Emilia.

I vote for Emilia.

Both names are beautiful, she can’t go wrong with either. Has she considered using one as a middle name? Emilia Evelynn sounds pretty too.

My future DIL's name is Amelia and her nickname is Lia. I like what Kool Beans has suggested by using both names.

I went through grades K-12 with an Evelynn and she was teased early on by kids calling her "evil lynn". That stuck all through her school years. She was the nicest person and I felt so bad for her. In college she changed it to Lynn.

If she names her daughter Evelyn, ,most people will pronounce it Eh vlynn . So she might want to consider that pronunciation rather than driving your daughter crazy having to correct people her entire life. I have only known one Evie and like both the one I know and the name. If she's really sure about the name, she shouldn't care what anyone else thinks.

Lindsey, as a teenager, my DD first heard of the company 'Crabtree and Evelyn' with the name pronounced 'EVE'lyn rather than Ev-a-lyn, and has liked it ever since! She really likes it as one name, instead of just Eve, and Lynn as a middle name, so she'll have to decide how to write it.

For 'Emilia' DD just prefers the alternate spelling of 'Amelia' as she thinks Emilia fits better, since she'd call her Emmy, for short. But I'm not sure if you were meaning that people might pronounce 'Emilia' with a hard E, rhyming with 'C?' If so, I don't think DD will worry about that. There's a very popular actress from Game of Thrones, named Emilia Clarke, and both herself and everyone who interviews her, just say it like 'Amelia' (or 'Uh-meal-ya) phonetically. mentioned.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsSPgs-v7gI

Either way, my granddaughter will probably have to clarify at least the spelling of her name. Hopefully she'll be as easy going about it as her grandmother and mother, and not consider it a nuisance. I don't even bother clarifying my given name spelling, unless someone is entering my name on something important (gov't/legal/medical stuff) or engraving something for me, lol!

Emilia. I have a grand named Amelia and we call her Milia. What ever she picks will be the right one! Lynn is the male spelling of the name. My sister is Lynn and she wishes it was the female spelling Lynne.

I agree it's better to just name the nicknames if that's what she wants, as nicknames often can't be planned.

My mom ended up with 3 different nicknames and not a single one was the one planned by my grandparents. :)

Of the two, I like Emilia, though I prefer Emelia spelling. Every single person that sees Evelynn is going to say Evelyn. It's a very trendy name right now.

When we were growing up, there were 4 of us who were very close, and we still are. Back then we gave each other nicknames...now that we're older, we find we all hated our nicknames. Go figure.

Give her a name that sounds like it looks/looks like it sounds/is the 'preferred pronunciation' (as they say in the dictionary) in the language where you live -- presumably English in this case.

Don't give her a name that you won't use. Do not give her a first name, then only use her middle name. (This is my fate in my old age: Learning to answer to my first name because it is my *legal* name.)

Just an aside, my husbands formal name is Charles Anthony but his parents always called him Tony and that’s what he goes by. It creates no end of problems with legal documents and such. We both hate it. When I had my son, my husbands Dad wanted him to be named John as that was the family tradition the first so. Of the first son was always called John. I didn’t like it and refused to use it as a first name and call him by his middle name for the same reason. So we did use it, but only as a middle name.

Whatever you do pick a legal name, tell the child the name and stick to it. In doing documents after my husband passed I found he had one name at birth with a diminutive on the birth certificate. They used the intended full first name and his birth middle name the parents had intended to correct on the birth certificate but never corrected when his father took them overseas being in the military.

He thought his middle name was spelled the same way the rest of the family spelled theirs. Except the person who filled out the birth certificate filled it out with another spelling. He enlisted in the service under the wrong middle name. We were married under the wrong middle name.

So far it has all worked out but it would have been so much easier if the names on important documents would have been the same. I am waiting for my pension to be changed only been told they are checking on something. It is laughable but luckily I am not the first person to have this difficulty.

There is nothing 'misspelled' about the woman's name Emilia, it is the Italian spelling. Man = Emil, Woman = Emilia.

I love Evelyn, it was the girl name I picked out for DS2. It was between Evelyn or Eleanor.

Stick with the correct spelling of either. To do otherwise, makes one appear quite uneducated and ignorant. And it's a lifetime burden for the child. If she truly wants to call a daughter "Emmy", then name her Emily.

Yes, in the US, Evelynn is typically pronounced Ev-i-lynn. In the UK, it is pronounced Eve-lynn. A friend's sister name her daughter this and she must constantly correct people who use the US pronunciation as it was a family name and it used the UK pronunciation. But to further complicate things, they have always called her ""evie", not "EVEie". Life is hard...don't take it harder.

When I taught preschool we had an "Emmy," a nickname for Emerson.

I like Harlow or Harper for a girl’s name.

Kool Beans, DD was considering using both names, but preferred the sound of Evelynn Emilia. But on the chance they add one more child to their family, and it's also a girl, she wants to save the name she doesn't pick.

matti, you mentioned a schoolmate of yours, always being called 'evil lynn.' DD actually has thought about that, but doesn't know how likely that might occur. I guess you either get lucky with kids at school, or you don't. Not everyone can let things roll off them, so it has to be considered.

rita, thank you, but there is nothing to forgive. I mentioned that you were reading too much into things, as you questioned if DD might be incapable of making basic decisions, when she really was just curious about whether most here would find one name to be a landslide winner, or find it hard to pick a preference, like her. But certainly an opinion never needs to be apologized for, unless it was unwanted, which wasn't the case here, so no worries.

Thank you ALL for sharing your opinions, and I'll update you when DD makes her choice!

Anglophillia, my late mother-in-law was from Ireland and her name was Evelyn (eve Lyn) but she always went by Lyn when she came to Canada.

For heaven's sake, make life easy for that poor child.. Evelyn is not only terribly old fashioned and will "date" her to a bygone era, but was a very popular British man's name once upon a time.. I definitely prefer Emilia but since it would be pronounced as Amelia, why not spell with an "A"?. Someone is bound to butcher that name too changing Emilia to Emile (a man's name). I am a Leslie (female) and have constantly battled for 67 years with misspellings and mispronunciations and having to let people know that I am not a man!!. Please be kind to the child so that she does not come resent her mother's name choice.. Amelia is such a feminine and pretty sounding name.. Let it stand on its own; no nick names are needed.

For 2019 Evelyn ranks number 12. Just sayin'.

There is a little girl in my daughter's kindergarten class that's name is Evelyn and she is called Evie. But when her full name is used, it is pronounced Evelyn, not EVElyn.

For my vote, I would go with Emilia.

What about a mash-up of both names; EmmaLynn

It gives her lots of options for nik names. It's unique, but not confusing to pronounce or spell. Just my two cents worth.

A few comments about naming. I'd stay away from odd spellings. As someone posted above, she has spent a lifetime correcting people about how to spell her name. That gets old fast. I recommend choosing a first and middle name that is easy to say together. If the first name has 2 syllables, then use a single syllable for the 2nd name, as in Charlie Horse. My 2nd grade teacher was one of the nicest teachers I ever had; Her name was Evelyn.

You could use the naming conventions in use a hundred years ago when people named their babies after members of their family. There was a set of rules for that, but I don't think that is followed any more. My daughter wanted an Irish-Scotch sounding name for her daughter, and incorporated a variant of her great-grandmother's name (Rosa) for her middle name. Her daughter became Kaitlynn Rose. Everyone calls her Katy.

Whatever you choose, please use one that is easily spoken.

I vote for Emilie. Do not like Eve Lynn.

When she decides I hope she keeps it to herself until it is on the birth certificate. My mother made the mistake of telling all the relatives her first girl would be "Linda". She changed her mind so my entire life I was called by my sister's name. I agree on spelling. Getting cutesy just causes a lifetime of issues over it. First years teaching and newer teacher came along. Put all her students names on a class window to welcome them. Over a drink after work she asked 'how would you spell Michael'? In unison we all said MIKEL. We had been dealing with the young man for a few years already.

There's nothing 'wrong' with either name, but do not expect people to see Emelia and say Amelia. Do not write Evelyn and expect to hear 'EveLynn' unless you're in the UK -- and then people will wonder why a girl was given a man's name, one that hasn't been popular in decades.

If it were my child I'd name her June and call her my Juneybug.

I am so glad to see Evelyn making a comeback ! It was my mother's name and my middle name!

The problem with oddly spelled names is that everyone gets them wrong. Do you want her to have to correct everyone who reads her name? Potential bosses, teachers, business and law personnel, Then she will have to tell Everyone how to spell her name correctly too! I’m on the side of just calling her Emmy or Emily or Emerson or Emery.

Just wanted to add that I read DD your responses, which she appreciates!

DD noticed that the spelling of the names, seemed to take the focus away from simply which name sounded nicer, to some extent. She isn't worried about her daughter having issues with a slightly alternate spelling at all, which I neglected to clarify. (Being raised in the largest, most ethnically diverse city in our country) many of DD's friends and classmates had names unfamiliar to her, and she would often have to ask, 'How do you pronounce/spell your name?'

Likewise, that question is common to those of us with 'English' names, as the person asking, is often new to our language and might not know how to pronounce or spell 'John Smith.' As well, many of our children work for international companies, and communicate with a much more diverse demographic, than we did. So DD feels her generation is much more accustomed to, (and less bothered by) having to pronounce or spell their name for people.

Thus I realize I should have simply asked "Which name do you like the sound of better?" (spelling them Eve Lynn and Amelia) so that no responses would give any consideration to an alternate spelling. Oops, lol. But I still believe Emilia (it's prononounced the same as 'Amelia') had the edge. Thanks again, I'll update once we know my granddaughter's name!

I clearly remember getting in trouble in 2nd grade for arguing with a substitute teacher over what my name was. It wasn't an alternate spelling, it was just a not common, French name that with 2 letters transposed turned into a much more common, but very out of fashion (still is) name with negative connotations for a child in the 1960s. She insisted that my name had to be what she thought she was reading on the attendance roll.

I still deal with people who misread the name to this day, and have had to correct legal records many times.

No, Emilia is not pronounced the same as Amelia. Hint: That's why they are spelled differently.

Just because others embrace peculiar name spellings is not a good reason to subscribe to the idea.

There's also the 'pairing' clue that readers use in deciphering given names. Emilia sounds Latin to me (Italian, in one reply here), and I'd reach that conclusion if it were paired with a Latin surname.

I agree Chisue. Since the expectant mom is used to and okay with mispronunciations, what will wind up happening is that all friends and relative will know to call Emilia with the A sound. But, those encountering it for the first time will certainly say it as spelled.

The OP wrote, "DD feels her generation is much more accustomed to, (and less bothered by) having to pronounce or spell their name for people." And Eld6161 added, "...the expectant mom is used to and okay with mispronunciations..."

It's been established that the expectant mother is totally okay with folks outside their immediate circle of relatives and friends mispronouncing her child's name. But has the expectant mother given much, if any, consideration to how the child might feel about it? By the time this girl is in middle school or high school, she may well be quite tired of having to correct people.

If the OP is so fond of calling her daughter Emmy, why doesn't she name her Emmelyn (alternative spelling could be Emelyn)?

Editing to add that if she names daughter #1 Emmelyn (or Emelyn), she could name daughter #2 EveLynn and she'd have the "lyn/Lynn" sibling similarity as well as the names both starting with "E."

chisue, you are correct that Emilia should be pronounced differently than Amelia. But the (2) 'Emilias' we know of, both just pronounce their name more like 'Uh melia' as do my neighbour and my cousin, both of whom are 'Amelias.' I guess it's just from not taking the time to enunciate properly, similar to how we tend to say 'Uh'merica rather than 'A'merica.

However, if DD uses the name Emilia, and someone actually pronounces it phonetically correct, with an EM sound, even better, as she likes Emmy as a short name!

My 2 cents, I prefer EveLynn. Mostly because Emilia/Amelia seems to be very popular/common right now. I've heard the name often in the past 2-3 years.

Not as bad as Kathy in the 60s lol. I had 5 other Kathy's besides me in my 7th grade math class!

Best of luck to your daughter for a quick and uneventful delivery.

I love the name Nora.

Here's something for the mother-to-be to consider: https://www.southernthing.com/what-if-bad-monograms-had-support-groups-2588414736.html

I fear that the child will be teased with the nick name "Evil Lynn" in school. So I opt for Emilia.

My own first name is simple, but no one EVER gets my 5 letter last name right.

Work managers talked with me using my first name, but whenever I got introduced to higher honchos, it was always wrong. And of course I'm not going to correct said manager in the presence of those honchos.

(The only manager who ever remambered to get it right came from India, and even with her thick accent, she got it right.)

Reminds me of a friend who named his daughter Emmaleigh. It's pronounced Emily.

That invokes my eye roll complex.

Raye Smith, you have a valid point there, with initials. My father had a childhood friend, Arnold Samuel Something (not the real family name, but you get it.) Who could do that to a baby?

I'm not even Irish, but I'd immediately pronounce "Emmaleigh" as Emily...

My real name is Ausiliatrice, I go by Ausilia. If anyone ever finds a keychain, magnet, coffee mug with my name on it, let me know. All my life, I have to hear, how do you pronounce your name, how do you spell your name? Born in Canada I always told my parents they should have given me a regular name, but I'm the one and only in North America with this name including my last name.

Ausilia, I can't help you with the key chain. I'd never seen your name, but in looking it up I see it means 'she who protects and helps'. that's lovely.

In Mexico, I did once buy a key chain with a Spanish version of my less common combination name, think Mari-something. One never knows.

Liira - my SIL never found a coffee mug with her name on it either - and her name wasn't exceptionally unusual, it was just spelled differently than the more common spelling. One year for Christmas I went online and ordered a custom coffee mug, keychain and T-shirt for her. There are lots of places that will do it - I think I used Instaprint. You deserve one just for you!

My DS and DDIL in law are expecting their first child this month and one of the names they've mentioned isn't very common. So I may end up ordering something for them too.

maire cate, can I ask what the name is they mentioned?

At least if my granddaughter is named Emilia, I've seen it on keychains, etc., so that spelling must be becoming more common...(maybe because it's the spelling of the name of the starring actress in Game of Thrones.)

katlan - I know I'm being a little silly about this but I'd rather wait until the baby arrives before mentioning any names. They've been through 5 years of tying to get pregnant with multiple fertility treatments and failed IUI's and finally one of the IVF's succeeded and even after that she's had a somewhat complicated pregnancy. I'm not ordering anything personalized until it's official - plus you never know if they might change their minds after the baby arrives.

And just to make it more exciting my son just had surgery 3 days ago to repair a torn and twisted labrum (the cartilage around the shoulder socket) so he's wearing a shoulder brace with his arm wrapped across his chest for 2 weeks and her due date is the 29th. DH and I are 'on call' to drive them to the hospital when the time comes

You say you didn't mind constantly correcting your name growing up. No big deal. My first name is fairly common but I had to constantly correct the spelling and how to say it. A lot of people wanted to put an 'a' instead of an 'e' at the end which totally changed the pronouncation.

I hated having to correct them, especially teachers. I was a shy and introverted child and didn't like drawing attention to myself. But my name was my name and I wanted to be called the correct way. I had a teacher that refused to do so, a mean spirited old woman that sent me to the principal's office for arguing with her. Things are a lot more PC today and that would most likely not happen, but it can be a big deal. With my last name now, it contains double z's, I chose an easy traditional name for my son. No problem pronouncing or spelling it.

Whatever name she chooses I wish her a healthy happy baby and easy birth. (I didn't choose my son's name until I was in the delivery room.) Good luck.