Is this a pretty girls' name or is it contrived and strange? I personally love it, but I'm pretty traditional with names, so I am wondering if it's odd!
I have very traditional tastes in names and I love Calla. Soft and feminine without being frilliana. It may never have been very common, but it does have a long tradition of use. It broke the top 1000 names 1880-1888 and again in 1890, 1894, 1895 & 1897. With the rise in botanticals like Lily I wouldn't be surprised to see it break the top 1000 again.
Ditto this. I would say I'm fairly to very traditional, and I think that Calla is a lovely botanical. It was on our list, but DH didn't love it. And then we met one in our neighborhood. One caveat--certain (dense) individuals seem insistent upon calling her Callie, even despite corrections by her and/or her parents. I think they finally got it straightened out, but it took awhile. So if that would bother you, it's something to watch out for.
Also agreed. The one Calla I know goes by Callie (she's late 20s)... but I think you could call her Calla if you wanted to and that everyone would follow suit. It's a beautiful name.
I like Calla. To me it has a similar vibe to Willa.
I agree with others though that you might get Callie as a nickname and I am not particularly fond of Callie. I think Calla doesn't need a nickname though so it could probably be avoided.
Calla lilies have some association with funerals, but I wouldn't let that stop you. My only concern is that she would get lost among all of the Kaylas, Callies, etc.
I like it too. Especially as Lily and variants have become so ubiquitous for little girls, Calla seems a bit more sophisticated and grown-up, while still sharing Lily's sweetness, simplicity, femininity and approachability. It hits a nice balance between friendliness and formality, gentleness and elegance. It's also easy to say and easy to spell. I can easily see it fitting in with more traditional sisters like Elizabeth, Charlotte, Juliet and Alice, but it could also pair with choices like Summer, Madelyn, Hazel, Lyra, Hailey or Aubree.
I agree that the sound is "of the moment" with Kaylee, Lila and other popular and rising names sharing a lot of the same elements; l's and the -a ending in particular seem to be some of the strongest contemporary markers of feminine names. As a recognizable but not widely used nature name, and one that stands out from the crowd just a little but not too much, Calla seems to hit a sweet spot that should appeal to a lot of modern parents. That's not to say I think people will start using it in droves, but if you go for it, I expect you'll get a lot of compliments.
It would also make a nice nickname for Caroline/Carolyn.
I gave birth to my first baby, a girl named Calla Megan on 24 May. I browsed 1000s of names and as soon as i saw Calla, i was set on it. When she was born she was beautiful, just as the name also means "the most beautiful" . its rare in this day to find a name thats unusual and unique, without being strange, that hasnt been overused. I love it, its beautiful.
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I like it.
In fact, when I was first exposed to the name Kayla as a kid, I thought they wanted to refer to Calla lilies.
I don't have particularly traditional taste in names and I love it. It's simple, sweet, and soft, but not juvenile.
Thanks! It is soft and simple - that is what I like about it. Also feminine.
I have very traditional tastes in names and I love Calla. Soft and feminine without being frilliana. It may never have been very common, but it does have a long tradition of use. It broke the top 1000 names 1880-1888 and again in 1890, 1894, 1895 & 1897. With the rise in botanticals like Lily I wouldn't be surprised to see it break the top 1000 again.
Ditto this. I would say I'm fairly to very traditional, and I think that Calla is a lovely botanical. It was on our list, but DH didn't love it. And then we met one in our neighborhood. One caveat--certain (dense) individuals seem insistent upon calling her Callie, even despite corrections by her and/or her parents. I think they finally got it straightened out, but it took awhile. So if that would bother you, it's something to watch out for.
Good caveat. Thanks!
Also agreed. The one Calla I know goes by Callie (she's late 20s)... but I think you could call her Calla if you wanted to and that everyone would follow suit. It's a beautiful name.
I agree - I'm usually very traditional, but I like Calla.
I like it very much.
I am Not a fan of the nn Callie, which has always sounded clangy to my ear, which is probably my one hesitancy about Calla.
As others have said, it's a lovely, sophisticated name, and it instantly calls to mind the elegance of the flower for me.
I like both Calla and Callie. Calla is not odd at all.
Ditto what everyone has said! It's so great to find a name that's simple, pretty, classic-sounding and yet still underused.
I like Calla. To me it has a similar vibe to Willa.
I agree with others though that you might get Callie as a nickname and I am not particularly fond of Callie. I think Calla doesn't need a nickname though so it could probably be avoided.
I think it's great. I had a friend in college with this name and it wore very, very well.
Calla lilies have some association with funerals, but I wouldn't let that stop you. My only concern is that she would get lost among all of the Kaylas, Callies, etc.
I worked at a florist, and we used callas much more for weddings. I don't see it as a funeral flower at all. Gladiolas, on the other hand...
There's definitely a cultural component. I'm half-Mexican, and my first impression of Calla lilies comes from Diego Rivera's Flower Seller.
But still, definitely don't let that stop you from using the name. We don't really speak the language of flowers anymore.
I like it too. Especially as Lily and variants have become so ubiquitous for little girls, Calla seems a bit more sophisticated and grown-up, while still sharing Lily's sweetness, simplicity, femininity and approachability. It hits a nice balance between friendliness and formality, gentleness and elegance. It's also easy to say and easy to spell. I can easily see it fitting in with more traditional sisters like Elizabeth, Charlotte, Juliet and Alice, but it could also pair with choices like Summer, Madelyn, Hazel, Lyra, Hailey or Aubree.
I agree that the sound is "of the moment" with Kaylee, Lila and other popular and rising names sharing a lot of the same elements; l's and the -a ending in particular seem to be some of the strongest contemporary markers of feminine names. As a recognizable but not widely used nature name, and one that stands out from the crowd just a little but not too much, Calla seems to hit a sweet spot that should appeal to a lot of modern parents. That's not to say I think people will start using it in droves, but if you go for it, I expect you'll get a lot of compliments.
It would also make a nice nickname for Caroline/Carolyn.
I gave birth to my first baby, a girl named Calla Megan on 24 May. I browsed 1000s of names and as soon as i saw Calla, i was set on it. When she was born she was beautiful, just as the name also means "the most beautiful" . its rare in this day to find a name thats unusual and unique, without being strange, that hasnt been overused. I love it, its beautiful.
Congratulations, and welcome, Calla!