Hi Ladies - I'm back again for your worldly advice after having narrowed our list down to the final two. DS#2 is due in five weeks and it's totally stressing me out that we can't decide between the two final names. DS#1 is Natalie Elise, and our last name rhymes with Garrison. We're torn between Liana Evangeline and Ophelia Jane.
DH prefers Liana Evangeline as it's a nod to his grandmother; I think I prefer Ophelia more but there's not the same family connection that's there with Liana (Lee-AH-nah). Also, DH is turned off a bit by Ophelia because of the current association with the Lumineers song, and I'm a bit turned off by Liana because I think it's open to mispronunciation more. Overall, we both think they are beautiful names, but neither of us can agree/fully commit!
I don't see Liana being pronounced wrong but I do prefer Ophelia Jane. It's partially that I do not like Evangeline. Liana Jane or Ophelia Jane are nice.
I like Ophelia Jane! That being said since Liana has a family connection and you and DH like both Id probably go with Liana if it were me. I like the suggestion of Liana Jane.
I don't think Liana would be overly mispronounced. I find it a lot more refreshing than Ophelia, which seems kind of stuffy and pretentious, especially next to Natalie.
I voted Ophelia. I agree that liana gets lost amongst the leila/lilys/laylas/lillians/leelas/lilianas/ad nauseum. I also feel like it's a bit incomplete. Like you wanted Eliana, but wanted to avoid the ellie trend, only to fall into another trend.
I like Ophelia better in general. People would read Liana as either Lee-Anna or Lee-ON-na (I can't tell from your description which one you meant). But either way, you and eventually the child would probably be correcting people a lot.
When you say DS... I'm going to assume you meant DD?
I like Liana Evangeline, and I feel Liana pairs better with Natalie. But when I first read it I did not pronounce it the way you want. My first thought was Lee-ANN-uh. So if mispronunciations are really going to bother you, go with Ophelia Jane, which is also lovely, but a bit stuffy for my taste.
Baby girl is here! Annnnd we still have not decided! Bumping my post to scrounge for another round of feedback... I feel so silly that we can't decide, and I feel even worse that she has no name!
I voted Liana. Not hard to pronounce IMO. Ophelia seems nice in theory but I feel like it would be awkward in real life, kind of a mouthful. congrats!!!!!!
Re: Final Two: Liana or Ophelia?
I love Ophelia Jane!
I like Liana Evangeline, and I feel Liana pairs better with Natalie. But when I first read it I did not pronounce it the way you want. My first thought was Lee-ANN-uh. So if mispronunciations are really going to bother you, go with Ophelia Jane, which is also lovely, but a bit stuffy for my taste.
Congrats!