[Shoshana]

I kept the name her birth mother gave her - I figured I'd rather teach people how to pronounce it (ahem!) than explain to a 13 yr old why I'd changed it!

Anyway - the Spanish pronunciation is see-oh-MAHDA - the 'r' in Spanish is pronounced like the tt in butter, or a soft d.

when that seems too complicated i just say the English pronunciation is see-oh-MARA

[3girls1boy]

Very pretty. Its nice to honor her birthmom and her heritage. She is a beautiful baby. I think its a beautiful name.
Lisa

[KatieMill]

My best friend from college's name is Alisa Katherine. Pronounced uh-lee-sa. Beautiful name.....

Here are some other unusual names in my area:

Steelie Rae

Kenann--we thought it strange at first...and have since learned to love it

Swayze (can't remember her middle name...maybe Grace or Faith)

Saige (Swayze's sister)

Peyton


knew of another unusual one...and I've lost it...

[Guspiv]

Wow all the names are nice.

Xiomara is BEAUTIFUL! What a wonderful way to honor your daughter's 1st mother and also her heritage.

[Vicki H]

I have always liked this name, it is an old name but hnot common. Eliza Grace.

Vicki H

[Shoshana]

Thanks, Guspiv.

You know, I was expecting a lot more grief from my fellow Americans, but it hasn't happened. As soon as I repeat the pronounciation so people can really hear it, their eyes kind of widen, and they say how pretty it is. of course, they could just be placating me

if you want a couple of good websites to help you look, as a former name nerd i can recommend the following and a google search should turn them all up. the first two sites are definitely a cut above what else is out there on the web and you can get info about the name, as well as feedback (sometimes brutally honest about your choice. the people who post on the message boards of the first two sites are pretty anti-popular names.

name nerds (info about how to choose a name to make it be melodic, info about chosing a unique middle name as well, info about popularity rankings, and a message board that doesn't get much traffic but is peopled by those with a true love of names)

behind the names (great resource for learing the etymology of the names, active message board - these people are a less 'name nerdy' than those at the name nerd site. for example, just about no one at name nerds would give positive feedback for payton, people here might)

and finally, an invaluable resource - the social security administration ranks the top 1000 names for males and females. you can track the growth in popularity for the past 12 years, see what names were in the top 10 for the past 100 years, and see how many babies in the past 12 years were given a particular name.

[KatieMill]

Tried to edit and it has been too long since I posted.

On the name Steelie...it is pronounced: Stee-lee

Really cute. And a cute little girl!!

[numbr1dbcksfan]

This is my favorite name...if I ever have another baby girl...

EMER f Irish, Irish Mythology
Pronounced: EE-mur
Possibly from Gaelic eimh "swift". In Irish legend she was the wife of Cuchulainn. She was said to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, voice, speech, needlework, wisdom and chastity.

[sugarbabysmommy]

Elena Grace sounds nice, so does Helena Grace or Faith. Love the social security searchable data base, a real slice of the changing times.

[Rita77]

I just love baby names, but agree that it's hard to find a first and last name to really sound perfect together.

I have a son, but when I was pregnant I was really in love with the name Alyssa, and my husband liked Alicia. We were going to chose Ali to both agree on a name. To me a lot of the A names are beautiful and actually kind of popular. Alanna Grace is pretty! When I first saw the name Grace I couldn't help but think of Harmony Grace (I knew I friend with the name).

Good luck to you!!!

~Christine

[Rita77]

opps...made a mistake!
I meant it's hard to find a first and middle name to sound perfect!

Wish you the best of luck!!

[Daisha]

I don't hear my name around very often. It is spelled Daisha or Dacia or Dashia or Daysha (there are a lot of ways to spell it but is pronounced just like Daysha (day+sha). I may be a little biast (sp)? but I like my name. I also have a niece named
Raven Grace!! But I like it spelled Rayven!!

Good luck!!!!

[Daisha]

I also love the name Peyton!!!! Fell in love with that name after watching One Tree Hill on the WB!!

[Daisha]

Sorry, I just thought of another unique name that I really like. It is heaven spelled backwards. Nevaeh, it is pronounced (Nevay), the E after the N is kind of like (navay) !!

[spaypets]

If you like a K name, I know a Kiara (Kee-ara).

I love the Irish name that sounds like Chivonne but is spelled something like Siobian. The fact that I can't spell it, crossed it off our list.

I have a friend Hafina, which is a Welsh name.

Fiona is nice too.

One of our runner up names is Elsa. Another was Elke (el-kee). I never pay much attention to what names mean.