more name opinions

[lotusma]

i'm encouraging my men-folk to be a part of this baby naming business as they're not warming up to my idea so much, so i've compiled the following options (ones i'm willing to consider) to put on my fridge for them to try out themselves. (they have no clue otherwise, typical)

i wanted to see what people in general feel about them.

Amila (can't find any info on this one, other than it's Australian. i just really like Mila as a nn)

Una (Celtic, meaning "white wave". my 2nd fav, but it feels a bit "daring")

Ailish (Irish Gaelic, meaning "noble." pronounced isle-ish. my 1st pick, as i'm Irish and i love celtic culture. I like this one paired w/ Roan)

Savanna (i'm more eh on this one, but feel open enough to it for the sake of having more options. pretty sure it's spanish)

Celia (a Shakespearian Latin name. a few of my guys seem to like this one as it's a "C" name for me, as i was named after my C father, and he for his, and so on. it's the only "C" name i can come up w/ that i could live w/, and it's also in my family tree)

Jael (hebrew, meaning "goat" ((mmkay...)) pronounced jy ELLE. i added it just in case they feel it absolutely necessary to continue the "J" theme, which i've stressed is NOT necessary.)

there ya go--be as brutal as you want!

[CherryBomb]

Ailish is my favorite!

[lotusma]

cherrybomb, me too!

they keep teasing w/ the eye lash thing tho. ugh. if it weren't a half-valid concern, i'd tell 'em all tough, lol.

[zinemama]

I like them all except Savanna and Jael. Savanna is just too romance novel heroine for me. Jael is fine, but will burden her with lifelong pronunciation explanations. (It's actually pronounced Ya-ale. If you were in Israel you'd be fine.)

My fave from your list is Una. It's a classic, particularly after Spenser's Faerie Queene Not "out there" at all.

[lotusma]

haha, good point about savanna.

[RedOakMomma]

I would also avoid Savanna and Jael, but all the rest are lovely. Truly.


I voted for Una, just because the sound and meaning of it are perfect. I don't think it's as daring as the rest of your choices (with the exception of Celia). Una is uncommon, but known. Traditional, but very rare and unique. It's a great combination for a name.

[ledzepplon]

I really like Una and Celia. But I think I personally prefer the spelling "Oona" to "Una." We live in an area with a heavy Spanish language influence, and "Una" means "one."

[Drummer's Wife]

I like Celia the best.

[annablue]

Celia is very pretty, but I don't like any of the others.

[stormgirl]

I love Una best, and I like Celia. Had the same adverse reactions to Savannah(romance heroine) and Jael(pronunciation). Una is a great name--Ive seen it mostly spelled as Oona, as well.

[HopefulJo]

I'm the lone vote for Jael. I guess, when I read it, I immediately thought of the biblical character- a strong woman who killed the opposing army's general and was heralded as a hero. I think it's a nice, strong name, with meaning!

[TheDivineMrsM]

I voted for Amilia, but I like Celia too.

[lilmiss'mama]

Una! Unusual but pretty!

[weliveintheforest]

I think I like Amila best, with Jael a second.

[paintedfire]

My favorites are Celia (I'm a Shakespeare freak) and Una.

I have a variant spelling of that on my list - Oona. It's of Irish, Scottish, and Gaelic origin, I believe.

I'm a red-headed Irish girl so it would work for me, but not so much for my Jewish DF who is of Turkish descent. Oh, well. That's a battle for another day.

I don't care much for the others. I'm just blah on most of them, except for Jael and Savanna. I agree with zinemama saying that it reminds her of a romance novel character - and this is coming from someone who has an aunt that used to write romance novels!

So, in conclusion, Celia is wonderful but I LOVE Una, the spelling and all. I'm just particular to Oona for me. It's your baby, Mama! Go with your gut.

[Ellen Griswold]

I voted for Celia, but I had to laugh that you're having to get your guys on board with the naming game. My dh has told me that he gets to name this one since I got to name the other two. Funny thing is, I thought we decided on those names together.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by lotusma

cherrybomb, me too!

they keep teasing w/ the eye lash thing tho. ugh. if it weren't a half-valid concern, i'd tell 'em all tough, lol.

Honestly, I don't think I would have thought of that until it was pointed out! And really, everyone name is going to have some connection or pronunciation or something that you don't like connected with it. We're naming baby boy Finnegan even though most people only know the name from James Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake" Oh well, I love the poem and the street ballad both

[lotusma]

Originally Posted by CherryBomb

Honestly, I don't think I would have thought of that until it was pointed out! And really, everyone name is going to have some connection or pronunciation or something that you don't like connected with it. We're naming baby boy Finnegan even though most people only know the name from James Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake" Oh well, I love the poem and the street ballad both

that's what i keep telling them, but they're men and their minds seem to really work differently w/ stuff like this. but i'm still working on them!

ok, so Jael and Savanna are out. not necessarily because of popular opinion here, but because i have a better perspective and i was never much crazy for either of them anyway.

and i'm loving Una, but too have the concern that it sounds like the Spanish word one. i think i would have given up on it had i not learned it was celtic and NOT spanish. Unah is an option, too--i thought that was the irish variation? have to check into that.

[RedOakMomma]

Una, with an accent over the U, is the Irish (and Scottish) version. It was Anglicized into Oona, Oonagh, Ownah, and Unity. Una, without the accent, is also Irish. Another Scottish and Anglicized version is Euna.

As for it meaning one in Spanish, I think that's fine. "One" as a meaning to your name has a cool quality about it...something uniting, or universal. I like it.

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by lotusma

and i'm loving Una, but too have the concern that it sounds like the Spanish word one. i think i would have given up on it had i not learned it was celtic and NOT spanish. Unah is an option, too--i thought that was the irish variation? have to check into that.

Una has meant "one" (Latin) for a very long time, so I wouldn't worry about that. I like the "Una" spelling much better than any of the alternatives. "Oona" somehow makes me think "loony" and the others complicate it unnecessarily.