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Help[Opinions] Ilia on a girl?
I know it's supposed to be a boy's name, but do you think Ilia is usable on a girl? It was the name of one of the female characters in a Legend of Zelda game, Twilight Princess. I don't think this would be an issue as she wasn't a major character, but I still like it as a feminine name.
Edit: I've realized I was possibly pronouncing it differently than the Russian way? WDYTO the pronounciation ill-ee-yah, with the ill-ee almost blending into ill-lee. The normal was is eel-yah.
Edit: I've realized I was possibly pronouncing it differently than the Russian way? WDYTO the pronounciation ill-ee-yah, with the ill-ee almost blending into ill-lee. The normal was is eel-yah.
This message was edited 3/13/2011, 10:07 AM
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I know a Russian girl named Elya (ELL-ee-a), and the name I want to name my daughter is the same, but with an English spelling of Ellia.
I also know a few Ilya's, but they are all Russian guys. That name is pronounced EEL-ya. I think Illia would be fine on a girl, but the single L reminds me of the male name.
I prefer Elya/Ellia to Ilia on a girl, but I think it could work.
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I think it's usable on a girl, but only in areas where almost nobody knows Russian. If I hears "eel-yah", I'd probably think "Russian dude". If I heard "ill-ee-ah" I'd probably think "English-speaking girl". It would obviously be an Anglicized pronunciation, but you could get away with it in some places. I think Ilia "eel-yah" on a girl would be a lot less usable than Ilia "ill-ee-ah" on a girl, because the "eel-yah" pronunciation is the one that is a Russian male name.
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I've loved Ilya too long on a boy to see it for a girl, especially when Ileana, Liana, Lilia, Ilona, etc. are available.
I don't see the point in risking yet another traditional boy name turning feminine when there are so many, many other options for a girl. Sorry.
ETA: There's an ancient Roman girl's name, Aelia. I heard it used for a very minor character in "I, Claudius." They pronounced it "AY-lee-uh." I've always thought it was very pretty and might work for a science fiction character, if not a real life girl. Good luck!
I don't see the point in risking yet another traditional boy name turning feminine when there are so many, many other options for a girl. Sorry.
ETA: There's an ancient Roman girl's name, Aelia. I heard it used for a very minor character in "I, Claudius." They pronounced it "AY-lee-uh." I've always thought it was very pretty and might work for a science fiction character, if not a real life girl. Good luck!
This message was edited 3/13/2011, 10:17 AM
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Funny you should mention science fiction characters... there is a (female) character in Star Trek: The Motion Picture named Ilia:
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Ilia
However, her name is pronounced eye-LEE-uh.
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Ilia
However, her name is pronounced eye-LEE-uh.
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Good suggestion. Aelia is pretty and has a cool meaning ("sun").
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