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Baby names

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

Kaia or Willa?

98 replies

Freya2456 · 18/05/2025 23:50

Willa has entered our short list of girl names ( due in 1 week with a surprise !)

Kaia Summer

Willa Summer

Kaia Autumn

Willa Autumn

I think I like Summer better for the middle name but baby will be born in autumn on our side of the world, i obviously also like Autumn and maybe it’s more meaningful to use that but I’m not sure?

OP posts:
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CordeliaChaste · 18/05/2025 23:52

What about Willie?

Freya2456 · 18/05/2025 23:54

I feel like Willie is an English thing and we aren’t from there

OP posts:
CordeliaChaste · 18/05/2025 23:55

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Freya2456 · 18/05/2025 23:56

I’m not even sure what you mean by Willie

OP posts:
theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 18/05/2025 23:57

Willa autumn

Kaia is a bit Kardashian

Summer is more overdone than Autumn, and would also be weird if she was not actually born in summer

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 18/05/2025 23:57

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It’s a dick

But a cute nursery version

oh sorry the explanation was for @Freya2456 , cos clearly, you know

BruFord · 18/05/2025 23:59

Freya2456 · 18/05/2025 23:56

I’m not even sure what you mean by Willie

I’d choose Willa over Kaia. I’m guessing that it’s inspired by Willa Cather?

Freya2456 · 19/05/2025 00:00

Thank you. No idea who that person is 😅🫣

OP posts:
Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 19/05/2025 00:00

Willa autumn is beautiful

ZepherinDrouhin · 19/05/2025 00:01

Willow Summer if she is due soon as we're heading into the summer season.

Willa or Mina can be a shortened version of Willamina.

BruFord · 19/05/2025 00:47

Freya2456 · 19/05/2025 00:00

Thank you. No idea who that person is 😅🫣

Pioneering American novelist, so a positive association. I agree with a PP that Willa Autumn is beautiful.

Mightyhike · 19/05/2025 00:49

Kaia Summer

loropianalover · 19/05/2025 01:12

I prefer Kaia, but Gaia is nicer.

I’d choose Kaia Summer from your list.

DramaAlpaca · 19/05/2025 01:18

Kaia for sure. It's pretty.

Willa is horrible. Just no.

Sashya · 19/05/2025 01:27

Willow is a name. Willa - is something made up - or a nick name that means a Penis.... or a Little Penis.

Why would you call your child that?... Even if you are not from England - kids will speak English and will quicky figure it out as they are all on the same internet these days. Hard as it is to imagine, given that yours isn't born yet.

As to adding Autumn as a middle name - it is not very original. Reminds me of the celebrities calling their kids for the places they were conceived in..

FortyElephants · 19/05/2025 01:50

Both are a bit blah if I'm totally honest but Willa is awful and blah. I dislike names that are too many vowels and I think Kaia falls into that category but generally it's quite pretty. You couldn't have Willa Autumn, it doesn't flow having A-A. I would go for Kaia with Autumn or Summer depending on when she was born surely?

Freya2456 · 19/05/2025 01:59

We aren’t headed into summer lol, we are headed into winter….

OP posts:
Freya2456 · 19/05/2025 02:01

If you simply google the name you will see Willa is definitely not made up 😂 and yeah we are on the opposite side of the world to England, this post is unfortunately confirming my thought that English people are extremely rude 😂

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 19/05/2025 02:15

I like Willa Autumn and Kaia Autumn.
I love Autumn as a name and as a season.

Do you prefer the sound of Kaia Surname or Willa Surname?
Say them out loud.
Do you like ..
Claire Autumn
Camilla Autumn

BruFord · 19/05/2025 02:44

Sashya · 19/05/2025 01:27

Willow is a name. Willa - is something made up - or a nick name that means a Penis.... or a Little Penis.

Why would you call your child that?... Even if you are not from England - kids will speak English and will quicky figure it out as they are all on the same internet these days. Hard as it is to imagine, given that yours isn't born yet.

As to adding Autumn as a middle name - it is not very original. Reminds me of the celebrities calling their kids for the places they were conceived in..

@Sashya It’s nothing to do with penises, it’s Germanic in origin! It can be a diminutive of Wilhelmina though. Some celebrities have used it- see
https://nameberry.com/b/girl-baby-name-willa

Of course the OP should consider whether her child could be teased. Here in the US, she wouldn’t be; perhaps she would be in the UK? But she’s not in the UK so it’s likely irrelevant to her.

Moreteaandchocolate · 19/05/2025 10:04

I much prefer Kaia!

EmpressaurusKitty · 19/05/2025 10:10

I’ve heard of Willa Cather though I’ve not read any of her books.

The thing is that UK people are going to see Willa & think of willy, which is a child’s term here for penis, & it’s really difficult to look at a name without thinking of your own cultural references. Like I know Burke is used as a girl’s name in some countries but here ‘berk’ is an insult.

All I can think of is starting the thread with a statement in bold that you’re from a certain country & just want to hear from people in that area. It won’t necessarily work but it might help.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 19/05/2025 10:12

Sorry but I don’t like any of the four names.

To call an autumn-born child "Summer" seems silly to me. But a first name ending in 'a' and a second name starting with 'a' doesn't flow easily.

"Willa" would get lots of tedious jokes ("Willa bus come soon?" etc.) as well as the "willy" connotations in the UK. It’s not a question of being rude - it’s just what springs to mind. Not many people would call a child Dick or Fanny these days, for similar reasons.

Of the four, Kaia is the best but she will be forever having to tell people how to spell it. I’d advise thinking again. Well, you did ask!

JMSA · 19/05/2025 10:15

Willa is just awful. I’m Scottish, so kids would be forever changing it to willie (meaning penis!).
It also sounds like someone with a speech impediment trying to say ‘villa’.
Hard no from me, I’m afraid.
Kaia is fine.
What about Willow?

Toddlerteaplease · 19/05/2025 10:20

Both pretty awful and Willa reminds me of Willa- Jean from the Ramona Quimby books