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Baby names

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

Ava , Maya or Isabella?

26 replies

Soher · 29/10/2024 08:27

which do you prefer and why?

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Forgottenmyphone · 29/10/2024 08:43

Isabella because it has several options for shortening

BoleynMemories13 · 29/10/2024 09:06

I love Ava. Simple but sweet and suits all ages.

Isabella is too frilly for me. I don't mind Izzy but I loathe Bella/Belle.

Maya has pronunciation issues, My-ah vs May-ah. Just as many seems to go by either, so without asking I never know when reading this name how to say it (much like Sara, Sar-ah vs Sair-ah).

QuerulousUnicorn · 29/10/2024 09:07

Isabella, Our country post office was run by 3 older ladies called, Annabelle Christabel and Isabella isi just loved that 😄

Sandysandwich · 29/10/2024 09:17

Ava, its easy to spell, pretty without being frilly and can suit different types of people.

Moreteaandchocolate · 29/10/2024 09:51

Ava or Maya are lovely. I’d pick Ava - nice and simple to spell / pronounce, pretty for all ages and I only know one girl with the name.

I like Isabella but it feels like every other girl around us is some variant of Isobel / Isabel / Isabelle / Bella etc and it’s put me off the name unfortunately.

LeafHunter · 29/10/2024 10:00

Not Isabella. It’s SO popular at the moment and she’ll spend ages telling everyone she is Bella G or whatever.

stopringingme · 29/10/2024 10:10

Ava

OopsieeDaisy · 29/10/2024 10:30

I really like Isabella, I only know of one and there are none at my DCs nursery/baby groups.

sel2223 · 29/10/2024 10:47

I'm really liking Maya at the moment (My-ah.... only ever seen it pronounced differently on mumsnet)

Ava and Isabella both pretty too

Laura36TTC · 29/10/2024 11:50

Isabella, I think it’s timeless and very pretty

MerryMarys · 29/10/2024 13:42

They're all very overused and may sound dated soon. But if I had to choose, Maya

Firsttimebabymummy · 29/10/2024 13:51

Maya

Isabella is too frilly and too popular for me. Ava would be second choice.

Atishooo · 29/10/2024 13:57

Honestly, they’re all so overused. I know so many Ava’s and they all just blend in with the Evie’s and Ivys. And all the Ava’s, Mayas and Isabella’s all have the obligatory Rose/May/Grace as middle names.

StressedQueen · 29/10/2024 14:33

Ava is my favourite considering it is one of my daughter's names 😊It is pretty popular where I live but not hugely so to be honest

atownnamedalice · 29/10/2024 14:36

I like them all, sorry!

readyforroundthree · 29/10/2024 19:20

Ava was a top three contender for me too (I'm having a daughter in December).

We've decided to go for a different name but I still love the name Ava.
People will tell you it's over used and too common but neither of my sons aged 8 or 3 have any Ava's in their classes at school/preschool and I don't know any children called Ava through friends children etc.
Also, names are popular for a reason, because they are nice ☺️

Toddlerfliessolo · 29/10/2024 21:00

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Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 29/10/2024 21:01

Ava, definitely.

PumpkinScarf · 29/10/2024 21:05

I don’t like Maya but the others are both nice. All quite popular though! I’d probably pick Isabella personally as I prefer longer names.

blindasaba51981 · 29/10/2024 21:11

Isabella by far

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 29/10/2024 21:25

Ava if you like simplicity. It’s pretty, easy to say and spell, fairly diminutive proof and a cool palindrome name to boot. I just wish it wasn’t so trendy - you don’t meet elderly or even middle aged Ava’s (Ava Gardner is long gone and her name wasn’t a big influence at the time afaik). you’d have to hope that it stays fairly popular now and doesn’t feel dated in 40 years.

Isabella if you want something a bit more classic (you DO meet middle aged and elderly Isabella’s, although they are rarer in this country and Isabel/Isobel more common). It also has lots of diminutive options, so is a “safe” choice in that if she dislikes it, shes got Izzy/Elle/Ella/Belle/Bella etc to fall back on. The downside is that as a 4 syllable name it is very likely it will get shortened by most people, especially as she gets older- how would you feel about that? If you dislike one of the nn options , I’d introduce her by another one from Day 1.

While I personally love Maya pronounced the “May-ah” way, it’s the trickiest of your options - two accepted pronunciations in the UK, and a variety of spellings seem around too (Maya/Maia/Maja/Myah/Mya).

All the names are lovely but if you like the names equally, on balance, I’d pick Ava.

BethBentley · 30/10/2024 01:45

Ava

Beachs · 30/10/2024 05:06

Not Isabella it’s a dreadful name and I know several people who’ve called their babies Isabella or variations.

not a massive fan of others but they are better than Isabelle.

how about Laura, Clara, Nia or Jessica

KirstenBlest · 30/10/2024 09:09

I wouldn't choose any of them, but if I had to I'd pick Isabella.

Ava - I don't like it, it's overused, and with all the Evies, Evas, Ivys etc it's samey.
Maya - My-a or May-a, various spellings - Maya, Maia, Mya, Myah, Mia(!) etc. A bit samey.
Isabella - beautiful but too long, and overused. Will get shortened and I don't like Issy or Bella. Nothing to stop you using it, and use a different diminutive. Bel or Libby maybe.

user1492757084 · 31/10/2024 12:38

Maya, I would choose. I love the pronunciation.
It is less popular and it is lovely for a grown woman.

Isabella is prissy but sweet.
Ava is over used but quite nice. I prefer it pronounced to rhyme with lava and Java.