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Original poster

How woud you pronounce Linnea

34 replies

SaffronCake · 18/11/2011 23:01

It's from the latin name for a little pink and white flower in case you wondered. It sees rare use as a name in America apparently (where the flowers are more common, although they occur in Scotland too).

How would you pronounce it please?

Like Lin-naya or Lin-eeeya?

Guesses are fine. All answers very welcome.

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libelulle · 21/11/2011 05:29

Linn-E-a. Lovely name but to me the associations are all Swedish - I'd assume your dd had Swedish not us origins.

jasper · 21/11/2011 04:02

as if you were saying linear but without the final r

nooka · 21/11/2011 03:52

I'd pronounce Lin-ay-a. Very pretty, but should be spelled Linnea

CEDR · 20/11/2011 20:54

When I read it in my head I said "linear" but immediately corrected to "lin-aya" before I opened my mouth! I work with kids (not a teacher, but moving around a lot) so I have tothink on my feet!

Bue · 20/11/2011 19:09

It's definitely Lin-NAY-a. I love this name because of the children's book Linnea in Monet's Garden. My sister and I had the doll of the main character - she was awesome :)

talkingnonsense · 20/11/2011 11:24

Lin ay a, I think it's pretty.

cory · 20/11/2011 11:18

TO be absolutely pedantic, in the case of Scandinavian Linneas, the sound in the stressed second syllable is not an -ay-, but a French é, as in été (so not a diphthong).

scaevola · 20/11/2011 10:26

Linn-AY-a (like those quoting Scandinavian families have posted).

I think it's a lovely name, and even if the usual pronunciation isn't well known here, it's not a tricky one.

NewsClippings · 19/11/2011 19:31

LIN-ee-uh

mathanxiety · 19/11/2011 18:02

It would never occur to me to pronounce it other than Linn-AY-ah -- don't change the spelling. Linaya would be pronounced differently and would in fact be a different name.

aliportico · 19/11/2011 17:25

I know a Linnea (and have always thought the name came from her Swedish heritage), and her name is pronounced exactly as peeriebear etc describes, emphasis on the ay sound.

People might not be able to tell how to say it from just seeing it written down, but once you've heard it once, it's easy to repeat.

cairnterrier · 19/11/2011 17:16

linear

thisisyesterday · 19/11/2011 17:16

i would pronounce it Linn-ee-a

BornToBeRiled · 19/11/2011 17:15

If you really like it OP, why not change the spelling to Linaya, which looks and sounds prettier. Or what about Linnet?

MarieFromStMoritz · 19/11/2011 17:07

Sanitary towels.

mathanxiety · 19/11/2011 15:59

Linn-AY-ah, as KatAndKit and PricklyThistle and Peeriebear, etc. said.

KatAndKit · 19/11/2011 14:35

Lin -ay- a definitely. As above, Ay to rhyme with play.

BlameItOnTheBogey · 19/11/2011 01:03

I also have a Sweidh friend with this name. She pronounces it Lin-ayer.

PricklyThistle · 19/11/2011 01:01

Ithink it's Lin-ay-a. Isn't it Scandinavian? Really like it.

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 19/11/2011 00:54

I think the OP is looking for names which conjure up pink and white.

cat64 · 19/11/2011 00:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 19/11/2011 00:48

My first instinct was to say Lin-eeea (like linear), but maybe Lin-ay-a as well.

You're sweet-shop lady, right? This word doesn't have a very pretty feel to it - it feels quite, um, scientific? Mathematical? ... maybe because it's quite similar to the word 'linear'. Just my opinion, though.

TheNewMrsC · 18/11/2011 23:14

Lin-ae-a . I think it's prettySmile

peeriebear · 18/11/2011 23:13

Lin-AY-a (ay to rhyme with play)
if it's after the flower that's how it's pronounced surely (after Carl Linnaeus the botanist)

mungojerrie · 18/11/2011 23:10

I knew a swedish girl named this. Lin-ear.