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Baby names

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Original poster

is Kirsten a known name in England?

36 replies

Vibeke · 05/08/2011 10:46

Hi,
Im Danish, hubby is English - and I would really like our daughter to be called Kirsten, but we're having some concerns about the pernounciation of Kirsten (it's Keeersten in Danish - but Kuursten in english)
would you say it's going to confuse the child?

  • PS have been wondering about Hannah or Emma too, as they're the same in both languages, but my niece in DK is called Anna.

Vibeke

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JemimaMuddledUp · 05/08/2011 12:47

I don't think it will confuse the child, as the child will think of the name in the way that their parents pronounce it. When she starts nursery or school you may have to tell the teachers how it is pronounced, but once told they should continue to use your pronounciation, and the other children will do the same. Once she can speak your DD will introduce herself as "Keeersten" anyway, and others will call her what she has introduced herself as.

I have a son called Siôn. Most people in Wales pronounce it properly (the same way as Sean/Shaun) but sometimes people look at it written down and say it incorrectly (to rhyme with lion usually). It isn't a huge problem, and once corrected they usually pronounce it properly.

hester · 05/08/2011 12:38

I know a Kirsten, pronounced your way!

catsareevil · 05/08/2011 12:34

Would the name Kjerstin give a better guide to pronounciation for people in britain?

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 05/08/2011 12:28

I have a Norwegian friend whose DD is Kristen, to rhyme with Crispen. Would that solve the pronunciation problem?

TillyIpswitch · 05/08/2011 12:04

I'm a Kiwi - I know loads of Kirstens (pn Kuursten) - very popular here amongst my generation.

Sarsaparilllla · 05/08/2011 12:03

Yep, it's a name that's well known, but just not overly used, I think it's lovely

I'd never considered it a name that was associated with another country tbh, I just thought it was a variant of Kirsty

I would prounounce it Kuursten though and I imagine most people in the UK would do the same :)

Ephiny · 05/08/2011 11:58

Yes I have known two, actually one had a Danish mother and English father like your DD will have. I guess it's one of those names that works in both languages. She pronounced it 'Kursten' as that's how it's normally said in England (like Kirsty) and it would probably have been a losing battle trying to get people to say 'Keersten'!

I think it's a lovely name, not overly common here but fairly well known.

colditz · 05/08/2011 11:50

I knew a kirsten at school, her mother was german, but it's not a weird name.

breatheslowly · 05/08/2011 11:48

Its a lovely name and certainly known here. I doubt that the pronunciation would be an issue as it probably is the case with almost all children with parents from different countries.

JanMorrow · 05/08/2011 11:39

I thought it was pronounced Kuursten Dunst!

I've heard Americans say Keersten though (like on the O.C, I'm so cultured).

Here most people would assume Kirsten was pronounced Kuursten though.

Bubbaluv · 05/08/2011 10:55

Keeersten Dunst might have sorted this problem for you to an extent.
It's Huursten here in Aus, so prob same in UK, but if someone with Danish heritage had a dif prounciation then I don't think anyone would blink at that.
Hannah and Emma are also lovely.

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