Eloise.

Only Hispanics will pronounce this name the way you want. I would definitely say Luisa with a z sound. It’s the English way.

Louisa was the girl in Sound of Music. I would pronounce the names exactly the same so you may be in for a lifetime of correcting spelling and pronunciation if you go with Luisa and expect some sort of soft s. Of course Eva snd Sophia pronunciations can also cause you misery if you choose something creative. Eva/Ava/Evie, Sofia/Sophia, etc.

Spain is a country in Europe... Native Europeans (people who are ethnically European) are white.

What a about Evie?

I strongly dislike Eva and Louisa. If Sophia weren't overdone I wouldn't mind it, but we've had SO MANY Sophies and Sophias over the last 15 years that I'm over that name.

They're all nice names, all fairly common (there's one [but only one!] of each in my daughter's current GS troop), but I think that intentionally choosing the Luisa spelling when you're worried about appropriation is a bit strange. Agreed with PP that you'll still get the '-iza' pronunciation with this spelling, just with more misspellings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you just spell it as Louisa?

OP: because “Louisa” (at least where I’m originally from in the Midwest) is pronounced “Louiza” - I want the soft s.

I don't think this will work. People will pronounce it however they want.
Wasn't one of the girl in Sound of Music Luisa? I don't thinkit belongs to any specific culture.

As someone with a name that is frequently misspelled, I wouldn't do Luisa. It will be misspelled constantly and a source of endless headaches.

For instance my first name is in my work email address. I don't get emails frequently from external senders because it's misspelled.

Anonymous wrote:Luisa is definitely more of a Hispanic name.

+1 it's the spelling, but at least it's not over done like Sophia. Eva less so, but still pretty common.

Luisa is definitely more of a Hispanic name.

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you just spell it as Louisa?

OP: because “Louisa” (at least where I’m originally from in the Midwest) is pronounced “Louiza” - I want the soft s.

Sophia is the best, then Eva

Why don't you just spell it as Louisa?

Would love your opinion!

Also, at the risk of being sneered at: does Luisa strike anyone as appropriating Spanish /Latino heritage?