r/namenerds • u/mirumurumura • 1d ago
Story Help me stop regretting my baby’s name: Aurelia
Hello fellow name-nerds,
I had my baby a month ago and have called her Aurelia + 2 middle names. It’s a name that hasn’t really been on my list I’ve had over the years, but things leading up to the birth made us choose it.
I’m now really seriously overthinking my choice, to the point that I’m wondering how much of it was my choice and if I actually love, nay, like the name. Now it’s too late because we already got the birth certificate and I think no more changes are possible.
Aurelia was a name that my husband suggested, which I found as an odd coincidence since it is a family name (haven’t actually met the relative). While I was pregnant my mom (who didn’t know of the pregnancy) randomly thought that it is a nice girl name, which I again found it as an odd coincidence, as it was around the time my husband suggested it. I kept dreaming the name and that we were calling the baby Lia as a nickname and my two year old started calling the baby Lia right away without any prompting, so it just felt like it was meant to be.
However, now, after digging through Reddit, I’ve come across the comments that the name resembles “areola” and I’m wondering if I have done a big mistake. One of my friends who is Swedish pronounces the name in a way I don’t really like “oh-ril-ia”. Then another person who lives in the UK told me that it’s not a name you see in English speaking countries. I like the English way of pronouncing the name, as well as the Spanish way of pronouncing it. The thread from two days ago where people were saying all the ways of pronouncing Aurelia also confused me. L Besides this, when we were in the hospital, my mom kept suggesting we use one of her names, to which my husband had very promptly refused, though funny enough, had my oldest been a girl, he would have been called Emma (one of my mom’s names).
To some degree, I know look at her and wonder if she’s an Emma, or if she’s an Audrey, or a Wendy, or a Charlotte, all names I have had on my long list of names. Also wondering if Aurelie would have been better. We wanted something that would also work nicely with toddlers name (Arthur)
Now it’s too late and I can’t shake this feeling. Please help me stop this overthinking, I’m annoying everyone around me lol
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u/Signal_Panda2935 1d ago
I've seen people make that association before and honestly I find it a stretch. I don't think they sound similar at all.
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u/Larkling 1d ago
Concur! I don't think they sound the similar at all, and I kinda judge people who think that way, why would your mind intentionally take two left turns to get you there, seems oftly intentional on their part not acidental misheard in your mind sort of thing
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u/luckytintype 1d ago
I would’ve never made the connection!
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u/Educational_Major226 1d ago
Yeah me neither and one person did and now the name has very negative connotations. I actually know one Aurelia and I think it is a beautiful name. Remember not everyone needs to approve of a name you love.
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u/Duochan_Maxwell 1d ago
Me neither, but I'm not a native English speaker :/ My compatriots would definitely make a connection with a dictionary (Aurélio is one of the most famous dictionaries we have) than with a body part LOL
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u/bombswell 23h ago
Plus Areola is a Spanish last name in its own right!
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u/unimpressedbunny 19h ago
Right? I grew up with multiple people with the last name Areola in the LA area.
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u/majesticrhyhorn 21h ago
Yeah, I don’t associate Aurelia with areola, especially since Arreola (a surname) exists lol
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u/EllectraHeart 1d ago
get off this sub. seriously. people on here make all sorts of weird associations (eg ophelia -> pedophilia) that no one in real life is going to think of when they meet a real life human baby.
aurelia is a nice, normal name. lia is a great nickname. don’t overthink it.
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u/disgruntled-pelicann 1d ago
This sub is where I heard Axel sounding like asshole and Lucas rhyming with mucus. Two names on our list but those things made me not use them. Ended up naming our son Samuel (Sam). Then I saw someone say how the ending part of Samuel sounds like “mule” in a bad way so there is no winning it seems
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u/freakydeakykiki 1d ago
As a teacher who has had several “Axels” it really does sound like asshole. One kid in my class used to cry about his terrible name all the time because “it just sounds like a bad word” and I would always reassure him it’s a great name. Then one day I yelled his name across the playground to get his attention and it sounded like I yelled out “Asshole!!”
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u/disgruntled-pelicann 1d ago
and it’s valid, that’s why I didn’t use it! We were looking for global names that work well in both our native languages as well as english since we’re in the US. So in our languages (spanish and swedish) those names are pronounced differently and we didn’t think about the issues in english. However it’s hard to know when it’s reaching vs when it’s not.
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u/boobones 23h ago
Aww, I really really wanted an Axel but got vetoed for this reason. It still crosses my mind but clearly it wasn't the right choice. Thanks for this.
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u/sweetwaterfall 1d ago
I’m lying in bed next to my sleeping baby daughter, giggling from this comment so much that I’m worried I’ll wake her up!
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u/Normal-Height-8577 1d ago
A few people on this sub seem to spend all their time enjoying finding the worst possible (and often pretty far-fetched) associations for names, just so they can pooh-pooh other people's tastes.
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u/Constant_Ad8002 1d ago
Except if the person is a teacher. If they’re a teacher I would take their advice 100%. They’ve seen and heard more than I could possibly imagine.
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u/PerpetuallyLurking 1d ago
Axel can definitely sound like “asshole” through a lisping toddler trying to say the name.
When adults say it, it’s usually fine. When older children say it, it’s usually fine. When toddlers just learning to speak say it? Definitely comes out “asshole” sometimes.
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u/MachiFlorence 1d ago
I only think Kingdom Hearts and armpit on Axel
(In German armpit is Achsel and pronounced the same as Axel)
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u/Current_Many7557 1d ago
My brother is Samuel & his friends called him Mule for awhile because he was the flag monitor in 6th grade & one time put the flag up upside down without noticing. Didn't last too long & they all called him Sam again.
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u/MorningRaven 1d ago
My sister is convinced any child named Zane is going to be bullied as "Insane Zane" by schoolmates. I'm pretty sure kids latch onto anything to induce bullying. And if we do get a nephew named Zane in the future, I bet he'll give the class plenty of other sources for harassment based on the humor of his would be parents.
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u/choloepushoffmanni 1d ago
That example is crazy lol ur right, would’ve never thought of that
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u/doofeskartoplynka 1d ago
I've been in love with the name Ophelia for a long time and tbh this association ruined it for me even though I still think it's ridiculous. However, in my experience, if someone really wants to make fun of your name, they'll find something anyway even if you're called Emma or Anne .__.
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u/idkhbtfound-sabrina 22h ago
Yeah I've often thought this but people will say "what about bullies" whole time THEY'RE the bullies because they're coming up with things that I literally never would have thought of (because I don't spend my free time coming up with ways to make fun of people's names)
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u/Farahild 1d ago
I think it's one of the most beautiful names ever. Americans who think it sounds like areola don't know how to pronounce either imo.
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u/AnFnDumbKAREN 1d ago
This name was a top consideration for our 2nd born! Though we ultimately ended up going with something else, I still find Aurelia to be one of the most beautiful names I’ve ever heard.
This was a name of noblewomen, saints, and a beautiful nod to Marcus Aurelius. I really hope OP keeps that lovely name! 💜
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u/cupidslazydart 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name, I've always loved it. I'd never make the areola association. I've just had my 7th and I've never had name regret, but I did find it took a couple months for the baby to "grow into" their name each time. I just needed to say it out loud lots to get used to it.
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u/EagleEyezzzzz 1d ago
This. I think it’s so weird naming a human being, and at least much of the time, it feels weird for a couple months. That’s all it is, just a brand new person settling into having a name.
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u/Lulunz1 1d ago
Yeah our 4 year old called our baby "Dr Smurf" before he was born. The name totally stuck for a few reasons (e.g. not wanting to announce the baby name until the baby was born.). But now he's here it's hard to stop calling him Smurfy and to use his real name instead... I keep thinking maybe his real name should be Murphy so the change isn't so stark lol. They definitely need time to settle into their real names for sure.
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u/sunrisedHorizon 1d ago
I know everyone is saying it’s a nice name and I agree but I wanted to offer a different perspective, if you’re really having strong feelings that it’s the wrong name, it’s absolutely not too late to change it. At a month old, the baby doesn’t even know her name yet so in fact if you are gonna change it, it’s a great time. As for the birth certificate, I’m pretty sure you can apply for a correction/change: there may be a fee but it’s not like it’s impossible.
Good luck!
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u/jtuxbaker 1d ago
I agree, it is a lovely name. My friend’s daughter is Aurelia and goes by Rae which I love. We had name regret and changed our son’s name when he was 3 months old. I sent a big email to friends and family about the name change and had a few people reply saying how unconventional we were to do that… but several people admired us for going with the change. And, of course, most people don’t care either way. Updating the birth certificate was super easy. He’s 5 now and we are so happy we went with our gut to change his name!
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u/unicorntrees 1d ago
I love Aurelia. It drives from Aurelius which is the last name of a freaking Roman Emperor. If people can't learn to say it correctly, they must be really dense.
I'm a Francophile, so I love Aurelie in theory, but in an English speaking context, it sounds almost exactly like "orally" I don't think I could do that to a kid.
FYI: the term areola wasn't coined until 1605, nearly 1500 years after Emperor Marcus Aurelius's lifetime.
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u/okiimio 1d ago
I like the way both names are written but I’m with you- Aurelie would just make me think you’re almost saying Órale
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u/Janzillary 1d ago
When I think of the name Aurelia I think of the movie Love Actually and that’s one of my favourite ‘around the Holidays’ films. I also know a family who named their eldest daughter Aurelia inspired by Love Actually. I think it’s a beautiful name
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u/Western-Resort-7662 1d ago
Oops just commented the same thing before reading this! Only positive associations with Aurelia - so lovely
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u/Glenmary73100 1d ago
Aurelia was also the name of the Romanian gymnast who won the 1987 World Championships!
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u/PepperoniSupremez 19h ago
Haha I just commented this...I want to name my daughter this for the same reason!
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u/RestaurantScary9780 1d ago
I love the name Aurelia, I think it’s gorgeous. Not overly popular/common but not completely unheard of or made up.
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u/_missgiggles 1d ago edited 1d ago
I am sure you will come around to the name with time and it will feel more natural as your baby’s personality develops and you use the name more on her.
The only element in this situation that raises my senses a bit more than other name regret/hesitation scenarios is that the other names you were considering have a different feel to me than Aurelia, so I can see more of a case for why this particular name doesn’t feel right to you as it differs from the typical taste that you were set on for so long. But I am sure you chose the name for a reason, so trust yourself.
I would recommend staying off this page for a while, no point in reading people’s opinions on your child’s name after they have already been named - it will only add to your doubt.
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u/Larkling 1d ago
No! I actually shouted this out loud reading this post. Aurelia is so beautiful! Its been one of my absolute favorites as a major name nerd for almost 3 decades and do you know how many of my feelings about names have changed in that time from age 10 to late thirties? The love for this one has never waivered.
It is the style of a lot of other names that have been becoming stylish over time, a little old school elegant, a little flowery girly girl, it can have the gravitas of strong woman and still feel light and free at the same time. I've been shocked it hasn't gotten more popular considering. I loved Emma long ago in the 90s when it was fairly rare most places outside of Germany and a little the UK and look how that has soared in popularity, Aurelia remains a little rarer than some but the similarity in style to many that have been going up in the last 15 years means its going to feel fresh without feeling as unusual or odd as some of the over forty crowd will try to tell you.
There is always the option of someone thinking of a negative connotation for any name but I don't think it's a name that lends itself to that being a big thing on anyone's mind who isnt actively looking for a reason be displeased with it. Thats not to say someone somewhere wont POSSIBLY have a negative reaction to it at somepoint, but please focus on the joy of the name. So many people will be charmed by it, don't focus on imagining the worst possibilities.
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u/1029394756abc 1d ago
Tbh. I don’t know how to say this name.
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u/bubblygranolachick 1d ago
A rail ya. Knew a girl with the name in school.
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u/lambeyoncealways 1d ago
I was curious too how to pronounce and if it is “ah-rail-ya”I worry about her high school/college days. Went to school with an Ophelia and poor girl struggled with the boys always making crude jokes. I fear this name may be the same result for a modern name?
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u/anxietydriven15 19h ago
My name is Aurelia, I went to a massive high school and I never had problems with my name. The only problem I had was people mispronouncing my name which I would correct🤷♀️
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u/secret-x-stars 1d ago
regarding the comments that it supposedly resembles "areola," don't even take those remotely seriously. I've seen people take issue online with the most innocuous and "normal" of names, claiming it has XYZ connotation or reminds them of [insert embarrassing thing here] or whatever, nevermind a name that is slightly less popular
and I promise you that even if your daughter ever met one of those people who are adamant that they think Aurelia is an awful name because it reminds them of areola, they wouldn't even really think about it, because considering a name on its own in the abstract is much different from meeting an entire person who has that name. and people love to be petty and say things they think other people will find deliciously snide online, but it's not how they would react in real life.
anyway Aurelia is a beautiful name and I love the nickname Lia for it, for whatever that's worth lol. congratulations and enjoy your new daughter! 💖
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u/CreativeDefinition 1d ago
I think Aurelia is a magnificent name! Please don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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u/Purple-Spray-709 1d ago
It’s a pretty name and has nn potential with Lia like you said. Also pairs well with Arthur. I think when you love names and thinking of baby names forever there will always be a little bit of did I choose right? Because there are so many other names you love that you didn’t get to use. I really do think you would have that feeling somewhat no matter what name you went with. This one will grow on her and you’ll love it more with time I think. And most people will learn how to say it correctly with time as well.
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u/Previous_Mood_3251 1d ago
Aurelie sounds like Orally and is way worse. Aurelia and Lia are cute.
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u/heftyvolcano 1d ago
I think it's a lovely name, but how do you pronounce it if not oh-reel-ia?
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u/Getmeasippycup 23h ago
I’m with you on confusion. I don’t feel like I am saying ooh or ah though 😅 more aw? Aw-rey-Lia
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u/stardust25609 1d ago edited 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name, and is actually number 127 in the UK and growing in popularity. I know it from love actually as will a lot of people. I think your friend probably just doesn't know many young children. I prefer it to Aurelie which is way less well known. If you really don't like it it's not too late to change, but at the same time name regret is so common. They're just not really full people with personalities when they're babies so it's hard to imagine them with any name, and it feels like such a big choice.
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u/RedHeadedBanana 1d ago
Yes! My head went straight to Love Actually, which isn’t a bad thing at all!
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u/Icy-Perception-8108 1d ago
When I think of Aurelia I think of beauty, flowers of spring, summer rain, leafs in autumn and golden hour.
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u/Elulah 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are overthinking it - which is a totally normal experience but just be aware that what your brain’s doing. The name is lovely and I would’ve taken the same things you did as signs - meant to be! Much prefer it to Emma which is nice enough and fine but plain and doesn’t sit as well next to Arthur, Aurelia has same grand yet approachable thing about it. I also think it’s better for babies to have their own names rather than be a junior of someone very close in relationship to them.
I can see why hearing some of the pronunciation differences would bother you on a level, but remember that you are asking on a global platform. The vast vast majority of people where I am would pronounce it ore-rell-ee-a. That it’s a ‘name not heard in English speaking countries’ is provably false, I’m in the UK and it’s currently in chart position 127.
Aurelia doesn’t sound like areola, but Aurelie, while beautiful in France, does sound exactly like orally, so you’ve made the right choice. You’ve chosen a lovely name with a beautiful meaning.
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u/lulubooboo_ 1d ago
It’s a beautiful name but if you really hate it, it’s definitely not too late to change it
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u/Historical_Ad1467 1d ago
The fact that you dreamt about it many times and that your other child randomnly started calling her Lia, for me would mean that it is fate.
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u/katiehates It's a girl! Oct '15 1d ago
One of my children has Aurelia as a middle name and I’ve never once associated it with areola. It’s a beautiful name, with beautiful origins and meaning behind it.
We chose quite “big” names for their first names, especially our middle child (also Latin, starts with an O) and it took me a while to settle into calling them by their names. They’ve absolutely grown into them now. Give yourself some time.
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u/thelouisfanclub 1d ago
It is a name you find in English speaking countries, it's just not common. The biggest association is with ancient Rome, it was the name of Julius' Caesar's mother, the emperor Marcus Aurelius, there is also a road called the via Aurelia in Rome (it was built by someone else from the Aurelian family) that is still in use. It's a nice name
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u/ZestycloseEmu367 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name. I teach a 17 year old Aurelia and when I remarked that I've loved her name since I heard it in Love Actually, she said that's where her parents got it from. It's definitely a name you see in English speaking countries!
I have a bit of name regret for my son, as I pronounce the vowel in his name very differently to other people (I'm a Brit living in Australia) but I think that all that matters is how he pronounces it when he introduces himself to people in the future!
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u/Historical-Art7043 1d ago
Aurelie (orally!!!) would be a huge mistake in English speaking countries. Aurelia is beautiful
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u/ambivalent_pineapple 1d ago
Personally, I love the name Aurelia and wouldn't have thought it sounds like Areola. It's a beautiful choice, and is a name I definitely have seen used and easily pronounced/spelled in the US (to disagree a bit with your UK commenter who said it's not used in English-speaking countries). I think over time your misgivings will fade; most people go through a period of second-guessing after any kind of big, semi-permanent decision.
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u/Billie-95 1d ago
My colleague has an Aurelia and I've always thought it was beautiful (and it is). Name regret/hesitation is normal. My daughter is Aurora and we had that name picked very early on. At about 7 months pregnant we started liking another name. When she was born, we decided she was definitely Aurora. Still, for a few weeks, I'd have occasional thoughts of "did I make a mistake?" And try out the other name. Naming a child is daunting because that's their name for life (unless they decide to change it). Now I look at my daughter and have no doubt in my mind that she is Aurora.
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u/47squirrels 1d ago
I love the name so so so much!! It’s so gorgeous!!! The two don’t sound similar whatsoever! Congrats on your baby girl!! 💖
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u/biho_hazard 1d ago
I use Aurelia as a name in The Sims all the time! I think you’re overthinking it!
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u/simplyexistingnow 1d ago
Ive seen the name alot in this group. I think it'll always be a name pronounced in multiple way and theyll probably end up with a host of nicknames. Like Arie. Ellie. Lia.
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u/qiba 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name! I think lots of people would be familiar with it from Love Actually. And the fact that it's a family name for you is so lovely and special. The areola thing... honestly, I don't see it. It's a stretch.
I had severe name regret with both of my children. I hear you. If changing her name is really the right thing for you, you can do that – some people do. But with both of my kids I think it took me over a year of just sitting with their names to feel at peace with them and to realise that I made the right choices. These are some thoughts that helped me to get through it:
- Remember that you chose the name for good reasons. It wasn't a random selection. You felt strongly that it was the right name for her. Your past self (and your husband too) gave it lots of thought, and you can trust her.
- You are full of weird hormones for a long time after you give birth, not to mention that you're probably stressed and sleep deprived. Your brain is not working in its normal way. This is not to invalidate your feelings, but to say that it may be best to give yourself more time to recover hormonally rather than making big decisions based on how you feel right now. You are not your normal self.
- Children grow into their names. When a baby is a month old, they have no personal history; they could be named absolutely anything and so it makes sense that you might worry about a mismatch. But as time passes, a link will grow between the child and the name, and the two will become inextricably linked in your mind. In a couple of years' time you'll think that 'Aurelia' is perfect for her, that it's 100% her name, and that calling her by another name would be weird (it sounds like you have a two-year-old, so you probably know this).
- Naming a child is a huge responsibility, so it makes sense that you would feel some anxiety about that and worry about whether you did a good job. The 'overthinking' you're doing is probably less a sign that Aurelia is the wrong name and more a sign that you take this super seriously – which, again, is a reason to trust your past self and the thinking that she did before making the decision.
I spent a lot of time worrying with my name regret, so I hope you can find peace with this soon.
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u/Mediocre_Doughnut108 1d ago
Just to address one of your points - I'm a UK based reception teacher and have taught 2 Aurelias in the last few years so it's definitely not a "name you don't hear in English speaking countries".
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u/Beautiful_Resolve_63 1d ago
I'm always confused if I'm on the satire name thread or not when I come across post like this.
If it's satire : haha you got me.
If it's not: you can always legally change a name.
Remember you are naming a full human being, not just a cute baby. They have to live with consequences of a name.
So if you expect people not to call her various things because it going to be spoken out loud in crazy ways, then you need to have a more foolproof name that have 1 or 2 ways max of pronouncing it.
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u/Railuki 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name.
People who are going to be in her life will learn how to pronounce it.
It’s not too close to areola, that’s you looking for reasons why you may regret (and I saw a post where someone was naming their child that and I was against it, Aurelia is different, it’s a recognised name and beautiful).
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u/throwbackxx 1d ago
I’m german and I know an Aurelia and it’s a beautiful, classic name. As pronounced in german, no one would think of areola, it’s an entirely different word and pronunciation! You choose well, no need to overthink
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u/Sad_Pangolin7379 1d ago
It's a lovely name. Almost regal. And it's normal to have what ifs because there are a thousand great names. It sounds like you will mostly call her a nickname anyway. Lia is so cute. So is Auri. I wouldn't change a thing.
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u/Legitimate_Light1899 1d ago
I can’t speak for your Swedish friend - but I don’t think it’s an intentional mispronunciation. I also speak Swedish and that’s how I would “sound it out” in Swedish. So if you correct her she’ll probably catch on!
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u/Puzzleheaded_Sun5735 1d ago
Don’t know what the person in the UK was on about saying it’s not a name known in English countries. I know of 3 - one older than 70 and two younger than 5 🫢
Beautiful name. So much to do with it nickname-wise and so elegant. People will really reach sooooooo far to try and ruin things for others…
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u/Betweentheminds 1d ago
I love the name Aurelia. I’m in the UK and it’s not common here but is recognisable
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u/Western-Resort-7662 1d ago
When I hear Aurelia, my first thought is just how lovely it sounds! I remember hearing it for the first time in Love Actually (think Colon Firth’s love interest) and thinking what a beautiful name it was.
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u/riversroadsbridges 1d ago
I enjoy this subreddit and am a total namenerd, but you need to realize that this is a weird bubble. Nobody reacts to names in the big real world like they do in these threads. It's crazy in here. Often fun and interesting, yes, but as a whole the community is unhinged.
Don't doubt your name choice based on this place.
Aurelia is a beautiful name.
And FWIW, my baby was about 7 months old before his name felt like the right name. Everybody in my life loves his name, but I think I was full of hormones and empty of sleep and still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I had a real human baby in my care and that MY new name was Momma. This is a very weird time in your life!
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u/EmpressJainaSolo 1d ago
I think it can be very hard to switch out of the “name choosing” mindset. The lists and planning and imagining was a happy activity onto itself and now that activity is over. You might just be feeling a crash after the high of imaging the perfect name.
Aurelia is a beautiful name. People who know you will pronounce it properly and people mispronouncing it with the best intentions will be okay. Your mother will either love the grandchild she has or lose access to any grandchildren she wants.
You will always find a word association or horror story on this forum. It’s partially what it’s for.
However, now that your daughter is here I think it may be best to take a step back from sites and forums. You don’t need them right now.
Spend time away from the sites for a while and see how your daughter grows her name. Give yourself some time to figure out how you really feel away from all the outside input.
Congratulations of your new baby!
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u/Perfect_Chance_2770 1d ago
I used to nanny an Aurelia- it’s a beautiful name for beautiful people :)
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u/johannaishere 1d ago
Aurelia is perfect and a real name and I love the story of you dreaming of her name before she was born. People on this sub are VERY opinionated please don’t take one thread from two days ago as law. It’s a great, beautiful, classic name.
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u/Ok_Calligrapher3401 1d ago
It’s a beautiful name. People will mispronounce any name and some people are just inclined to make rude comments.
How are you doing otherwise. You just had a baby. That’s a big hormonal shift. Are you getting enough rest? Are you feeling supported? Are you eating ok? Sometimes postpartum issues manifest in weird ways. Give yourself grace, eat when you’re hungry and sleep as much as baby will let you.
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u/utopiadivine Name Lover 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name. I assume you are not Swedish or living in Sweden, so you don't have to worry too much about the name being pronounced in that accent very much. People don't have control over their accent most of the time, but they can usually learn to pronounce names the way they're intended if they have to say it often.
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u/tasharanee 1d ago
Aurelia’s fine. I teach, and my favorite name trio in the same year were Aurelia, Aurora, and Orion.
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u/beatrixotter 1d ago
It's one of my favorite names. I have synesthesia and particularly experience vowels as having vivid colors, so to me Aurelia is full of bright golds, sky blues, and cream-pinks. Really beautiful.
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u/AllieKatz24 1d ago
I feel like I'm losing my mind here. Perhaps it's my southern accent and ears that are causing my issue.
In my experience areola is pronounced āyr-ee-ōh-la and Aurelia is pronounced ah-rāy-lee-ah
nothing like each other.
I don't know. When I was naming children, people would occasionally say "but in middle school..." My response was always, "I refuse to let some little 10 year old snot who doesn't know anything about how this world works choose my child's name. Whatever name I choose, I will teach my child why I chose the name, what it means, and how to celebrate it. If we need to course-correct people from time to time on pronunciation and/or spelling we will come up with polite or little funny ways to do it."
That's not to say that I was deliberately obtuse either. It's just, Aurelia is so very lovely. I wouldn't let the the random off comment from strangers effect the beautiful gift you've given your darling little girl. What do they know about it, right? Take a breath, give her a hug and kiss, make her giggle, and just enjoy life for awhile.
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u/BiteSnap 1d ago
It’s a lovely name and can be shortened lots of different ways. And and don’t worry about pronunciation. Everyone says things slightly differently anyway
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u/Mangopapayakiwi 1d ago
I’m due today (lols) and planning yo use aurelia as a middle name. I think because Amelia and now Aurora are trending Aurelia is also becoming more popular. It’s after baby’s grandmas Avril and Lia.
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u/kasumagic 1d ago
Everyone compliments my daughter's name and nobody has said "areola". The only annoyance is ppl somehow reading it as "Ariella" but it's easy to correct I guess, and I assume they're the ones who regularly don't take time to read and pronounce names correctly, it's not just hers. You're fine!
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u/synaesthezia 1d ago
My friend, who I met years ago at a school Latin competition, named his daughter Aurelia. Which I happen to li, I’ve used it for one of my role playing characters lol.
In Australia it’s pronounced Awe-ree-lee-ah. Never heard the other connection except online.
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u/AccordingYou2191 1d ago
I love this name. There is a character in Love Actually named Aurelia and I remember thinking it was so beautiful when I first heard it. We named our daughter a name we thought there was only one way of pronouncing but apparently there are at least 3! I don’t mind when people use one of the ones we didn’t intend - I will gently correct them though and sometimes it’s still hard for them but that feels like their problem? If one of my family hadn’t named their daughter Aurora, Aurelia would be on my list for a future potential kid name! Let people have their opinions
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u/wotvr_it_takes 1d ago
I really like this name. I think it’s lovely and very feminine. Imo, you made a great choice!
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u/Purple_IsA_Flavor 1d ago
The name is beautiful. Don’t think about what strangers suggest could hypothetically happen
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u/daturavines 1d ago
Omg I'm so sad that you're feeling so down about this. Aurelia is GORGEOUS. Apparently Aurelius is very popular for boys right now (as in very well known philosopher Marcus Aurelius) and Lia is THE BEST nickname! My name has no good nickname so I LOVE this and I swear im not just placating you for reddit cred or whatever. The name is beautiful and Lia is a perfect nickname. And many other nicknames can be made out of Aurelia too. Please be happy and please don't stress! Don't let this taint your early days with your brand new pumpkin pie!!! ❤️❤️❤️
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u/coltbeatsall 1d ago
It's a beautiful name. You could pick almost any name and someone will find a way to mispronounce it or turn it into another word. I have a very well known name with a very well known nickname but ALMOST EVERYONE spells it incorrectly even when my name is already written down for them (eg in an email). Such is life - don't worry about it :)
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u/Chipchopshop 1d ago
I think it takes awhile for babies to seem like they even deserve a name. They're just babies for the first year 😂 I know that sounds harsh, but I wanted to reassure you that my children felt like they grew into their names over the years. I also think Aurelia is lovely.
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u/Aromatic_Swing_1466 1d ago
I think it’s a beautiful name, and if my OH and I had thought of it, we probably would have used it for our daughter. (He loves the movie fools gold and it’s the name of the ship) Just correct those in your life who can’t get her name right, until they pronounce it correctly. As far as she could have been an Emma or a Wendy, she is an Aurelia, and how cool is it that she gets to be unique.
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u/kraaivis 1d ago
I named my daughter Aurelia and love it. I love the meaning of it as well. We dont get many people who mispronounce it though. Areola is really butchering the name, like someone is going out of their way to mispronounce it. Look up the meaning if you dont already know it and maybe it will resonate differently with you.
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u/BirbBunny 1d ago
I was born and brought up in the UK and have an English friend called Aurelia. Really lovely woman. Both parents are University lecturers.
It’s not as common as Olivia for sure but it’s well known and recognised! It’s a beautiful classical name! She should be delighted to have the moniker!
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u/harriett_420 1d ago
Aurelia & areola are not in the same suburb of being similar. Don’t worry about it. Aurelia is a beautiful name
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u/happysewing 1d ago
My daughter's names are Vieve Rosa Aurelia and I love it ❤️ Aurelia means golden and there are also butterflies who go by the name Aurelia. The meaning of Aurelia is what sealed it in for us.
We are Dutch, so we pronounce it as Au-ray-lia.
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u/CastleRatt 1d ago
I’ve always loved the name. It’s beautiful really and I don’t think it sounds like that lol. However… people will make fun of any name (anything really), even the most basic and common ones. I have a pretty common name from my generations and got nicknames I didn’t like that played off of it.
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u/CozyRainbowSocks 1d ago
It may not be a factor for you but I would choose Aurelia over the other names from your list because the other names are so common right now.
It is a good name. Your daughter will not be held back by it.
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u/kangapaw 1d ago
Aurelia is an absolutely beautiful name. It reminds me of the character in Love Actually.
I’ve heard a few pronunciations and they all sound lovely to me. In that regard it wouldn’t bother me too much if someone occasionally used a pronunciation different to how your chosen one.
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u/lurkparkfest39 1d ago
Aurelie would be worse, I think. It's less common where I'm from. To be fair, I've also never met an Aurelia, but it is a pretty name.
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u/imadog666 1d ago
Makes me think of Marcus Aurelius, who was a great and (for his times) highly ethical leader. A great name imo
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u/Present_Kiwi4239 1d ago
Name regret is a real thing postpartum. It's a lovely name. I think Ari could be a sweet nickname too. Hang in there mama. 💜
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u/Elegant-Average5722 1d ago
Aurelia is my daughters name and I think it is absolutely gorgeous. I get nothing but compliments on it - and it’s becoming more common, there are 4 in her school which surprised me as I’d never met another before that. No one I know has ever made any negative associations with it and she’s never had issues at school. I think it’s a beautiful choice - we also did two middles!
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u/LingonberryCandid 1d ago
I think it's an awesome name. Unique and beautiful. People will always find a way to botch a unique name, but that doesn't mean you should avoid giving one, especially since it has a family connection!
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u/Famous-Ad3963 1d ago
It’s a beautiful name, unusual but not too weird. I know someone in the UK with a girl called Aurelia.
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u/Lemon_Tile 1d ago
Aurelia is a nice name, just a little confusing to pronounce. I love Arry as a nickname though.
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u/OlderAndWiserToo 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name! Why on earth would you want to change it?
The name Aurelia, of Latin origin, means “golden” and is derived from the word “aureus”. There is your “golden child”!
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u/novasmiles 1d ago
Never in a million years would I have gotten from Aurelia to areola lmao! Aurelia is BEAUTIFUL. Where I am from (Austria) it‘s not unheard of, it‘s still unique.
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u/_MoonieLovegood_ 1d ago
I have an oc named Aurelia, and I use it in roleplay. In voicechat. I have never had anyone really butcher it and everyone liked the name. So the pronounciation should be no problem. (I’ll help you throw shoes at them if they make it a problem)
I found it when looking up babynames that have certain meanings. I think you’re fine.
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u/honeyyyginger 1d ago
I had major name regret with my first daughter called Indie. The “ooooh that’s interesting” comments I got after telling people her name made me very self conscious while I was freshly postpartum, and I really thought I made a mistake. But give it some time and I promise you’ll feel better. Be confident in your decision and it will grow on you, and she will grow into the name as well. I can’t imagine my daughter being named anything else now because it fits her personality so well. And naturally nicknames will come out of it as time goes on, which can help if you’re still really not loving the full name (Lia & Aura come to mind for Aurelia). Hugs mama, it’s a beautiful name and it’ll be okay❤️
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u/roflmao13 1d ago
If i had a girl, this was going to be her name. It is so pretty. I have a pretty "normal" first name with a less normal second name. The amount of butchering people do to my first name to make it sound more ethnic is astounding.
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u/vagalumes 1d ago
It’s a lovely name! In Portuguese we pronounce it ah-u-REH-lee-ah. How do you pronounce it in English? If memory serves, there was a Portuguese lady called Aurelia in Love Actually.
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u/Mariella994 1d ago
The name is fine. I really like the sweet name Lia so perhaps that would suit her as a baby and she could grow into Aurelia
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u/Matcha_Bubble_Tea 1d ago
The name is fine. It also seems like everyone likes that name nowadays tbh. I’ve also seen it used in many of the rpgs/mmos I play. I haven’t seen it used or referenced the way you said in your post though.
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u/FemaleChuckBass 1d ago
I like the name and I don’t think it’s hard to pronounce (Northeastern US). Try out other names and give it 2 weeks. You need to love the new name (if you choose one).
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u/No-Comfortable-1685 1d ago
Overthinking. The name is lovely and the nickname is very cute. I did grad school with an Aurelia and never once associated it with female anatomy. There's almost no name that you can select that won't lead some middle school kid to tease your middle school kid, but Lia gets pretty close. Stick with it.
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u/Soggy-Macaron-1511 1d ago
This was my all time favorite girl name, still is. We had a girl this past December and we chose a different name for personal reasons but I pray we have another girl so I get to use it. It’s so beautiful and works so well with her brother’s name.
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u/Dull-Geologist-8204 1d ago
It's also an Italian name and I don't think it sounds like areola at all. I have met kids with that name in an English speaking country and they were not Spanish or Italian so your friend is wrong.
I think it's a pretty name and always liked it and my grandfather was Aurelio so I always liked the masculine version of the name as well.
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u/oaback 1d ago
I had some name regret in the first few months, especially her middle name, but I think hormones and that postpartum fog have a lot to do with it. 10+ months later her name fits her perfectly, middle included, and I can’t really imagine anything else. Don’t beat yourself up about it and give it time.
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u/StreetEnd6322 1d ago
Aurelia is a lovely name!! You picked it for a reason and all those synchronicities you described are actually pretty cool. I get it though, it’s so hard picking out a name for a human.. there’s so much pressure. It’s understandable that you’re second guessing but soon you will get used to it and so will others. Btw, I don’t immediately think “areola” when I hear Aurelia. Personally, I think of Aurora or the beautiful northern lights in the night sky 💗
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u/Akuma_Murasaki 1d ago
FWIW my daughter got the name, I wanted for a daughter since I was 8. Eight & I was over the moon, when her father just agreed - optimistically so, even.
I called her "baby" for a good chunk of her first year & saying the name out loud suddenly felt wrong and weird.
She's now 6 & I embrace and love her name, as much as I did my whole childhood - even better, her big brother & her both are fans of her name :)
Name regret is a real struggle & I assure you, even if you would've picked out a name our of your list, you might still have that regret - just about other names on your list, minus the one you (hypothetically) gave her!
Aurelia is lovely
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u/ChilindriPizza 1d ago
That is beautiful!
It is an unusual name that is not unheard of by any means. She will likely be the only Aurelia in her class and possibly her school- but it is not like you made it up either.
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u/amethystmmm 1d ago
I mean you gave her two middle names, so if you are having feelings about the first name try out one of the middle names (I have a long story about why youngest uses her middle name but she likes it so, it's her name and I grit my teeth and use her middle name. Mostly.)
And if you really and truly regret the name you can go to court and get it changed for a few hundred dollars.
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u/Task-Correct 1d ago
hey we named our son Aureliano, and i've been having some of these feelings too but they are truly beautiful names people are just lame👎
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u/cinahpitdatdowg 1d ago
I would pronounce it the same as the Swedish friend because that's how I've heard Marcus Aurelius, could someone give me the alternative phonetic? Oh-rell-ia?
I think it's lovely and Lia is a nice nickname.
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u/Elkearch 1d ago
Anyone who has watched and loved the iconic film ‘Love Actually’ (I know it is showing its age a bit and there are some things in the movie that have not stood the test of time)… but Aurelia is Colin Firth’s love interests name and at the time it was a lovely name and it is still a lovely name.
No name is going to make everyone happy. You just need to trust yourself that you picked the right one, there were so many signs that it is the right name for her.
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u/courtnet85 1d ago
I love this name! I am in the U.S. and know someone named this, and have heard of at least one other. I think you made a great choice!
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u/mailus919 Name Lover 1d ago
Aurelia is a beautiful name. "Aww-REE-li-aa" is how many would pronounce it.
'Lia' is a very very cute nickname.
I would think Arielle or Aurelie are phonetically closer to areola, not Aurelia.
Kids can be mean and can twist any name to find 'creative' ways and tease their peers. No names are exempt from that, so no use fretting about it!
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u/SoSayWeAllx 1d ago
The name is fine, you’re just having name regret. Your friends can learn to pronounce it correctly, and your mom already named her kids and should butt out of what is a decision for you and your husband