Family trying to put us off a name

[lookingforanamex]

Trying to choose a name for DD2. Been really struggling to find anything we like. We like Liliana (‘-ana’ would be pronounced ‘-anna’ in our area’s accent) but DP’s 10 year old niece has a name ending in -anna (double n) but the start of the name is different.

Family also commonly call niece by her nickname, which is the start of her name, so we thought they might do the same with our baby, and call her Lily for short which would mean there was no similarity at all.

When family asked about our name ideas, MIL was indignant that we couldn’t use ‘niece’s name’.

Later, SIL started sending name ideas to us and asking our opinion so we assume she didn’t like the idea either.

A week later, on the wider family group chat, DP was asked again what names are on the list and Liliana was on there. The next morning, MIL called DP to tell him that niece had now been crying that baby cousin will be stealing her name. Niece isn’t in the group chat and wouldn’t put it past MIL/SIL to plant this idea with her to guilt trip DP and I.

Are we out of order for considering a name that ends in the same sound?

If we are, has anyone got any ideas for other names we might like? Feeling pretty gutted tbh.

If this were sil and bil id say to dc oh how looovely that you and baby cousin might have similar names, that is such a nice connection isn’t it.
the names aren’t the same and it’s ridiculous what’s happening here really. Don’t tell anyone whatever you’re thinking, and it’s good now to be prepared that you’re not looking for everyone’s input on everything.

as you’ve said you wish you could find an alternative how about
lilian which maybe is close enough but without Anna on the end?
Or some others that are similar in some way:

lilyrose
Lilith
lilibet
lilybeth
liona
tiger lily
elizabth nn lilly
lydia
Layla
thalia
Juliette
Matilda / Tilly
amalia
Gabriella
aubriana
anabel
Leonora
elowen

I know a Lilydee.

Stop discussing names with your family. They don't have a say. For now, just ignore the lot of them

This is why I’m not telling anyone my baby’s name! Use the name you want. I respond to suggestions by acting as if we haven’t decided but appreciate ideas.

Many frilly Lili names do not end in anna.

Liliosa
Lilibelle
Liliella
Liliette
Lilienne
Liliwen
Lilimor
Lilaina
Lilou - my fave
Elula
Lila
Lilium

Do you like ..
Leonor
Leah
Eloise
Carla
Cosima
Graciela
Gabriella

Oh my gosh what gorgeous names!

I love, Lilibelle, Liliella, Liliette, Lilienne, Liliwen. Lilliette is my favourite. Lilou reminds me of Harry Enfield's toddler character though - 'Lou Lou did it!'

Pollyanna and Liliana are incredibly similar. Like someone else said you are only changing the first syllable. I can see why they might think you are pinching 'their' name, although they are being a touch unreasonable with the guilt tripping! I imagine the 10 year old is quite proud of her usual ending name and now she's going to have to share it with her cousin. Although, the parents should be telling her to be proud rather than indulging her slightly brattishness. Imitation is the highest form of flattery as they say.

No difference from calling boys Albert and Robert by the sound of it.

Your sister in law and mother in law are having histrionics just for the sake of it.

And this is why you shouldn't discuss names with anyone until baby arrives and you tell everyone what their name is. As a statement of fact not a discussion.

Call your baby Lilianna if that's the name you and your DH have chosen. No one else's opinions matters.

@CharlieKirkRIP Yes it is, because the names are long. Liliana and Pollyanna (in OP's accent) share three syllables out of 4,so it's more like comparing Isabella and Arabella.
Lily and Polly don't seem as similar.

In my accent it’s Liliana with the short vowel. I can’t think of any word where “a” followed by “n” would create the aaaah sound (in my accent).

Why are people so shocked by Lili-anna but not Polly-anna?

OP, we accidentally gave daughter a name very similar to her step-cousin but we don’t see her very much and 20 year age gap so no one seems to mind. Grandparents just came up with a new nickname for DD. If they go by Polly and Lily I don’t see the issue.

Lilette? Seriously?

How would you pronounce the name Lana or the country Botswana, @Krakinou?

Haha you’re right @TurraeaFloribunda , good spot. It’s still Lili-anna to me though ;)

eta: Lana could go either way tbh. I have colleagues with both versions.

I'm a northerner (albeit displaced at this point) and I've never heard it as anything other than Lili-ah-nuh and would always pronounce it that way. And I've hung on to my short 'a's.

But that's not really the point. OP likes Lili-a-nuh

@saraclara , on here, ah is the like the a in cat. Lana would be Larna (non-rhotic r).
Do you say the -ana to rhyme with Lana or Anna?
OP will be saying it to rhyme with Anna.

If it's Juliana I think that is quite close too ...

FWIW I don't think DN thought of that objection.

If the beginning of DN's name is different go for Liliana and tell the family she will be known as Lily. Call her what you want outside family.

Oh I'm reading backwards! And it's Pollyanna. In all honesty, there is a strong resemblance - and they sound ridiculous together!

But if she is Pol, and you are prepared to be Lily in the family context, I think that's fine.

They ARE quite similar and if you were a member of my family, I probably would raise an eyebrow, but I'd never actually say anything! It would sound funny, your mum talking about her two granddaughters "Pollyanna and Lilyanna". I personally wouldn't name my child something that close to someone already in the family, there's so many beautiful names. But I also agree that it isn't anything to do with anyone else what you call your child. They'll end up "Polly and Lily" anyway.

Personally I’d go for Lilia instead - just as pretty as Liliana but with no family arguements and as a bonus no pronunciation issues (as others have said, you/she might hear “Lily-ah-na” a fair bit with that spelling).

However if you are set on Liliana, then personally I don’t think its too close to Pollyanna - I know a lot of family members who share name ending sounds like “ie/y, “an/en”, “ah” or “ia”, so I don’t see how “ana/anna” is that different in principle.