Arcadia is not name-y to me.
It reminds me of Arcades, the town of
Arcadia and someone saying "Our
Katie, eh?" in a Canadian accent. Just nms. It's not too bad, but the sounds are ingrained and associated with things to me, so I have trouble separating.
That said, it is pretty and I would love to meet one, but I would likely never be the one to suggest it, or be the one rooting you on to use it.
I give
Arcadia a 6/10 for usability since it's just a bit foreign to my tongue, and because it doesn't flow as smoothly as I prefer in names. It's above a neutral 5 though, since it is a pretty ballsy name and carries a lot of personality if it were used.
Cadia is a decent off-shoot though.
Ayla is becoming kinda trendy where I live. A friend (who named her daughter
Priya) debated that name for a long time, so I have grown to like it. I do know at least three people who have named their children this (all old friends, So I admittedly read their
BAs via facebook)... though I have yet to meet one in person.
The sound is simple, yet pretty. Cute without being overly frilly... and (bonus points here) a real, legit, name and not just a shortening of another name (
Willa, I am talking about you).
All in all, I would give
Ayla a 7/10, since it is pretty, not terribly common and both simple to spell and read, in many accents. It loses points because it is poised for a boom in popularity and because I think it doesn't sound as complete as similar names, such as
Anya.
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"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann FrankMama to my "bright star"
Clarisse Bituin and Wife to
Julius.
Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!