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Baby names

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

Original poster

Right- I give up. How about Lyra?

59 replies

MumNeedsCoffee · 05/03/2010 20:35

Completely stuck. Pregmamt with DC4 and for the life of me cannot come up with a pretty girl's name we all like!!

Now DH is suggesting Lyra, and I go back and forth- sometimes I think I really like it, then I think it's either pretentious or too close to Lycra- disaster...

Thoughts,anyone?
Does anyone actually know a Lyra- apart from the one in the golden compass, obv. Does she get called Spandex a lot?

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ScottishBoris · 06/03/2010 02:13

Lyra is lovely - as is Larissa.

CarmenSanDiego · 06/03/2010 07:35

I think Lyra from the Pullman books is a great character to name a little girl after. Really nice name and I never made the Lycra connection.

bellissima · 06/03/2010 08:31

Fraid I also thought of Lycra. And agree that it does have a certain 'dark' side to it - the evil queen Lyra and all that. Like Lydia and Lara.

cyteen · 06/03/2010 08:34

What evil queen Lyra?

I love it. Am rofling a bit at some of the alternative suggestions. Laragh looks and sounds like someone hawking up a bogey.

mrsvwoolf · 06/03/2010 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovethesea · 06/03/2010 12:19

Didn't think of lycra but do think it sounds very similar to 'liar'. Also thought of Pullman novels so I do recognise it as a name but liar still pops into my head .......

fabhead · 06/03/2010 17:34

I really like it as a girl's name becasue of the character really, I'd definitely consider it.

GladioliBuckets · 06/03/2010 18:27

I have a Lyra so I love it obv. I wanted something with girlpower and I loved the Pullman books, can't get much more girlpower than 2nd coming of Eve.
Never heard a Lycra comment or even thought of it in 7yrs!

Jamieandhismagictorch · 06/03/2010 19:15

i really like it. I think the character is feisty and tough, and that's good to aspire to, but it also sounds feminine, without being twee like lots of girls names nowadays.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 06/03/2010 19:15

i do also like

Lydia
Leah
Lara

GladioliBuckets · 07/03/2010 15:47

Whoops should warn PHILIP PULLMAN SPOILER ALERT!!!

Below...

PorphyrophillicPixie · 07/03/2010 22:27

I love it! But then I've just finished reading His Dark Materials

verybusyspider · 07/03/2010 22:37

love it - the dd I'll never have would have been called Lyra, it was our choice for all 3 ds's

Original poster
MumNeedsCoffee · 08/03/2010 13:16

Just seen all the responses - thanx so much!
Think we might go for it - tho I also like Leah, now..

OP posts:
bobblehat · 08/03/2010 13:19

never heard of it until there was one in ds's class. I think it's a lovely name.

JenEm · 08/03/2010 15:37

I like Lyra and the character from the Phillip Pulklman books is a good girls role model, strong, independent and clever. Not a bad person to be named after.

Lonnie · 08/03/2010 19:35

I think it is pretty

PorphyrophillicPixie · 09/03/2010 10:19

JenEm: Not to mention an expert liar!

birdofthenorth · 09/03/2010 11:28

I like how it sounds but it DOES look like Lycra, alas.

GladioliBuckets · 09/03/2010 14:05

Pullman came up with the name because it sounds like liar.

cece · 09/03/2010 14:15

I like it but how about;

Lois
Lydia
Lara

or from my shortlist for DC3 who was a boy so didn't get to use them...

Anna
Una
Verity
Helen/Helena
Penelope/nn Penny

avaj · 09/03/2010 21:59

The way I am pronouncing it makes me think of 'liar'. I think she would get a tough time in the playground because of that.

Spidermama · 09/03/2010 22:03

I LOVE Lyra. Really nice. Pretty yet strong.

LyraSilvertongue · 09/03/2010 22:05

I think it's an excellent choice.

LyraSilvertongue · 09/03/2010 22:12

Lydia's one of my most hated girls names. It's not that similar to Lyra in pronunciation.