Considering changing Ayla’s spelling to avoid mispronunciation

[RiverStoneNotes]

Hi everyone, I have a nearly 9 month old called Ayla pronounced eye-la , her grandad is Turkish hence the spelling but I’ve found a lot of people mis pronounce even once I have told them, I don’t want this to be something that my daughter is constantly having to battle with all her life, I know I should’ve thought about it sooner but I didn’t have a great post partum experience. The trouble I’ve got is what I would change it too and how difficult this would be, I would still want the same pronunciation as she knows her name, the main dilemma is her middle name is Lisa after her late Grandma and I feel like Isla and Lisa clash next to each other. Also I already have her passport so not sure how I would go about that. Suggestions are much appreciated thank you!

Middle names don’t matter. Especially as she’s 9 months old, no-one will be interested in her middle name. The Isla spelling will be doing her a lifelong favour as everyone will mispronounce Ayla.

You’d have to change via deed poll.

People are so ignorant with names. Yes, 100%, I'd assume the pronunciation was Ay (as in hay) la but once you corrected me, I'd get it right. I work in a school where teachers have been 'unable' to pronounce names, both of British origin and foreign, and those poor kids have had their names mutilated throughout their time with us. Including my own child! The worst (of many) being Josue (Hos way) being called Joshua for 7 years.

But if you want to avoid that, then Isla Lisa is no different from Ayla Lisa.

I’m really surprised Ayla is mispronounced. I’ve always gotten more confused when I see ‘Isla’ cause to me its ’is-la’ 😆

Iyla?

The issue with Isla Lisa isn't pronunciation. It's the fact that they have the same letters but rearranged.

I'd change to Isla and insert a Turkish middle name between Isla and Lisa to honor the Turkish heritage and to break up the Isla/ Lisa problem.

Leave it as it is.

Another vote for leave it! It’s lovely that her name connects to her heritage and Isla totally loses that, as well as the overlap with the middle name.

I’ve known a couple of Aylas and the first one I heard first and assumed was Isla - this is more likely the issue she will have, as Isla is such a popular name with one very common spelling. However I agree Isla Lisa doesn’t look great so I’d stick with the spelling you like.

both my kids have slightly unusual names which people sometimes aren’t sure how to say (actually one of them is top 60, but people who don’t know many kids under 10 have never heard of it as it was unheard of in our generation). I tell them once, they usually get it right after that. It doesn’t bother me that much.

Stick with Ayla. It’d be a shame to lose the cultural significance. Maybe people will guess the pronunciation wrong the first time but if they keep getting it wrong after you correct them, it’s because they’re idiots.

I don’t think you have to use deed poll if the baby is under 12 months, I think you can re register her name and get a new birth certificate. Which makes her life much easier. So if you are thinking of changing it you will need to act soon.

I would automatically say Ay-la not eye-la. People should change once you have told them but yes she will have to correct people in the Uk her whole life.

Yes Iyla is nice

I would leave it as it is.
I knew the correct prounaciatiob as soon as I saw it cause of Ayda - Robbie’s wife!

Stick with Ayla

I read it as Ay-la, but would pronounce is as Ey-La if corrected.

To me, Isla Lisa and Ayla (Ey-la) Lisa are exactly the same in terms of it being a mouthful because the letters are the same/similar. BUT- people very rarely use their middle names.

As someone else said, add a Turkish name between to break them up, or just leave it.

Think you’re telling on yourself a bit here.

Ayla is a Turkish name and clearly chosen for a reason, whilst pronounced the same as Isla it is a different name. Not everything has to be white washed to be acceptable. Very Eurocentric approach

I would leave it too! I have an Isla and she is always asked if her name is spelled Ayla! I love that spelling.
We are in Brum though so might be different when living in a less diverse area.

I think you chose your child’s name with love and meaning. It’s beautiful and people should learn how to pronounce it correctly. It’s not a very out there name either, I’m surprised people are pronouncing it wrong, plus they can learn.

there’s a wonderful quote by Uzo Aduba’s
mother

"If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Michelangelo, and Dostoevsky, they can learn to say Uzoamaka‘

My name gets pronounced differently simply down to peoples regional accents.
It doesn't bother me.
I think most people will pronounce Ayla as "Eye -la". If they don't you (or her when old enough) just let them know they are saying it wrong. 99% of people will go "oh.. sorry" and change their pronunciation.

Yup just leave it OP!

Ayla Lisa is really pretty, and I much prefer the spelling over over-used Isla.

Keep the name as it is, it is beautiful.

I was a supply teacher and I have come across many names I had to ask how to pronounce.

Unusual names are great though, a class of 30 with individual names is better than 5 Lily or Sophies.

Leave it as Ayla. Lots of Aylas and Islas around both are known, both mean different things. Ayla Lisa looks beautiful.

Keep it as it is, Ayla is lovely. I'm surprised people are getting it wrong.

Actually, thinking about it, people get all sorts wrong so there's no point changing it, they'll still find ways to get it wrong!

Yes, she will be IZluh!

Keep it as is. People might get it wrong first time, but that's something many of us deal with. Ayla is lovely and at least it's easy to spell AND pronounce, which is usually the hurdle for unusual names.

I think it’s fine.

If you want to change it amd she’s under a year old, you can make an appointment for a ‘correction’ and it’s £99. Her new name will be on the certificate along with the old name.