Arabic calligraphy; Image via Wikipedia
She’s an Arabic option with heroic overtones.
Thanks to Abbey for suggesting one she’s considering for her baby-on-the-way.
Baby Name of the Day: Naila
Where every name has a story
Where every name has a story
Arabic calligraphy; Image via Wikipedia
She’s an Arabic option with heroic overtones.
Thanks to Abbey for suggesting one she’s considering for her baby-on-the-way.
I live in a city with a ginormous East Asian population (Vancouver) and I wouldn’t bat an eye if I ran into a baby Naila/Nahla/Nyla or an adult one for that matter. Large Sikh and Hindu populations too.
My sisters have a friend named Naila, I believe her family is of Indian descent. She pronounces it Nyla and I don’t think she’s ever had issues with it. While I do think the Nyla spelling sacrifices something, I don’t think it’s as drastic a respelling as say Shavon for Siobhan. I think Naila is probably better only if parents want to emphasize the 3 syllable prn, which I happen to like best though it’s hardest to say in English (and even then you’re best off with “Na’ila” which looks hideous imho). It’s so funny that I’ve never even thought of the “Nail-uh” thing! Naila is pretty, but if I’m going to have people stumble over our kids names it’ll be for a name we LOVE.
Yeah, I totally thought it was “Nail-uh”…. Like “nail a sign to that tree”. Whoops.
At first I thought “nailer”, but the Nyler spelling make it a lot clearer.
I’m not a fan of N-names in an Australian accent, so would prefer to see this in other countries, really. It’s pretty otherwise.
She’s an intriguing choice, and I did initially believe the name to rhyme with Kayla. I do think it rhyming with Lila is probably better though, since it side steps the association with nails.
My Grandmother had a friend named Nyla and I went to high school with another Nyla. Both women had decidedly Norwegian surnames, so I’m guessing in their cases the name was related to the Norwegian word ny, meaning “new.” Ny is sometimes used as a name, but it’s more common as an element in names like Signy and Dagny.
Although I love the story of the original Naila, I’m not sure about this spelling… middle school is tough enough.
That’s fascinating, Julie – and I agree about the Naila spelling. Authentic or not, it worries me.
So surprised to see this name covered here – I’d never read anyone talk about it before! It’s great to learn the history behind it. At my previous job, the owner’s wife’s sister has the name ‘Naile’, pronounced like Leila/Kayla. She sometimes would work part-time, and many other employees would usually mangle her name into Nyla or even Naylee, since it was spelled ‘Naile’. But according to her sister & brother-in-law, they pronounced it like Leila/Kayla. I do not know is she was born here in the U.S., but I know her father is originally from Hungary (sidenote: the sister’s name is Eva, pronounced like Ava/Ayva).
My great aunt is named Naila pronounced Nah-ee-lah , so I really cant picture a baby with this name. I much more prefer the name Naima ( Nah-ee-ma). It also has Arabic origen and with regards to my Bosnian name dictionary it has the meanings lucky, soft, gentle and fine.
Other names similar to Naila are Nahla,Naiba,Naida, Naifa and Naita
Naila is very pretty and I instantly pronounced it correctly in my head, but that’s probably because I grew up in India. I can see why people migh respell it Nyla, although I think the original spelling is lovelier. I hope it wouldn’t be confused with Nala, since “nala” means “gutter” in hindi.
Oh dear – I was just thinking that I really do like Nala … maybe Nahla is the better spelling …
Is the H silent in Nahla?
Doesn’t Nala mean “gift” in Swahili or something? I wonder why they used it in The Lion King…
I too would look at Naila and rhyme it with Leila (and other similar Arabic names) or turn it into Niala. I can also see it being confused with Nala, especially with the Lion King back in theatres.
It’s a pretty sounding name, though.
I immediately thought it rhymed with Kayla and my mind jumped to all of the sayings in junior high/ high school about her Nailing things or people. I think the alternative spelling Nyla would be better in most english speaking areas to avoid this confusion
I see Nyla on the move, not so much Naila. Like a few others, I immediately thought of Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla and the female lion cub in The Lion King.
I think I preferred yesterday’s N–a name, but maybe this just needs more time to cook inside my head…
Naila is definitely intriguing! Since I live in a hugely Irish/Brasilian population (I know, weird mix!), Naila would likely be mangled here on a daily basis. So I wouldn’t use it. Maybe if I lived somewhere with a larger Arabic & Indian population.
Naila’s got such a pretty sound, I’d love, love, love to meet one!
Sounds like you live somewhere near Boston or Providence, if you’re in the U.S.