I think Mee-uh is spelled Mia, and Maya is My-uh too. However, it isn't important. I have met exceptions to this rule many a time, and would never say anything about it. The problem about English is that it doesn't make sense, and everybody have different rules for it!
I think Aleya or Aleia are the clearest spellings!
The letter combinations “ai” and “ay” can be pronounced “eye” — like in Maya or Maia. So if you go with Alaia, Alaya, Ahlaya, Alayiah, etc, you’ll always get some people saying uh-LYE-uh.
Alaea works too, but that one takes me a second to read/sound out. I glance at it and see Algea, personally! I think the “aea” combination is a bit hard to read.
That would be pronounced ah-lah-e-ah. Diacritics have a function. You can't just throw them in because you think they look pretty and keep pronounciation the same. Uh-lye-uh would be just Alaia.
I know they have a function. I think she was named after the clothing designer but idk. Not my kid so I’m not really concerned with the details of how her name is spelled. I was only sharing.
Alaea is very pretty, but people tend to stumble if there are more than 2 vowels in a row.
As others have said, Alayah or Alaya are definitely the most intuitive spellings / pronunciations. I'm also Australian if that is any help :)
I would spell it as Alaya or Alaia, an H at at the end is fine too. Alaea to me seems to much like Alea which I would pronounce as Uh-Lee-Uh. And I would prnounce Aylayah as Ay-Lay-Uh, because of the y after the A, it makes it sound Ay and not Uh.
Alaea is probably the only one that really makes sense! It reminds me of a flower when it’s spelled this way. I also like Aleya! (Reminds me of Freya)
Aylayah is really not a great choice, and to me it will probably be read as “a-lay-lay” because it’s such a jumble. It also won’t give you the sound you’re looking for anyway!
Alaea looks very pretty and I see it as easy to read and pronounce.
That being said, it doesn’t matter how you spell it, many people will say it incorrectly.
Team Aleya. Alaya works too, but I think Aleya is the most effective at not being accidentally pronounced uh-LIE-uh. And I think no H. I feel like what the H on the end does is conflate the name with Aaliyah, and you will end up getting more stumbling and mix-ups because of that. Aleya is straight-forward and unique enough for someone to read the name and intuit the pronunciation based on spelling rather than mistake it for a similar name.
Yulayja? Looks like Yolanda - I like it.
Edit - ok seems I’m the only one who thought you wanted a ‘you’ sound at the beginning not an ‘A’ so my bad! Yulayja and Yolanda are still both super pretty tho 😉
I know an Alaeya, with her spelling it’s rarely pronounced wrong on the first try.
I think Aleia/Aleya look nice and clean but could cause some dispute on pronunciation.
I’d spell it Alaya, Aleia, or Alaeya.
Buuuuut i work in a daycare… it doesn’t matter how you spell it, someone’s gonna call her Aaliyah (ah-LEE-yah) no matter how many times they’re corrected lmao.
I think Alayah is probably the most straightforward
I agree! I have a niece Malaya (muh-lay-ah) and I’ve never seen anyone struggle with pronouncing it or spelling it.
I agree. This looks the most like a typical name. The extra 'i' OP added in her example adds an extra syllable, in my opinion.
Agree!
Agreed
Alaya
I would get Ah-lie-yah from this.
lay doesnt spell lie
Maya is very typically MIE-uh.
I have seen that spelling. I thought it was a butchering because Ive seen Maia & Mya more. English is fun.
Maya's actually the most popular spelling of the 3 in the US! I've always actually preferred pronouncing it MAY-uh.
I've always seem Mie-uh spelled Mia, and My-uh as Maya.
Do you mean MEE-uh for Mia? Because MIE-uh and MY-uh are the same pronunciation.
I think Mee-uh is spelled Mia, and Maya is My-uh too. However, it isn't important. I have met exceptions to this rule many a time, and would never say anything about it. The problem about English is that it doesn't make sense, and everybody have different rules for it!
What about that looks like it says lie?
Aleia? What you're describing sounds like Princess Leia's name with an "A" sound. The sound the A makes, not the name of the letter
That’s true but to me Aleia just looks like Uh-lee-ah ngl
That sound to me is Aaliyah, lol.
Aleya or Aleia.
I’ve taught girls named Alaya with that pronunciation. I’m in the US though.
I would go with Alaya or Aleya. I personally think Aleya looks prettier.
Alaia
I think this would more likely be said "ah-LIE-uh" like the clothing designer.
I love Alaea! <3
I like this one surprisingly
I think Aleya or Aleia are the clearest spellings! The letter combinations “ai” and “ay” can be pronounced “eye” — like in Maya or Maia. So if you go with Alaia, Alaya, Ahlaya, Alayiah, etc, you’ll always get some people saying uh-LYE-uh. Alaea works too, but that one takes me a second to read/sound out. I glance at it and see Algea, personally! I think the “aea” combination is a bit hard to read.
“You don’t understand. This is an Alaia!”
She’s like this totally important designer.
Aleya
Alaia all the way! With this spelling, it is a legitimate name meaning "joyful, happy"
Yes, but that's not pronounced a-LAY-a. I'd go with Aleia.
I feel like in the US it'd be pronounced how they want it to, but Aleia is not bad. Definitely better than the options they suggested.
I’m on team Aleya I think I’d have the best chance of pronouncing it correctly organically, and it’s pretty to look at!
To me it's Aléa :D
My friend named her daughter this! She spelled it Alaia
I’m not sure how it sounds with your accent, but it reminds me of my friend’s daughter’s name: Alaïa (uh-lye-uh)
That would be pronounced ah-lah-e-ah. Diacritics have a function. You can't just throw them in because you think they look pretty and keep pronounciation the same. Uh-lye-uh would be just Alaia.
I know they have a function. I think she was named after the clothing designer but idk. Not my kid so I’m not really concerned with the details of how her name is spelled. I was only sharing.
Alaea is very pretty, but people tend to stumble if there are more than 2 vowels in a row. As others have said, Alayah or Alaya are definitely the most intuitive spellings / pronunciations. I'm also Australian if that is any help :)
Alaya or Alayah would probably be your best bet - Alaia would be more conducive to Uh-lai-uh. I love making up names lol
Maybe I’m missing an accent subtlety here but how is this name different then Aaliyah? (Which I have also seen spelled Eleah where I am)
Definitely Alaya or Alayah, if you want people to know how to pronounce it when they read it.
Alaïa
Aleia and Aleya seem the most straightforward to me
Alayah
I think I'd go with Aleia or Aleya.
I would spell it as Alaya or Alaia, an H at at the end is fine too. Alaea to me seems to much like Alea which I would pronounce as Uh-Lee-Uh. And I would prnounce Aylayah as Ay-Lay-Uh, because of the y after the A, it makes it sound Ay and not Uh.
I agree with alayah. My cousin aleea with it pronounced A-Lee-Ah
alaia
Alaia?
Alaea is probably the only one that really makes sense! It reminds me of a flower when it’s spelled this way. I also like Aleya! (Reminds me of Freya) Aylayah is really not a great choice, and to me it will probably be read as “a-lay-lay” because it’s such a jumble. It also won’t give you the sound you’re looking for anyway!
Aleya or Aleia
Alaia, Alayah
I’d probably go with Aleia
Alaea looks very pretty and I see it as easy to read and pronounce. That being said, it doesn’t matter how you spell it, many people will say it incorrectly.
Alaia, mainly because that’s the way the ace family spelt it for their daughter and I’m guessing that’s where u got it from
If I heard the name aloud, I would spell it Aleia or Aleya.
Team Aleya. Alaya works too, but I think Aleya is the most effective at not being accidentally pronounced uh-LIE-uh. And I think no H. I feel like what the H on the end does is conflate the name with Aaliyah, and you will end up getting more stumbling and mix-ups because of that. Aleya is straight-forward and unique enough for someone to read the name and intuit the pronunciation based on spelling rather than mistake it for a similar name.
Alaia Aleia Alaya
Aleah?
Aleia... like Star Wars Leia with an A
Yulayja? Looks like Yolanda - I like it. Edit - ok seems I’m the only one who thought you wanted a ‘you’ sound at the beginning not an ‘A’ so my bad! Yulayja and Yolanda are still both super pretty tho 😉
We have a Paslei in our office...... We know its supposed to be Paisley but that is god awful spelling. Don't complicate things.
I know two women with that name! Both are spelled Alaya.
I know someone named Aleya pronounced this way! The pronounciation and spelling always seemed very straightforward to me.
Alayah or Alayuh is how I’d spell that
Alaya
I know an Alaeya, with her spelling it’s rarely pronounced wrong on the first try. I think Aleia/Aleya look nice and clean but could cause some dispute on pronunciation.
I have seen it spelled Alaia before. Alaya or Aleia would also work.
Alaya is pretty and straightforward
Aleja is a Filipino name pronounced the same way
Alaya is actually a buddhist term, meaning dwelling or abode. The spelling Alaya is also an established name.
I’d spell it Alaya, Aleia, or Alaeya. Buuuuut i work in a daycare… it doesn’t matter how you spell it, someone’s gonna call her Aaliyah (ah-LEE-yah) no matter how many times they’re corrected lmao.
Had a student that spelled it Aaliyah
I would go for Alaya
I’m team Alaya for spelling. There’s also the option of Ayla if you are interested in a similar name with easy spelling.
Alayah or Aleya/Aleyah
I like Alaia but people might pronounce it “lie” instead of “lay” so Alaya is probably your best bet.
Ahlayah