Tuva or Kaia

[Freya2456]

Need help finalizing a girls name for my second. older brother is named Kasper.

First name we have is Tuva ( pronounced too-vah) It means beautiful and is a Swedish/norwegian name. At first I thought it might be too far removed from where we live ( Australia) however the more I say it in my head the more I like it and the meaning behind it. I feel like the pronunciation and spelling is intuitive- do you agree? My husband is Scandinavian so it would be nice in that way. For a middle name I had thought of pairing some more “normal/common” names with it to balance the uniqueness , like Tuva Pearl, Tuva Hazel or Tuva Summer. My son’s middle name is Snow ( which is actually a family name) so I thought Tuva Summer may be a cute connection - or is it too much?

I am now stuck between this name and Kaia, which also has Scandinavian roots however not as obvious, and is on the charts here. I do love Kaia but it is becoming more popular here, and Tuva would really be very unique. I’ve always loved more unique names but I really don’t want something “weird”. I would probably stick with the same middles with Kaia as well. So Kaia Pearl, Kaia Hazel or Kaia Summer.

I would really like some feedback from those of you in AUS / NZ /Canada /US how you feel about both names? What imagery does Tuva and Kaia give you?

Thank you!!!

Tuva is intuitive, no idea how you pronounce Kaia, I’d guess kie (to rhyme with pie) -a (as in uh). Tuva prettier imo and makes sense with scandi link. Kaia a bit chavier (sorry) and a bit spiky looking written down and harsh sounding, more like a modern female version of kaiden/ haiden/jayden. Possibly a bit dated too? Hard to say about the middle name without knowing your surname.

I prefer Kaia and I am not a fan if Tuva. I am also Scandinavian. I know many lovely Kaia’s so have good associations to that name. It’s a cute name which also fits as you get older. I also think it’s a feisty and strong name. I am not a fan if any of your middle names sorry so didn’t vote. Summer sounds more like a surname.

None of them.

I've never heard Tuva, I think I really like it. Not so keen on Kaia, though it's a nice name in its own way.

(UK) Not Tuva. Sounds like too far 😁. Kaia’s nicer, and I’m not a fan of any of the middle names. Sorry!

Tuva sounds like Tuvalu which people will know in Aus (though not necessarily a bad thing!) - go with your preference

Tuva all the way (another Scandinavian here). A tuva is a little tuft of grass, like a 'tuffet' (Miss Muffet) so has a lovely outdoorsy vibe of moor or wetland. Tuva is nice and old-sounding, originating in the regional norse which preceeds more recent Anglo and European influences. Tuva is an authentic spelling, whereas Kaia would normally be spelt Kaja (j is a much softer sound in scandinavian languages) unless your DH is Finnish (entirely different language unrelated to Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic) when it might have an i instead.

I think Tuva Pearl is really pretty, it makes me think of the soft pearly fluff of cotton-grass which grows around the village where I grew up. My only reservation would be getting the right 'u' sound but that's where your DH steps in, I guess.

Congratulations and good luck, OP!

I love the name Kaia - it feels strong yet feminine. I voted for Kaia Summer as I love the symmetry with Kasper Snow.

Tuva I misread as Tuna at first glance so now I can’t undo the fishy association! It could grow on me but my first instinct is no I don’t like it, sorry.

They sound like car brands!

This!

Tuva sounds like a car. And Kaia sounds a bit chavvy.

I prefer Tuva. Kaia, I am unsure of pronunciation but I would quickly learn.

I thought of Tuvalu.
The middle names are not as nice as Snow.
None are good enough.
Brain storming second names:
Tuva Cosima
Tuva Elizabeth
Tuva Rosemary
Kaia Wren
Kaia Felicity
Kaia Anneke

Do you like Josephine, Alexandra, Ingrid, Astrid or Caroline?

Kasper is a great name!

I think both Tuva and Kaia are very pretty names!

I'm Swedish, and Tuva is quite a popular name in Sweden these days. In 2022 it was the 65th most popular name for newborn girls in Sweden. I actually did not know that it means "beautiful". It is an old name with connection to the Norse god Tor/Thor. Lika @EveSix mentioned, it is also a word meaning "a little tuft of grass".
Famous people with the name Tuva is Tuva B Larsen (a Norwegian actress and singer), and Tuva Novotny (a Swedish actress and director. Her partner is actor Alexander Skarsgård).

Kaia is a great name too, but very unusual in Sweden. Like @EveSix mentioned, the spelling in Sweden would most likely be Kaja, but that would make it more difficult to pronounce for English-speaking people.
I am actually reading a book series about a girl named Kaja. It was written by Ester Ringnér-Lundgren in the 1960's.That girl is called Kaja because her hair is black like the bird kaja (the jackdaw).

I think all the names and name combinations on your list are good! I voted for Tuva Summer. My second favourite would be Kaia Hazel.

I quite like Tuva (to rhyme with Hoover?!) but it could be an artificial sweetener! Neither names are to my taste but I think it sounds like you prefer Tuva so go with it.

Love Tuva, there is one in my kids nursery, she's adorable. Little sister is called Saga (we live in Scandinavia)

They’re both awful. The middle names make them even worse.

These are names an eight year old gives their doll.

Tuva Storm or Kaia Dawn

Neeva. I mean, neither.

I’m from Yorkshire, we call the Hoover “t’oover’ here so I’m sorry that’s immediately where my brain went when I read the name. Kaia Summer is quite nice.

Tuva Hazel

Hazel is a bit sharper than summer or pearl, which is good in this instance

Kaia is a bit Kardasian

😁

I like Tuva, it also sounds South Pacific which is nice if you're in Australia. I like Kaia too, but that is quite overused

Like these too!