Message: "Ala" - Behind the Name

Ala

by mirfak

4/22/2016, 2:47 PM

This was the name of a female character in Neal Stephenson's book Anathem.
I know it's listed in the database as a male Arabic name.
I know it's a lot like Allah, but I think that's ah-LAH? I'd pronounce Ala as AL-ah, Al- like in Albert, not AH-la. I guess I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds feminine - a handful more girls are named it in the US lately than boys.
Also Latin for wing. Meanings in various other languages: section or area, to produce or nourish, to be born, flag, way, awl, snake, cave, over or on, dragon, everything, multicolored, trout.

WDYT? WWYT of an American girl named Ala?

- mirfak

#Ala

This message was edited 4/22/2016, 2:48 PM

Replies

- Tassiegirl

4/23/2016, 12:27 PM

I know a woman named Ala, pronounced Ah-la;she is originally from Romania.

- Laslow (Buneary)

4/23/2016, 5:05 AM

It sounds like a nickname. I don't even like Alla.

- vigdis

4/23/2016, 12:38 AM

I can't shake the connection

- Ottilie

4/22/2016, 3:41 PM

Yeah, Allah is ah-LAH, so I don't think Ala is too similar or anything. I would personally be very hesitant, however, to use a masculine Arabic name on a girl, but I imagine a lot of people wouldn't have the same hesitation, either out of ignorance or disregard. Or maybe some of the parents who use it on girls speak Arabic and just decided to go with it anyway, I'm not sure. I'd much rather see Hala, which is similar enough, with a beautiful meaning.

I'm looking at Anathem on Goodreads now. It seems interesting. Ala on a girl is definitely very sci fi.

- noel (glaucous)

4/22/2016, 3:09 PM

It does remind me a lot of Allah, even pronounced as AL-ah. It also vaguely makes me think of "a la mode".

I think it's okay as a NN, maybe for Alana, but I don't like it as a full name.

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