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Baby names

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

Down to 2 names

34 replies

justwondering22 · 09/01/2023 08:19

Expecting a DD

Noa or Naia

( No-a) ( N-eye-a)

We love both and are really struggling she will have 2 classic middle names which we have chosen.

Thanks

OP posts:
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lifeinthehills · 09/01/2023 08:20

Noa

LetsDoThis2023 · 09/01/2023 08:24

Naia

DuchessOfSausage · 09/01/2023 09:05

I'm not keen on either of them. Noa is too close to the overused Noah, and Naia is what Mia used to be, an airport.

DotDotDotDotDot · 09/01/2023 09:13

I prefer Noa. Have you thought of Nia (Nee-ah), it’s the Welsh form of Niamh I believe.

Rauha · 09/01/2023 09:20

Naia

Rabbitsandhabits · 09/01/2023 09:21

If you hadn’t described it then k would have no idea how to pronounce the second one and would still struggle to spell it.

so for that reason Noa although it seems a bit weird as a made up ‘female’ version of Noah?

CastleTower · 09/01/2023 09:22

Naia

justwondering22 · 09/01/2023 09:23

Rabbitsandhabits · 09/01/2023 09:21

If you hadn’t described it then k would have no idea how to pronounce the second one and would still struggle to spell it.

so for that reason Noa although it seems a bit weird as a made up ‘female’ version of Noah?

They are both established girls names dating back hundreds of years there's a female Noa in the bible.

OP posts:
evemillbank · 09/01/2023 09:24

They both have massive potential for being misspelt. It's hard to choose.

KangarooKenny · 09/01/2023 09:24

Of the two, Noa.

justwondering22 · 09/01/2023 09:24

DotDotDotDotDot · 09/01/2023 09:13

I prefer Noa. Have you thought of Nia (Nee-ah), it’s the Welsh form of Niamh I believe.

Thank you, we are Welsh, so there are lots of Nia's who are family or friends so not an option.

OP posts:
Novemberhater · 09/01/2023 09:29

I know a Néya. The spelling makes the pronunciation clear. Your spelling is impossible to guess. Noa is, in my opinion, the same as Noah which is everywhere for boys.

DuchessOfSausage · 09/01/2023 09:30

Nina is nice

goldenfoliage · 09/01/2023 09:32

My problem with Noa is that, even though it's in the bible, it has potential to be trendy and I see it as try-hard name. It's perfect for teachers because it's established name that isn't among their students already, but I see it pop up among celebrities and it's possibly going to be trendy soon

Naia - I love this, BUT, she will constantly get misheard as Maia and Kaia. It's also bit trendy, fitting with Kaia and Maya and those odd people who pronounce Mia as Maya. I prefer Nerissa, Nessa and Nimue over this.

goldenfoliage · 09/01/2023 09:33

I would pick Naia over Noa.

goldenfoliage · 09/01/2023 09:34

justwondering22 · 09/01/2023 09:24

Thank you, we are Welsh, so there are lots of Nia's who are family or friends so not an option.

Oh, is Nerys a name you can consider? Is it a Welsh name?

pjani · 09/01/2023 09:39

Both very sweet but I prefer Naia. I assume it rhymes with Maya.

17caterpillars1mouse · 09/01/2023 09:43

I don't like either sorry.

Noa will just spend her life saying, yes I'm a girl. No there isn't a h on the end. Yes I know it's a name with established history, but Noah is one of the most popular boys names at the moment, where as many don't know Noa is a girls name.

Like some pre ious posters I had no idea how to pronounce Naia, and whilst the sound is nice, it seems a name she would spend her life having to explain.

17caterpillars1mouse · 09/01/2023 09:44

I know a Nilla if your style is short, unusual N names

Marcipex · 09/01/2023 09:46

What @17caterpillars1mouse said, exactly.

FayCarew · 09/01/2023 10:19

@pjani , how do you say Maya? is is May-a or My-a?

If you are somewhere with lots of Nias won't people think that Noa or Naia is a typo or mispronunciation?

Kentlassie · 09/01/2023 10:25

Noa!

pjani · 09/01/2023 10:39

I say My-a and assume Naia would be the same. I think people will get it wrong but on hearing it said will remember and think ‘ah, rhymes with Maya’ and all will be fine. She probably will grow up saying ‘Naia - like Maya with an N’ but it is a pretty and distinct name so if you like it go for it I reckon.

Keha · 09/01/2023 13:29

Honestly I would mispronounce Naia and if told it wouldn't be sure how to spell it. This isn't necessarily an issue, I often have to spell my own name as it is one with lots of spellings. I would probably go Noa though on that basis but I do think people may initially think Noah. I think both names have a nice sound to them but you may have to do q bit of spelling for people e.g "She is Noa...N ...O ... A"

RambamThankyouMam · 09/01/2023 13:50

Naia.

Noa isn't great. Like an ineffectual puff of sound. Plus it will be confused with Noah.

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