Charis - just too many pronunciation issues??

[Honeybee79]

DH and I have finally agreed on a name we love. However, how much of an issue do you think mispronunciation is going to be with Charis? The h is silent as in "chorus", or "charisma", but I can see this is likely to be an issue.

We wouldn't want to use Carys instead because we're not Welsh and it's a different name with a different meaning, though perfectly nice, just not for us. DH is a classicist and we both love the meaning and sound of Charis, not Carys.

Thoughts please? We love it but don't want to burden her unnecessarily!

[chocoLit]

I love it but spelt Carys

[AverageGayLad]

I saw the title and pronounced it "Karris", is that right?

I like it :)

[justdontevenfuckingstart]

DD2's good friend is a Charis, don't think she's had problems. It's a lovely name.

[treaclesoda]

I think most people would be able to pronounce this one OK, I think it isn't so 'out there ' that people won't know how to pronounce it.

I think it's lovely

[QOD]

We say it Ssssharis as my mum
Got it from a book 🙄

[PotOfYoghurt]

I know a Charis. Never pronounced it differently.

[Honeybee79]

AverageGayLad, yes that is right!

[hippydippybaloney]

I would read that as the h more heavily emphasised, almost 'haris' with a very soft c.

[itssquidstella]

I teach a lovely Charis. Nice name.

[Palomb]

I'd had said cha(like chariot)ris.

If you don't want to hear the H why not use Carys?

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I prefer Carys

[fruitboxjury]

I haven't heard of it and wouldn't know how to pronounce it

[girlandboy]

I know a Charis which is pronounced as Ch-aris. With the Ch as in chip or champ.
But personally I thought it was going to be pronounced like you will say it.

[AverageGayLad]

Yay!

Have you considered Caris? Bearing in mind what other posters have said

[Frazzled2207]

Prefer Carys.
Charis to me looks like the ch should be pronounced like the ch in
Charity
Chastity
Champion
All of which start with the same three letters as charis.

[Honeybee79]

Palomb, Charis and Carys are two different names with different meanings, though pronounced the same. The latter is Welsh and we have no Welsh connections at all, while the former is derived from ancient Greek meaning grace/kindness. Charis was one of the 3 graces in Greek mythology.

[Palomb]

Are you Greek then?

[Honeybee79]

The H is silent, as is charisma or chorus . . .

If we change the spelling to Carys or Caris then while this would certainly be easier on the pronunciation front, it wouldn't be the same name or meaning. Carys is Welsh and we're not so a bit uncertain about that. Caris possibly, but it's effectively not the "correct" spelling iyswim.

[Honeybee79]

Ancient Greek is the origin - many names and every day words derive from Ancient Greek or Latin and you don't have to be Greek to use them!

[juneau]

If you like it and have your reasons to choose that spelling then go with that spelling. There will be people who will say ch as in church, but correct them once and hopefully they'll get it. Carys would get fewer mispronunciations, but if you don't like it spelt that way, then don't. Mick Jagger and Marsha Hunt have a daughter spelled Karis.

[dontwannapullahammie]

Charis is a lovely name, Carys is slightly boring

[autumnboys]

I work with a really nice Charis, don't think she's had too many difficulties.

[AllPizzasGreatAndSmall]

Whilst not a particularly common name it's not that unusual and every Charis I've come across has pronounced it the way you do, i.e.correctly, and it doesn't seem to have caused problems.

[Honeybee79]

Thanks Pizzas, that's good to know. It's not that unusual.

[Sadik]

It's really not that unusual, and in all the cases I've known pronounced as you say. The only problem here is people assuming Carys, but that's because we're in Wales and they're two a penny! (I might assume you were a Georgette Heyer fan, though)