Zara?

[April2024]

I like the name Zoe, DH likes Sarah. Both of these can’t be used due to close family members having or using those names.

Zara has come up a few times, and I feel like I’m slowly coming around to it. DH likes it too.

So I ask you, MN, what are your thoughts on it? Associations? Vibes?

(We don’t mind the store association or popularity level)

That's a more Arabic spelling and think might seem a little odd as they're white British.
I have a Zara, chosen as it is both Arabic and British ( which is close to her heritage) but clear spelling and pronunciation. I feel Zara's are quite strong females too.
Plus what better role model than Zara Philips.

And when my DD learns this, my DH will happily tell her I have a shopping problem 😂😂😂😂

(Just joking, that’s not why we’d choose the name)

Yes, lovely! It's well known name due to the Kings niece, Zara phillips

Never met a zara in real life so uncommon enough

Zola was a top name for me ❤️ I prefer it to Zara. Got to give it to someone else to use as we chose something else in the end.

LOVELY.

Love it.

I don't like it.

I've always loved this name. I wouldn't care about the shop association either.

I love Zara. It's on my list if this baby is a DD.

I think it is a lovely name.

As DH and I are white British, do you think it would be considered offensive if we chose Zara considering it’s very popular amongst Arabic communities?

Of course not. Not something I think Princess Anne worried about before naming her daughter Zara. I think it is one of those names that goes across cultures.
Easy to spell. Easy to pronounce if you saw it written down. Not likely to be shortened to anything you don't like. Just fits loads of criteria.
But mostly, it sounds nice.
It has become more popular than it was, but not "every 3rd child in the group" popular.

Lovely name, go for it. x

I'm pretty difficult to please with names but I love Zara! I didn't realise this until after the birth of my two girls unfortunately.

I really like it! I know 4 adult Zaras, all 30+. I don't think I know any little Zaras.

Zara is lovely! A strong, classic name and not at all common!

Go for it!

Love it! A good mix of Zoe and Sarah and nicer than both imo.

I love it and I have one! She’s 4 and we’ve never met another little one. No one has mentioned the shop to us, but now she can read her name she thinks it’s cool to see it on buildings.

I have Arab heritage, but it’s not remotely an issue for anyone else to use the name.

It's a "fun" name, I like it.

Lovely.

The late Queen Elizabeth's eldest granddaughter is called Zara so .....

I like it. Classic but modern. Not common but everyone knows it and she'll not face a lifetime of 'How do you spell that?'.

All of the Zara's I know are white.

A friend at school was Zara. It's a great name.
There was a Prime Minister's wife and fashion entrepreneur, Dame Zara Bate.
Princess Anne's successful and lovely daughter, Zara.
A seven year old youngster in my town is called Zara.

I also love Zena. Lola and Sara.

Well no one complained when Princess Anne used it for her daughter.

I have a Zahra, we chose this spelling to reflect her culture (her dad is Asian). We have had nothing but positive comments, she’s 15 now and loves her own name. Knowing it gets spelt wrong I asked her if she would have rather we spelt it Zara and she said no, she prefers Zahra, which I am pleased about as I did think long and hard about the spelling. I think it’s a beautiful name in all its spellings.

I think it’s absolutely fine to use it if you’re white / British. Yes it’s a very common Asian / Arabic name but it’s also a common name for white people too. That’s why we chose it, to reflect her culture but not to be too out there given we lived in England. We went with a Welsh name to reflect my heritage with our son, so quite nice one name from each culture

I like it. Sorter sounds stylish and business like.