Noa/Noah for a girl - anyone like it?

[sedgiebaby]

I'm not allowed this, but curious if anyone else likes this for a girl

It'a boy's name - why on earth would you use it for a boy? It's like saying - "Emily for a boy - anyone like it?"!

I have a very good female friend called Noa, I think it's a Jewish name? She's an observant Israeli Jew, anyway, so I have always assumed so.

So I like it, but I think it does have cultural and religious associations.

yes, I do know a little girl called Noa and i think it's sweet.
i do think that sadly yoiu;ll get a lot of people with seeker;s response thogh

Well seeker, it isn't quite like emily. Origins are that it is a bible (hebrew) name and there are both both male and female characters, the most well known being male of course. Not quite a 'boy named sue' situation but i see where you are coming from.

Noa is used in Japan exclusively as a name for girls

Noa is a girls hebrew name. not a boy name at all

I wouldn't us Noah for a girl, that is a boy's anme

Sorry TIY but I beg to differ, not meaning to be pedantic, I happen to know as it stuck in my mind as quite an interesting and empowering account for women in the old testament and the spelling is the same (in English), in at least some translations. This family of orphaned girls won a legal victory only normally given to the males in the family

1. [Heb., No‧ʽah′]. One of Zelophehad?s five daughters, of the tribe of Manasseh. Nu 26:28-33; 27:1-11; 36:6-12; Jos 17:3, 4.

I know a five year old Noa - I think it's lovely.

Names ending in the sounds -a, -ah sound very feminine to my ears anyway (which is why I'm not a fan of Noah for boys).

No I don't like it, but I don't like it as a name for a boy anyway.

I do like it, if you are in a community (Jewish or possibly French, where it's quite popular as a girl's name, a French couple I know have a little Noa) as the pronunciation is different to Noah. Unfortunately, if you're not in the right place (!) people will pronounce it Noah and everyone will think you're a loon.

Bucharest, oh interesting, well half the family is French but DH doesn't like it anyway.
Tammytoby I see your point don't mind Noah for a boy but think it pretty/different for a girl

Ooh, that's a shame if you can't persuade him, I think it's really pretty.

The problem is that if the child is living among English speakers - not in France, or in a Hebrew speaking community, then it is a boy names Sue, because you/she will have to explain every single time that she isn't called Noah, she is called Noa, which are quite different names. Which would be boring. In the extreme. And all her life she will get post to Mr N ......, people will do a double take when they realize she is a girl/woman. Like my niece, who is Dr Sam.... and missed a TV interview she was supposed to do because the driver went straight past her as she waited on her doorstep because she was a woman......!

People who went to primary school in the 70s will find themselves humming:

Who built the Ark? Noah, Noah. Who built the ark? Brother Noah built the ark.

Your call. But agree with Seeker. The actual origin and meaning of a name is ultimately less important than what most people associate with it. If your child turns out to be shy and self-conscious she will not appreciate having to launch into a long explanation of the etymology everytime someone asks her what her name is.

seeker, hmmm maybe, none of this is prohibitive to me personally though. I'm glad I don't have a boring name. My name draws comments and needs spelling out and I like it rather than dislike it.

What would be prohibitive in my view is to go with the consensus yawn

...especially when I think it is one that needs 'educating'

...but I can see why others like to tow the line and keep life simple

It is a very pretty name - I know one. I would say it slightly differently to Noah - with a more open, upbeat 'a', IYSWIM.

there is Nola, too, if you like it

I honestly think if you live in a country/culture where Noah is associated with a boy, it would be silly to use it for a girl. You're just asking for confusion, teasing etc.

I know a Noa, her mum is Swedish and she was a bit surprised at the 'but thats a boys name' reaction so when introducing her baby would say Noa (child second name which was flowery and girly)

I think once the child is oler and obv a girl (bit tricky with babies) it will be fine

How about Nia or Nina?

Noa would be all right. Noah is a boy's name.

(I am female, despite the user name )

" seeker, hmmm maybe, none of this is prohibitive to me personally though. I'm glad I don't have a boring name. My name draws comments and needs spelling out and I like it rather than dislike it.

What would be prohibitive in my view is to go with the consensus yawn

...especially when I think it is one that needs 'educating'

...but I can see why others like to tow the line and keep life simple"

And which sort of person have you decided your daughter will be, someone who likes to be different for differences sake, or one who will be made miserable/be irritated by having a name that is simultaneously difficult to spell, associated in nearly everyone's mind with a boy and eminently teasable.

I think the Hebrew pronunciation of Noah (meaning 'comfort') is closer to 'Noakh' (like the Russian H sound, or Spanish J). This distinguishes it from Noa the girl's name, which means 'motion', and is pronounced as Noah is in English.

A girl called Jonah?

What bad luck . . .