We have been considering the names "Cira" "Ciralee" or "Ciralyn" for our coming baby girl, but wonder how others would pronounce it at first sight? Thanks!
Wow! That didnt take long to get responses. For the majority of you that was what I was assuming the pronunciation would be. We were actually hoping for "Keera-lee " Mostly because there is reasoning and meaning behind it... My husbands name is "Aric" pronounced like the traditional "Eric." "Cira" is "Aric" spelled backwards. We like for our childrens names to have meaning but have struggled coming up with names this time. To complicate things my husbands brother stole the name "Cira" but they spelled it "Kyra" with their baby so I was trying to find a variation we could use but still have her named after her Daddy. =) I really dont want to have a too complicated name that she will have to correct everyone on for the rest of her life. I appreciate all of your responses! Thanks!
In English, if a C is followed by an E or an I, it takes on the soft sound of an S. So, I read it sort of like Sara Lee, with with a more "e" sound instead of the first a. But, it did connote Sarah Lee at any rate. If you want a K sound, followed by the i, you will need to use the K. Pretty names though!
kinda like sarah with more of an "i" sound... If you want it to have the K sound then I think you should go with the K to start because it will confuse her in the long run when she is learning how to read and write!!
Cira to me is Seerah. However my very Irish girlfriend named her daughter Kyra but spelled is Ciara (which everyone pronounce Cee-ah-rah), and she just corrects them , her daughter is 20 yrs old now, so 20 yrs of corrections. I know you didn't ask but since you want to use hubby's name how about mixing the letters up and naming her Rica,(pronounced Reeka), just a thought. Good luck.
I saw Sara Lee....How do you pronounce it?
Almost like SaraLee?
I would pronounce it Sear-ah-lee. Kira is an Irish name and is pronounced cure-a. Is that more what you were thinking.
I believe that you should do your daughter a favor and give her a name that isn't too trendy and that people know how to pronounce. Honestly, and I know this isn't fair, but when I see resumes of people with very trendy (at the time) or unpronouncable names, it makes me not want to deal with the hassles of trying to figure it out. Just being honest here. People don't do their kids any favors professionally by giving them odd names.
I 1st read it as Sara-Lee like the pies :)
I never learned this per se, just got the hang of it when I learned to read, but now that I'm teaching my kids to read, I know that an "i" after a "c" makes it a soft c, or "sssssss." So yeah, I think everyone will think it's See-ruh, See-ruh-lee (which is almost like Sarah Lee), and See-ruh-lin.
I think you'll have to go with a K to get the hard C sound. I guess since your husband's name isn't spelled the traditional way, would changing just one letter make that much of a difference? I mean, his parents could have changed two letters instead of one and still phonetically ended up with Arik, right?
My 1st thought when I read "Ciralee" .. was Sarah Lee the bread company. lol sorry!
First glance- I see Sara Lee. Then maybe Sira Lee
Seer-a-lee or sir-a-lee.
It looks cool, but I'd be worried about people calling her 'surly' (as in bad tempered).
It's an interesting name but I wonder if it sounds too much like Sarah Lee? The "c" in front of the "i" definitely directs the pronunciation into and "s" sound.
congratulations on your new addition!
See-rah is how I would pronounce it.
EDIT: Looking at your "What Happened," I see that is not what you intended. Still, that's what I would say.
why not Arica? Not quite so complicated.
I'd pronounce the Cir like in circle and circus. Honest opinion, it didn't look pretty when I read it. Struck me as impersonal.
The fact that you had to ask might make you reconsider. I just know what it's like to go through life having your name constantly mispronounced. Hated it as a kid. As an adult, I like that my name is different even though it is still regularly pronounced incorrectly.
With a soft C....like the word serially.
Not sure. The Irish name Ciara is pronounced KEER ah. Maybe that's what you are going for?
Sir-a-lee? When I see "Cir" I think of how circle sounds...and circle is not pronounced Sare-cal....just my tow cents, I do not think that was what you were going for, but people pretty much name kids all kinds of things with all different spellings with no heed to pronunciation, but if you are ok with correcting everyone who goes to pronounce it...
My first thought would be "See-rah-lee." But I'd hesitate before trying to say it at all. And she might be called "Cereal" by playmates.
You might think about going with "Cira." It's a little easier for teachers and neighbors, and it will "grow up" with her. When she's a CEO, "Ciralee" might not seem sophisticated enough. (Isn't that weird to think about? The girl isn't even born yet!)
If seen without it being heard, I would have said, Sir-a-lee or Sigh-ra-lee. If you go with this name, this is a real concern. My name is always being said wrong and at different times in my life, it has been a real annoyance.
probably See-rah-lee ... if I had to guess just looking at it.
seeraleee---i think it would confuse people-- you are wanting people to pronounce it like a k sound? I didnt think that at first glance. JFYI Hope this helps.
M
"Seera Lee" or Sara lee
Ciralyn = Carol in
Cira = sera
At first sight, I said Ceer-a-lee.
I have to say...I love that name!!! We are planning another one and have the hardest time with girl's names! I might have to put that on our list! Love it!
I have a friend that named her little girl Ciddalee. So I would pronounce it the same way, except with an "R",;
I also would have pronounced it with an S sound like Sara. That being said, anymore, you can name and spell your child any way you like it:)
A couple people have mentioned using a K, but if it has special meaning (like you said) I'd stick with the C. My name is Kara and I've had to go throughout my life saying "Kara with a K" so that I don't get Cara, Tara, Sara, etc. Has it been a huge deal? Not really.
And if you guys are planning on living in the same area for most of her life, the people around you will get used to how to pronounce it and pretty soon, it will only be correcting those who haven't heard it before:)
See-Ra-Lee is how it looks to me
How about Rica? Same letters, just rearranged, instead of backward... interesting, and still feminine, since it ends with an "a." Just an idea.
Ok, just read your responses... I guess Anna L. B. and I have the same idea... sorry, I didn't see her idea before I posted this!!
I would pronounce it "Sih-ra-lee" (short i in the first syllable) if I saw it written.
Sir-a-lee or Seer-a-lee
I think Cyralyn looks and sounds more feminine and I would pronounce with a soft 'c' as in circle.
Ciralee looks like the name of a beetle or insect. Of which Darwin I'm sure would approve. Also pronounced with a soft 'c'.
But now that you explain the connection to your husbands name, I rather like it and you'll just have to go through life saying 'spelled with just a C.'
I would pronouce each of them sounding like the begin with an S.
Cira - Seera
Ciralee - Seeralee
Ciralyn - Seeralynn
