So many people ask me about the girls’ names. How did we choose them? Why those names? What do they mean? So I thought I’d shed some light on the topic.
To start with, Seyfi and I had a deal, I would choose the names, but the need to be modern Turkish names. For Seyfi, it was important that we didn’t have older names that were out of fashion, or religious names.
For me, I wanted a name that sound good in English. It could be a bit different, or spelt differently, but it had to be easy for my family to pronounce. I also didn’t want a name that had any of the funny Turkish letters in it.
Together, we both decided that we didn’t want a middle name. In Turkey, often the middle name is the name that gets used, and that is the opposite in Canada, so we figured forget it, one name is more than enough.
As a teacher of young kids, it was easy to be exposed to lots of different names, some of the names I liked, but always seemed to have a crazy kid attached to them, or some names seemed to generally have a nice kid, or an interesting kid.
Alara was easy to find. I’ve taught a number of Alaras, and they have all been lovely, good girls and the name is easy to pronounce.
As for the meaning, this is where it gets more difficult. I asked two of my students named Alara what it means, and these are the answers I was given.
1- the water that angels wash with.
2- the colour of the rising sun.
Beautiful, just like her.
Ela, it wasn’t originally my first choice for my second daughter. I has originally wanted Lila (pronounced Leela), but I felt that the pronunciation was going to be a problem, we went to Ela, which Seyfi liked more anyway.
Ela means the colour hazel, as in the eye colour. Alara’s eyes are a hazelly green colour, so we thought that maybe Ela’s eyes would be the same, but as of right now she has got the biggest blue eyes, whoops!
It’s still a beautiful name, just like her.
Since we aren’t planning on having any more children I will let you in on what our boy name would have been, Kaan.
It is a very popular boys name, and I will say that although I have taught a lot of boys with this name, they were generally very interesting boys.
It is a very Turkish sounding name, but it is really one of the only boys names that I like.
So, that’s how our two beautiful girls, got their beautiful names. I love when people ask me questions like this!
A Family's Life 
I love how you chose your girls’ names. I feel your pain on choosing names, I’m the American married to a Romanian and living in France. I’m amazed our children have names at all. 🙂
I know! It can be so hard finding a balance!
I know! It can be so hard finding a balance!