Re-naming Baby

[kathrynsarah]

And Mila Jovovich. I am probably spelling her last name wrong. Anyway...my name is Lisa and people pronounce that wrong!! So, no name is a guarantee.

Milla Jovovich spells her name with two "L's" and pronounces it as Mee-la which is just more confusing to me because I always thought it was mill-uh.

[k8d]

@rollo - We talked about it, and we're going to go with another name for her. We were prepared to occasionally correct a person here or there about her name, but we were completely caught off guard about having to correct people constantly - at the hospital, at church, at the doctor's office, when the insurance company calls, etc. Maybe if we had known what we were in for we would feel differently right now, but, unfortunately, all of the mispronunciation issues and negativity we've received about the name (in person) has colored how we feel about her name.

[mollykat78]

Oh I am so sad to hear that..

[rollo]

I too am sorry to hear that and I think Zara would be a terrific choice. It is an easy name to say like Asher and well known but not overdone or tryndy so I can't see a problem with it. How do you and your DH feel about Zara?

rollo

[k8d]

@rollo - As with most names, I like it, but he doesn't. The names in my signature are names that I like but most would never get his approval. I love vintage (or "old lady" names as he calls them), classic, and names with a little foreign flair. He likes names that are well-known, top 10 or 50 sort of names; for example, he's suggested Jennifer and Stacy. There is some overlap in our lists but not much. Right now we're talking about moving Elisabeth to her first name (he's not so sure on that one), Sadie, or Attie - either as a nn or by itself. We've been going back through our lists trying to find something that feels right that we both like that won't have pronunciation problems and, as we have a common last name, isn't too, too common (no small task!).

[saracita00]

How sad that her name has been so poorly received. My children have very unusual names and there is always a period of adjustment while people get used to the idea. With our eldest, Caspian, it was like people couldn't even comprehend his name. We were always getting Caspar, Caspy, or "Cas...Cas...What?" I really questioned that one (especially since I had some PPD going on) but my husband wanted to stick with our choice, and you know now the world has caught up to accepting the name. Our son gets plenty of compliments now, even when he is introduced to new people. Now with our second son, Zephan, I really never anticipated the confusion his name would produce. It's a contraction of Zephaniah and I really never though it was that difficult, but it does drive him nuts that people don't understand his name. Often I just introduce him as, "Zephan, like Zephaniah" and people get it (and it's a love/hate name. People either love it or hate it without much in between). If I were in your position I think I would just say, "Mila, like Amelia" and not even change her name to Amelia. Our third child is a girl named Eve, and you would think THAT one is normal but you wouldn't believe how many times I have to say, "Eve, like Adam and Eve!" Honestly I think that any name outside the Top 20 is going to be subject to mispronunciation and confusion. (I saw a message on the boards just yesterday asking if Harper was really so unusual because they had gotten so much negativity on it, and Harper jumped something like 100 places on the popularity chart last year to the 50's!!)

You have to do what you think is best for your little one, though, so if that means changing her name I hope you find one you can love. Zara is at the very top of my favorite list for another girl so obviously I love it, but I do think it will get just as much mispronunciation as Mila, as some people will probably say "Zare-uh" and some "Czar-uh." Also Eva can be pronounce "EE-va" and "AY-va." So potential for mispronunciation any way you dice it there. Of the other names in your signature I would anticipate pronunciation issues with Francesca (fran-cess-ka or fran-CHESS-ka), Helena (hel-LAY-nuh, hel-LEEN-uh, HELEN-uh), Greta (gret-uh, greet-uh, grate-uh), Lena (lenn-uh, lay-nuh, leen-uh), and Carolina (carol-LINE-uh or carol-LEEN-uh). I think Lucy, Eleanor, Attie, and Mattie are probably your best bets for eliminating mispronunciation.

Best wishes, and again I'm so sorry about the bad reception of your daughter's name. I know it's so disappointing when you think a name is amazing but the people around you just don't get it.

[amickey]

I also think Mila is fabulous, and it is popular in many European countries. You should go for what is in your heart, though.

[kyemsma]

Oh, too bad this has happened to you! I think moving her mn to the first name spot is a great idea - Elisabeth has so many options for a nn - Bess, Betsy, Libby, Lissy, Eliza are a few that came to mind!

[karenp]

If you love it, definately keep it! When my Kaia (k-eye-uh) was born, my family and friends called her Kay-uh. I kept correcting them and after a while they finally started calling her the right prn. Its tough in the beginning, but they will get it soon. Hope this helps! Love Mila btw, its right down my alley

[rollo]

Why not go with Elise? I think it is a lovely name, very on trend but not trendy and as a form of Elizabeth I think it ticks a lot of boxes.

Suggestions

Elise Juliet (Juliet is one of my all time favourite names, and I have seen thousands of names over the years here on nameberry)
Ava Caroline or Ava Carys And yes it is super popular and many will not use it for that reason but this nameberry has fallen in love with it despite its popularity.
Laurel this is a gem, a few are starting to use it again and I think that it is the top of the "Lau" names it is so sweet and feminine.
Lucinda a beautiful name that many are just discovering, I love the nn of Lucy and irishmom's Indie is very cute too, combo of Lucinda Marion.
Phoebe a big favourite here on nameberry and because of its biblical roots is a good match with Asher, Phoebe Annabel and Asher, or
if you don't mind the two siblings having a name starting with the same initial then Annabelle is so, so pretty, gorgeous, Annabelle Lucy.
Vivian I like it spelt as Vivienne and the nn of Vivi reminds me of 'life' and energy, Vivian Alexandra.
Chloe, yes everyone on nameberry will scream because it is so popular but it is a lovely name, Chloe Madeleine
Willow, one of my favourite nature names for a girl, Willow Susannah
Anneliese a beautiful name, Anneliese Matilda

All the best,

rollo