Opinions on Girl Names...

I just wanted to let you know, as someone who speaks Japanese, that Keiko is not pronounced Kay-a-koh. When the e (which makes an eh in Japanese) sound is followed by an i (which makes an ee in Japanese), it becomes a stronger ay sound, so it's just Kay-koh (emphasis on Kay). ^_^

My personal preference is Sakari - that's very pretty. Good luck.

ADDED: I also really like Keilana. Very interesting!

I love Mika, Aissa, and Keilana. I would not use Sakari, although beautiful, most Americans can not roll their Rs, so the name will not be pronounced correctly.

I love Mika! A friend of mine (Japanese American) just named her baby that.

Also, I think pronouncation is important. When I was a teacher, I felt really bad when I just couldn't remember a name because it was so unsual, or pronounced it as it was spelled, or stumbled over it. Though I taught adults, I think it would be even harder on children if the teacher didn't "get" their name.

I am called by my middle name, but teachers would always think my name was my first name. That was hard enough.

I think the r rolling ones, though pretty, would be very difficult for people, including your daughter, to pronounce, because the ability to roll rs is something that some people physically can't do.

I like Mika.

I like your list and I'm drawn to the name Mika, because it is similar to yours and is easy to pronounce. You don't want her to have too much trouble with it in med school. :^)

What about Aiko?

Yuri is hard to pronounce for many people. She'd have to tell everyone how her name if pronounced, especially in school. People will pronounce it as "yoooree."

No matter what name you use... make sure you get the proper spelling of the name... per GENDER. Many cultures, have the same name... for boy or girl... but it is spelled differently, per gender.

All the best,
Susan

Samantha means 'God heard'. Keeps with the biblical name and I love the thought that God heard and answered your prayers.

I would probably edit the list to exclude anything the average American is not going to pronounce or spell correctly. I say this because I named my daughter Corinne (kuh-rin), however you would be surprised how many people see her name and then pronounce it Coe-REEN. Ugh. And even though we used the traditional French spelling, people still spell it Corrine all the time. My youngest is named Isabelle and everyone can spell that and pronounce it (it means "of God" if you were curious =).

So, given that criteria, I would say your top contenders would be Mika, Aiyana (easy to pronounce, tough to spell) and Keilana. I love Sakari but hardly anyone will be able to roll the R in that name - if you don't mind the English pronunciation of the R, that is probably my favorite on your list!

Congrats!

Sakari, sounds beautiful!
Keilana is also very nice.

Before you decide for sure go into your kitchen and holler out the name along with your son's name (like you were calling them inside or for dinner) to hear if you like the two together. You will feel silly but it will help you decide if it works in your family.
Best Wishes!

Oh...I love answering these questions. I LOVE these names:

Eliana - God has answered, Hebrew
Ayumi - It's Japanese, but I don't remember the meaning
Amaya - Night rain, Japanese
Moriah - God is my teacher, Hebrew
Shiloh - His gift, Hebrew
Nori - Believer, Japanese
Sonomi - Garden of hope, Japanese
Dreama - don't remember where it's from, and I think it means joyful music
Jahzara - Princess, African
Noemi - Beautiful and Gentle, French

I like Mika because it is so similar to your name! It is also easier than the rest of the names you listed. I also love the name Isla and Talia, but with Isla, people might pronounce it "Iz-la." Congrats!

A head's up on the Native American names:
http://www.native-languages.org/wrongnames.htm

I always understood Talia to be a Hebrew name. I don't know how accurate this is, but:
http://www.babynamescountry.com/meanings/Talia.html

CONGRATULATIONS!

p.s. If you are of Japanese descent or if Japan has had a strong influnce on your life, I like the idea of a Japanese name. Keiko is pretty - plus an awesome character on Star Trek! : )

I love the Japanese names you have picked. We also gave our daughter a Japanese name. Her name is Emi and means beautiful blessing. Other Japanese names that we considered were Hana - flower, and Sakura- cherry blossom. Good luck!

We are Lebanese and I named my daughter Amina. It is Arabic and means loyal/faithful. Though it is popular among Muslims, we are Christian (Maronite) and know a lot of other Christians with that name. My name is Z. and I pronounce it as rhyming with China but it should be more like Zeina (Zayna). Don't let mispronunciations stop you from naming your daughter. People always pronounce my name incorrectly - like Xena, Warrior Princess. Usually I correct them and explain my name. I have found it makes a great conversation starter. The funny thing is, when we finish our conversation and I say "goodbye," nine times out of ten s/he will respond "Bye, Xena!" So I have learned that a lot of people don't really listen to what you are saying but they mean well. I am almost 40 and still get a kick out of it.

I love the name Aiyana. It is very feminine sounding and would work perfectly from childhood to adult.

Good luck.

Hi M.,
Pretty names. My niece is Keilani (also Hawaiian, meaning glorious), and we call her Lani. Also, I have a book with baby name meanings (I have a business that I use it for), and it lists Talia as meaning Heaven's Dew. That's pretty neat! It doesn't have an entry for Isla.

kieko I like
mika i like
yuri would get pronouced wrong
aissa would get pronounced wrong
keilana might get pronouced wrong
aiyana I like
sakari would get pronounced wrong
isla getting to common
talia I like

How about Amira, it is Hebrew and means "Princess"

of your choices, I like Aiyana best

Talia is of Hebrew origin, I'm pretty sure -it and Isla are lovely!

I like Cheyenne Nicole (have not looked up the meanings).

I had a dear friend from India whose name was Kalpana. She told me it was Hindi for "Imagination."

I love Mika but Aiyana is BEAUTIFUL!

I like Keiko. I was wondering where I have heard that name before. I think it's on Oobi on Nick Jr. But they pronounce it Kay-ko.
I like Mika, and Aiyana on your list.
Kamea - Hawaiian - Sweet Darling

Doesn't Isla mean island in spanish? I might be wrong though.

I like Mika, its very pretty.

~I have to disagree with the woman who said that Yuri is hard to pronounce...my cousin named his daughter Yuri (The mom is japanese) and she is a teen now and has never hand a problem with people mis-pronouncing it!

Good Luck! Picking out names was always the hardest part for me ;)

I love the names you have picked out! I would not pick Keiko though bc it is the name of a killer whale at a Sea World. Out of the ones you have I love the names Mika, Aissa, Aiyana and Keilana the most.

I love the name Miaka pronounced MEE ah kah- meaning Beautiful Red.
I also love Yuri

for biblical names
Leah
Rebecca
Trinity

I like Aiyana alot...

I think with Isla... It is very pretty, but I originally pronounces Is-la.

Congrats!!

I love mika!! I like Aiyana too, love isla, and like Talia. Caution though, all of these names will be misspelled or mispronounced for life! People just don't think or care sometimes and it's hard, I'm T. and have hated it my whole life! I assume mika is (mee-ka)? They're all pretty so I'd keep them spelled the way they are, I don't like it when people try to spell thongs phonetically. Seems silly even though it will help with pronounciation! Isla means island, it's used in Spanish but may have a different origin. There are some Other really pretty Hawaiian names too if you look some up! I like Havana, kayana, kalina, Kaya, Malia, maile too.

Makana - It is Hawaiian for "Gift"

With a last name beginning with an "e", I would avoid names ending in a vowel--which those listed all do.

I love the name Isabella.... or Elliana...two of my fav girl names

Good luck :)

A lot of women responded about others not being able to pronounce a name. So what. Name your child whatever beautiful name you wish to choose. This is about you and your family. If someone cannot pronouce the name, gently say it correctly. No harm, no foul, no offense. I wish you well, and enjoy your daughter to the fullest. In my humble opionion, and my pet peeve, some parents give children that are from other countries American names to "protect" them from being excluded and accepted by mainstream...a sad commentary.

I don't "love" the names on your list. That is not to say there is anything wrong with any of the names, they are all beautiful, they are just not my particular taste. Of the post I like Isla the best.
My suggestion is to possibly think of two people in your life that mean the most to you and try to combine their names or middle names, to make a new name for you daughter. As an example my daughters middle name is a combination of my husbands middle name Lee and my mother's middle name Ann, making her middle name Leanne. It is a name I would of not chosen otherwise, but I love the fact that her middle name is formed by two of the most important people to me. Just a thought and Good Luck!

My niece is named Aya, which I think means "beautiful flower" in Japanese. Simple, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, easy to remember, and pretty.

I liked Leah as a name, but I looked up the meaning and it means weak or dependent. If you are concerned about meaning, that might influence your choice.

I have a Japanese friend named Mika & I love that name!! Its my favorite out of all of your names. I also like Nylah or Sloane for a girl. :o)

OMG I looove Aissa and Aiyana. Also Keilana, Hawaiian names are awesome.
You have very feminine names in your list! congrats on your first baby girl, having two daughters I can tell you they're the best little friends you'll have :o)

Hello I might be having a girl to and if it is a girl I will name her NEVAEH which spells Heaven backwards.

I like Keilana and Aiyana---they are pretty and not so unusual that she'd feel weird about it.
A suggestion is Amara--Greek--unfading;eternal

Congrats!!!!
J.