Help us find a name for a daughter - Polish name that works in the UK

[RosieAnnie]

We don't know what we're having yet as we want it to be a surprise. My husband is Polish and we would love a name that works here as well as in Poland and Germany, where my relatives are from.

This is our list:

Aniela (sounds like ahn-yell-a)
Malina (mah-lee-na)
Liliana
Lilia
Kalina (kah-lee-na)
Pola
Andżelika (we would be willing to spell this Angelica as it would be easier)
Jásmina (we might change this to Yasmina)
Apolonia
Kaja (we might spell this Kaya, pr. kah-ya)
Oliwia (only like the Polish/German pronunciation so might take this off the list)

Comments appreciated!

To me, Kalina sounds like cleaner, Malina makes me think of bloody stool and Apolonia is a supermarket I visit on holidays in Portugal.

Liliana would be my choice

Aniela is lovely.

Aniela is lovely, I also really like Kaja!

One of my best friends who is Polish living in the UK is called Kamila @RosieAnnie . Not in your list but she loves her name and says it works really well for her in an international setting.

Also love Aniela (although at first some people might hear Daniela) - and my favourite is Apolonia, gorgeous.

Kalina is my favorite.

But the Polish woman I know in the UK who is presumably Yulia - she's always pronounced it with a J. And the woman who's called Wioletta, she's used Viola.

I gave a list of traditional names and their typical pronunciations.

Every family is different and my guess would be that they preferred to anglicise their names to make it easier day to day.
Many people do this, the boy's name Krzysztof is often referred to as Christopher for convenience here.

When we were in the same situation, we chose children's names that were easy to pronounce but kept a Polish spelling. This has not caused any issues.

Victoria
Krysia (krysh)
Rysiek (Rysh)
Antosz (ant, or tosh)

Actually my half brother is half Greek Cypriot - he's called Alex but the Greek is Alexandros - and he was teased in school for this, so it was quickly shortened to Alex. The girls were luckier as they're called Liana and Maria.

And I think most countries/cultures do this.

I'm not a fan of anglicising the names but I think some choose to use the anglicised name and others put up with it.

I try to use what someone introduces themselves as but if you've been told you'll be working with 'Chris', it's a bit weird if he's really Krzysztof.

My neighbour introduced himself as Andy, and I just can't call him that. He's just not 'Andy'. His wife calls him Andrzej.

If I meet someone with no previous knowledge, I'll just use the name they say.

Natalia
Ania
Anna
Helena
Hanna
Sara
Krystyna
Zosia
Barbara
Lucyna
Karolina
Izabella

are all names that I think work well

I read your post as wanting to understand more about the way names are pronounced as you've met someone who pronounces it differently.

It's a shame your half brother experienced that. Unfortunately, children can be cruel and will pick up on ' differences' in any place.

I do think nowadays there is more acceptance towards different cultures and names but of course there is a way to go. My friend's son changed his name due to the bullying in the UK.

The polish J is said as a Y sound.

I also don't agree with anglicised names but some people feel they have to make others feel comfortable.

My husband is Polish doesn't have a name typical in the UK and is always asked about it/where are you from?

Also
Alina
Halina
Renata
Klara
Marta

My brother has a Russian name, but it's a shortened version of a longer name. But he's not Russian and neither are our family, my mum just liked Russian names.

I love Angelica and Liliana.

I work with a lovely Bulgarian lady called Evelina which I think is a gorgeous name which might work in your circumstances!

Easier with girls names than boys!
Marek
Aleksander
Adam
Robert
Wiktor
Roman
Jan
Wincent

Anton
Tomarz

Olenka?

Lily is overused as Sofia.. Liliana is lovely.

By the way

My son's nickname in his mates group is Alan 🤣

I can't say its what I was going for when I named him Aleksander

Estera or Eva

Ewelina
Anya
Klara
Wiola
Wioletta
Zofia

zoya
gabriela
carlotta

From your list my favourite is Lilia