McKayla, Makayla, or Mikayla?

mcsbeth

My DH wants to name our baby girl Kayla, which is fine with me, but I'd like a more formal first name that can be shortened to Kayla, which is fine with him.  Kayla can be short for Michaela, but we'd like to keep the "kayla" spelling in the full name.  The debate is, how to spell it: McKayla, Makayla, or Mikayla?  Any thoughts on which of these spellings is best?  Thanks![Poll]

amoureux

I don't think Kayla needs a 'formal' name.   I don't see Mikayla as more formal that Kayla.  It isn't like it is a nn like Jenny or Bobby.

I would just name her Kayla!

jettagurl

I don't see these as 'more formal' versions of Kayla....just trendier.  I think (As a girl's name), Kayla has been around much longer than Michaela or any other spellings of that - in the US, anyways.  I think of Michaela as a female or Spanish version of Michael.

I think you should stick with Kayla 

ibis

I agree with pp you might as well just stick to Kayla. I'm not a big fan of alternate spellings of a name like Michaela.

wheelenl

I agree. Kayla is OK but McKayla of any spelling--NMS at all.

Melaina25

Can you add a "none of the above" option?

NYCred

Kayla is beautiful on its own, and is really no less formal than Makayla.  Actually, I find it more formal bc it's more traditional. 

magsugar13

See, this is the issue i have about nicknames...we have spoken about it a few times around here.

If you like the name Kayla, and are going to call her Kayla then JUST name ehr Kayla~!!!!

I just dont get the whole i want to call my child so and so...and i love the name so and so...but im going t name it....blah blah.

meganet22

Michaela is actually the traditional spelling and has been around longer. Sometime in the 90s the other spellings popped up and became more popular.  My cousin and dd are both Michaela. My cousin goes by Chaela as nn. 

I think Kayla can stand on it's own just fine.

qtpa2t

I much prefer simply Kayla to bastardizing the spelling of Michaela.  

shopgirl_07

qtpa2t:

I much prefer simply Kayla to bastardizing the spelling of Michaela.  

Ditto.

OctoberCAPA

laurasusan:

I like Kayla and Michaela, but neither of the other spellings you listed.

I agree.

mlf625

Melaina25:

Can you add a "none of the above" option?

ditto. ?I'm not voting because I don't like any of those names, all of the spellings look very "late 2000s" to me. ?I do like Michaela (the real spelling) but seriously- if you like Kayla, just go with Kayla. ?She doesn't need a full name. ?My name is Mandie, no Amanda, just Mandie. ?I've never felt like my name is informal or missing anything.?

twinmommy13

FWIW- I have taught many students whose fll names were Kayla...not short for anything. I think Kayla by itself is just fine.

kegallagh

qtpa2t:

I much prefer simply Kayla to bastardizing the spelling of Michaela.  

This.

HisKathy

I'll add my voice to the "just name her Kayla" choir.  I hate the name Michaela anyway.  Kayla, however, is a good name

carolinag

i feel like all of those spellings look trashy. just go with kayla. michaela does not sound more formal in any way, shape, or form.

rose916

OctoberCAPA:

laurasusan:

I like Kayla and Michaela, but neither of the other spellings you listed.

I agree.

ditto

LMS05

I think Makayla is really pretty. I hate Michaela. It will be mispronounced so much. I agree with pp that Kayla is a stand alone name.

kaylamarcus

My name is Kayla and I've always loved it.  I had only one or two others in my high school of 1500, and get compliments a lot on my name, from all kinds of people.

That said, I do NOT think of Kayla as a nickname for Michaela.  Two totally different names in my opinion....and no one in my entire life has thought that my "real" name was Michaela either...and I've always been glad I wasn't Michaela---the Mc sound just isn't feminine to me.

good luck!