Just for fun - your thoughts on my girl name list.

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of Islas and Ellas/Ellies at my kid's elementary school. I like the names though.

Nora is nice.

Gemma is nice but she is going to get called Jenna 4/5 times she introduces herself. I know a "Kenna" who gets called Jenna. A "Cullen" who gets called "Colin". When your name is a slight variation of a common name, everyone defaults to the more common variation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are nice names. That said, there is a trend of two-syllable girl names that end in -a. There are many girls with very similar names right now.

-a teacher

+1 I know girls under 10 with all the following names, and I sometimes struggle to keep them straight:

Mia
Emma
Ava
Eva x2
Nora
Isla
Luna
Nova
Mila
Mina
Layla
Thea x2
Rhea
Stella
Clara
Cora
Freya
Lila
Mila
Ada
Zora

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is confusing about Gemma?

Americans don't know whether to pronounce the "g" -- you will get it pronounced like it is in gem (the correct way) or like it is in gum (the incorrect way).

It's a much better known name in the UK. It's actually kind of fallen out of favor there, but lots of adult Gemmas in the UK.

[Anonymous]

Isla - will be mispronounced constantly
Gemma - cute
Nora - cute and classic
Ella - way too popular

[Anonymous]

Gemma is one of my very favorite names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is confusing about Gemma?

Americans don't know whether to pronounce the "g" -- you will get it pronounced like it is in gem (the correct way) or like it is in gum (the incorrect way).

It's a much better known name in the UK. It's actually kind of fallen out of favor there, but lots of adult Gemmas in the UK.

There is no English-speaker anywhere who thinks Gemma is pronounced with a hard g. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty names. Nora is my favorite. Gemma is too precocious sounding for me. Isla and Ella are perfectly nice names. Best wishes for the birth

Precocious? Did you mean precious?

[Anonymous]

I don’t like Gemma, and both it and Isla are likely to be mispronounced.

Nora and Ella are nice, but I’m not wild about either. Ella makes me think of Ella Enchanted, which isn’t necessarily bad, but since it’s a movie kids might see, you should be aware of the connection.

Have you considered the name Eleanor? It would offer more flexibility as you, and later your child, could use either Nora or Ella as a nickname. I’ve always liked the name and associate it with both Eleanor Roosevelt - a strong and gracious lady, and Eleanor of Aquitaine - a formidable woman who wielded power in an age when most women were powerless and left her mark on history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like Gemma, and both it and Isla are likely to be mispronounced.

Nora and Ella are nice, but I’m not wild about either. Ella makes me think of Ella Enchanted, which isn’t necessarily bad, but since it’s a movie kids might see, you should be aware of the connection.

Have you considered the name Eleanor? It would offer more flexibility as you, and later your child, could use either Nora or Ella as a nickname. I’ve always liked the name and associate it with both Eleanor Roosevelt - a strong and gracious lady, and Eleanor of Aquitaine - a formidable woman who wielded power in an age when most women were powerless and left her mark on history.

+1 for Eleanor. It’s a family name for my family and we have a couple of them. Would also give you flexibility on the nickname

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is confusing about Gemma?

Americans don't know whether to pronounce the "g" -- you will get it pronounced like it is in gem (the correct way) or like it is in gum (the incorrect way).

It's a much better known name in the UK. It's actually kind of fallen out of favor there, but lots of adult Gemmas in the UK.

There is no English-speaker anywhere who thinks Gemma is pronounced with a hard g. Come on.

Sorry, but there absolutely are people who will pronounce it that way. A lot of Americans have never seen that name before and just have no idea how to say it, so they think "Emma with a g" and how they pronounce the g is a flip of the coin.

People will mispronounce almost any name, but the less familiar it is to them, the more likely it is to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hate Gemma but really like all of the others. We considered Isla but didn't want to deal with people not knowing how to pronounce it.

How do you pronounce it? OP - don't do that to your kid

OP: it’s pronounced “EYE-la”. I had similar concerns but apparently it’s quite a popular name now? I don’t know anyone with it but this is my first and I don’t really know any young children.

My daughter is 20 and all of these names except Gemma (which I love!) have popped up in our circles. Isla has definitely become more popular, but still lagging on pronunciation. I don’t understand where the wrong ones come from, but they do!

Maybe it’s bc of an old friend, but Nora is super old and nerdy to me.

Ella/Elle/Ellie (Emma, Emily…) is too popular for me even though I do like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We find out the gender this week. Boy name is already decided, but if it's a girl, here's my list.

Isla
Gemma
Nora
Ella

.

I love them all…..especially Isla as my grand daughter is named Isla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like Gemma, and both it and Isla are likely to be mispronounced.

Nora and Ella are nice, but I’m not wild about either. Ella makes me think of Ella Enchanted, which isn’t necessarily bad, but since it’s a movie kids might see, you should be aware of the connection.

Have you considered the name Eleanor? It would offer more flexibility as you, and later your child, could use either Nora or Ella as a nickname. I’ve always liked the name and associate it with both Eleanor Roosevelt - a strong and gracious lady, and Eleanor of Aquitaine - a formidable woman who wielded power in an age when most women were powerless and left her mark on history.

Now you’re making me seriously consider this! Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nora #1
Ella #2

The other two would be confusing

+1

[Anonymous]

Don’t like Isla or Gemma.