Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Charis...

58 replies

Nasturtium89 · 21/05/2014 12:14

Totally hypothetical but would it be weird to call our child Charis (adore, adore, adore!) if my name is Harriet and DH's name is Chris?? Sounds a bit to similar to Chris right? :-/

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 24/05/2014 01:02

'This true.
Cymru am byth!

Alisvolatpropiis · 24/05/2014 01:00

Well no Sal, they are vowels, in the Welsh language. No thinking, it's fact.

NigellasDealer · 24/05/2014 00:57

no w and y are vowels in Cymraeg

Salazar · 24/05/2014 00:55

I'll rephrase it then, you think w and y are vowels! Wink

Alisvolatpropiis · 24/05/2014 00:55

That is true Cezella! Our vowels just don't look it to English eyes!

squoosh · 24/05/2014 00:55

G'wan the Welsh!

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 24/05/2014 00:53

Actually Welsh has more vowels than English. It has 7, as w and y are vowels in Welsh too. Just saying.

NigellasDealer · 24/05/2014 00:51

there was a little Charis in my kids' reception class, but it was pronounced with the CH sound - (which to me sounded too much like 'charas' but thats by the by)
Now I know it should have the hard Greek ch it sounds much nicer.

Cezella · 24/05/2014 00:41

Salazar we've got more vowels than you English folk!!

I don't think it's too matchy OP

browneyesblue · 22/05/2014 11:40

I know an adult Charis (pronounced Carys) - she is lovely. The only problem is that people often pronouce it a 'Ch' sound.

Original poster
Nasturtium89 · 22/05/2014 11:15

Elodie is on my list too! :) great taste

OP posts:
Gemerama · 22/05/2014 10:22

This reply has been deleted

This poster has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to remove this now.

mathanxiety · 21/05/2014 19:34

And having said all that, I don't think it's too matchy with Harriet and Chris at all.

It's always pronounced with a hard C.

mathanxiety · 21/05/2014 19:33

It's not a matter of different spellings of the same name -- a Charis/Kharis is one of the 'graces' of ancient Greek mythology who attended the goddess Aphrodite. The graces were the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, Aglaia (Splendour), Euphrosyne (Festivity), and Thalia (Rejoicing). I think the word is related to charism and charisma (meaning grace/compelling attractiveness and in the religious sense someone divinely ordained and gifted).

Carys is a Welsh name meaning 'to love'.

hatsybatsy · 21/05/2014 17:37

think if you want it pronounced with a hard 'k' that the carys spelling is more logical - Charis will lead to a lifetime of mispronunciation.

Don't think Charis/Carys is too matchy with Harriet and Chris though - it's a name in its own right

Original poster
Nasturtium89 · 21/05/2014 15:55

Loula I originally read it with a 'ch' sound when I first heard it - I like it like that too!

Hmm I've never heard it in relation to hash, good to know indeed.

Maybe as a middle name then! Thanks all :)

OP posts:
Loula117 · 21/05/2014 15:21

Oh, I always thought it was pronounced with a 'Ch' sound like chair - had no idea it was said the same as Carys! It's a pretty name but I prefer the Welsh spelling (and that would lessen the chance people would think you'd combined names), but I don't think it's a massive problem if you really love Charis.

BristolRover · 21/05/2014 15:16

what Isabelle said.
Karis / Carys / Cariad

baskingseals · 21/05/2014 15:14

prefer the Charis spelling. I think it is fine with your names, and I would go for it as it is so hard to find a name you truly love.

Alisvolatpropiis · 21/05/2014 14:48

Being Welsh I can't quite get my head around it being pronounced the same Carys Grin

Matilda03 · 21/05/2014 14:22

Definitely prefer Charis to the Welsh Carys. I taught a lovely Charis and always admired her name! I love that it means Grace, I also love he name Grace but it's ridiculously popular nowadays.

Salazar · 21/05/2014 13:39

Charis is DDs middle name. I think it's beautiful with this spelling.

Anybody thinking it's made up is mistaken - Charis is one of the Greek goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility.

I preferred a Greek spelling to a Welsh one, as I don't find the Welsh language pretty at all. (Sorry Welsh folk, you've not enough vowels!)

DrFunkesFamilyBandSolution · 21/05/2014 13:36

I know a Kariss (greek lady so assuming same name).

I think with your names it does sound a little like a mash-up (but it's a lovely name).

TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain · 21/05/2014 13:34

I would read it and think "Hello Charis" like they do in silence of the lambs. I know its not the name they use in the movie but in my head it sounds similar.

sorry.

Isabelleforyourbicycle · 21/05/2014 13:33

Yep, I've just googled it, not at work, it's slang for cannabis resin or hashish.

Worth knowing I guess.