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Arcadia and Ayla
They've both been on my mind lately, though they're not quite my usual style, so, simply, what are your thoughts on them? Be as harsh as you like, I'm not overly attached to either name. Much obliged! :)


Ottilie


http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467
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I like Arcadia, even though it wouldn't work well in my area since there is a University here with the name. Otherwise, I definitely think it could work. I do like the various nickname possibilities for individuals that tend to be nicknamers; the nicknames also lighten up the heavier full name. I also like Ayla, but having known a baby Kyla, it feels incomplete to me. I do like the light and airy feeling of the name. It is an easy name to say, almost sort of fun - short, sweet, and to the point. I'd also probably have fun with the nickname Ay Ay.
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I'm not a fan of Arcadia. I don't like how the "r" sounds to me. Ayla is nice, but not my general style. Aella is a name I like that seems similar, though.
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Thank you! I do like Aella too :)
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Arcadia is not name-y to me. It reminds me of Arcades, the town of Arcadia and someone saying "Our Katie, eh?" in a Canadian accent. Just nms. It's not too bad, but the sounds are ingrained and associated with things to me, so I have trouble separating. That said, it is pretty and I would love to meet one, but I would likely never be the one to suggest it, or be the one rooting you on to use it. I give Arcadia a 6/10 for usability since it's just a bit foreign to my tongue, and because it doesn't flow as smoothly as I prefer in names. It's above a neutral 5 though, since it is a pretty ballsy name and carries a lot of personality if it were used. Cadia is a decent off-shoot though. Ayla is becoming kinda trendy where I live. A friend (who named her daughter Priya) debated that name for a long time, so I have grown to like it. I do know at least three people who have named their children this (all old friends, So I admittedly read their BAs via facebook)... though I have yet to meet one in person. The sound is simple, yet pretty. Cute without being overly frilly... and (bonus points here) a real, legit, name and not just a shortening of another name (Willa, I am talking about you). All in all, I would give Ayla a 7/10, since it is pretty, not terribly common and both simple to spell and read, in many accents. It loses points because it is poised for a boom in popularity and because I think it doesn't sound as complete as similar names, such as Anya.
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Oh, my! Thank you so much for such a detailed, thoughtful response :)
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