What do you think of Kayla?

angelsnight

I certainly don't hate it, but there are many other girls names I like a lot better.  However my husband is in love with the name and even told me on our second date that he wants to name his future daughter that.  In the last four years, he's referred to our future daughter as such, so despite my not being in love with it, I almost feel like that is already her name and it would be like changing your existing childs name after a few years.

 My only real reservation is I worry it sounds too childish for when she grows up.  I wish there were a longer version she could fall back on when she's an adult...I have heard of one Kayla whose name was actually Kathryn, and I do love that name but I don't think Kayla is a common NN for Kathryn and I don't like the idea of always having to explain.  Thoughts?

zaramarie81

What about Calla (as in "calla lily") as an alternative? I think it sounds a little more grown up and classic than Kayla.

Fwiw, Kayla is a name on my in-law's side. I think it's pretty (and much better than Kaylee) but even with the "la" ending it still sounds very youthful and trendy, and I've never loved the look or spelling of it. 

Manderlin923

I like pps suggestion of Calla. I dislike Kayla and do agree it sounds young.

Allie30

I like the idea of Kathryn, nn Kayla. Very Russian (think Sophia, nn Sonia, Anne, nn Anya etc.)

rkto

I like it.  I dont think it sounds young.

however, I think it is importatnt that you both agree on the name. 

I also like Layla.  so maybe I am weird. 

catch2010

I'm a teacher, and I have 3 Kaylas this year.   I agree that it sounds too cutsey for my taste, but there's nothing majorly wrong with it.

Allie30:

I like the idea of Kathryn, nn Kayla. Very Russian (think Sophia, nn Sonia, Anne, nn Anya etc.)

Russian for "Kathryn" is Ekaterina, nn Katya.

NellaJ

Kayla is alright to me as well. I don't love it, but I don't think it is the worst thing you could name a child. I agree that you and DH should both be on board though. My BIL told me sister that he LOVED the name Saphira and had since he read a book as a child with that name. They now have a cat named Saphira instead.

LMS05

Kayla is nice. I don't love it though. 

melissa721

It;s okay. I saw the name  Kayla on a TV show once but with the pronounciation Kyla. The family was middle eastern so I don't know if it's a popular name/pronounciation in their culture. I think here she would get the regular Kay-la pronounciation though so she would have to correct people.

alohamora

I don't like it...too trendy and kind of blah for my taste.

MrsJuicy2B

It's too trendy and cutesy for me. It's not a name that will age well. I don't imagine there will ever be a President Kayla. Our cashier at Wal-Mart last night was named Kayla. I do know a Dr. Kayla, although she's kind of a space cadet. Whatever name we're talking about, it doesn't seem right for one parent to have all the naming power for a child. Maybe you'll have a boy and it won't be an issue!

faeriequeeneonwow

Can't believe someone else hasn't mentioned this yet, but you could always name her Michaela and still call her Kayla. I don't like Kayla at all - mostly because of the "youthfulness" of it and a bad experience with a girl in HS. She could still sign school papers and later on, legal docs, as Michaela. I know many girls (and even a few guys) who did this with their names throughout school - even in college.

shopgirl_07

I'm not a fan. It's screams 80s and kind of lower class to me.

angelsnight

Annie10:

I ignore the "this name doesn't grow well" comments. There are plenty of adults with names that I'm sure didn't sound like "adult names" when they were born. Debbie, Susie and Ginny (yes, I know they are nicknames before you start that argument but plenty of 50 something women go by these names) come to mind.

Kayla isn't my style but I don't dislike it. Its okay. If your only worry is its too childish but you still love it, I'd use it.  

This is very true,  I think before a baby is here, we look at names at face value, but then as it's attached to an actual person with a distinct personality, it grows on us.  I did not care for my neices name when I first heard it, Iris....It sounded too old.  But now I think it's absolutely adorable as is she, it suits her perfectly.

 I talked to my husband about it, he suggested that as an alternative or nn she could go by Kay.  IMO I think that sounds more mature than Kayla.  I could definitely picture a mature business woman named Kay more than Kayla.

 For those saying we should both agree, I agree with that....but like I said, I don't hate it at all.  I think its more important to my husband that we use than name, than it is to me that we don't use the name.  I'm more concerned with getting the name Kathryn in there (after my deceased mother) which we're using as a mn, so I'm happy.  Besides, I get my way on most things, I'll throw him a bone :)c