it a couple of years ago on the radio. Girl said it was pronounced ARE-lee-yah. But was spelt Aaliyah and I just thought it was so pretty. I believe that spelling is Arabic/Hebrew but after doing research however its generally pronounced Ah-LEAH. Which we don't like as much. Then when I looked into spellings more I saw Arlia is apparently an Australian name. I know it does sound made up which is why I didn't want the spelling to look like I'd invented it as well. Like what pp said with Lynzee etc.

I think you need to consider how it will be pronounced in rhotic accents (where the 'r' sound is always pronounced, such as General American, Irish) and non-rhotic accents (south east England, Australia).

For instance, an American teacher at your child's school would definitely pronounce the 'r' in Arlia and the name wouldn't sound like Aaliyah. Would you be okay with that? Or if your daughter ends up marrying someone with an Irish accent?

Make sure you're happy with both pronunciations before settling on that spelling.

I think Aaliyah is prettiest and the most 'complete'.

I think Arlia looks and sounds fine.

Either way you will probably find it is incorrectly pronounced and spelt by everyone else

It’s a pretty name op and the spelling is fine imo.

I would only pronounce the r if it is in the spelling.
Think of the word path.
Some people pronounce it p a th, others p ar th.
So Aaliah for example would spell A Lee ah to me. No r .

Pretty name, I prefer the Ahlia spelling
Never find it on the carousel of tat which you’ll be reminded of by them on a regular basis

@Gardeningcreature

I would only pronounce the r if it is in the spelling. Think of the word path. Some people pronounce it p a th, others p ar th. So Aaliah for example would spell A Lee ah to me. No r .

Who pronounces path with an r? A rhotic accent wouldn't put an R in path.

As others have said, if you don't want the name ever pronounced with an R don't put one in. The names sound very different if you have a rhotic accent.

Once she is old enough she will call herself what she likes which will solve the problem

@Harrysutton

I’m in the north west and I’m saying this as “our Leah” a bit like Noel Gallagher saying “our kid”

Same

Aaliyah will be pronounced Ah-Leah by anyone over 40, as they'll remember the singer by the same name.

I think Ahlia looks prettiest and most likely to gain the pronunciation you want... although people will always say it wrong, that's just reality when you use an uncommon name.

Alia ...I'd say A lee a

Ahleah ...maybe would give a Arrr sound

Allia Ahllia

Once people know though how you want it pronounced it should be ok

I grew up knowing an Alia, pronounced with a short 'a' as in 'can'. Nowadays, I'd probably default to pronouncing it with a long 'aa' because I'd view it as a variant of Aaliyah.

If you do go with Arlia, do not move to the West Country!

What about doubling the L, to make it Allia? Or Alliya(h)?

Depends on the accent. I am a primary teacher, currently doing supply. I sight read ALOT of children's names, out loud, in the register! I like Arlia, I would read it the way you want Ahlia, I would also read like that. Alia, I would probably read Ay Lee a. But I'm from the West Country!

I'd give her the most obvious spelling for the way you want it said. I have a name that doesn't sound like it's spelt (Irish name) and it's a pain in the bum having to tell people how to spell/pronounce it all the time.

Do not put an R in it and expect anyone from Scotland, Ireland, W Country or most of the USA to pronounce it the way you want. I would say Arlia with a rolled r- like a pirate! -at the beginning.

I like Arlia. It's almost like the female version of Arlo although I guess that would be Arla (which I also really like as a name!)

Alia looks nicer but I think she will have a lifetime of people getting her name wrong and as someone who that happens to, I'd strongly advise trying to avoid it!!