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Baby names

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Original poster

Charis - just too many pronunciation issues??

114 replies

Honeybee79 · 04/09/2016 18:11

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!

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Pinklily1 · 05/09/2016 13:32

Its a beautiful name OP, I'd say go for it!

Buntysoven · 05/09/2016 00:52

I love love love it. Vetoed by a very aggravating OH who doesnt appreciate my love of any girl's name ending in s. Love that spelling too.

Lucked · 04/09/2016 23:41

I really liked this and strongly considered it but disliked Carys. I love Charis' classical origins and meaning.

Alisvolatpropiis · 04/09/2016 23:36

Charis in London will be totally fine.Charis in Cardiff, well not so much, initially. But that's because any Welsh person in Waleswould hear "Karis" and expect Carys.

I see it as being a bit like Amelia/Emilia - extremely similar but different names, equally valid.

Propertyquandry · 04/09/2016 23:15

If someone verbally told me their name was Charis, I'd ask if it was spelt with an h or a y. Ds2 had a Charis and a Chiara in his class at primary so the correct pronunciation isn't that out there. Go for it!

maroda16 · 04/09/2016 23:10

My name is Marie, pretty simple you'd think but I get called all sorts and most people spell it wrong too! I wouldn't worry a bit about it, people will get used to it!!

user1471734618 · 04/09/2016 23:07

There was a little Charis at my chiildrens first school, but it was said with a CH like chocolate. Which to me sounds like some strong hash from India.
I do not think anybody had the heart to tell the parents...

Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016 · 04/09/2016 23:07

I went to school with a Charis Towers. I thought she sounded very grand!! Lovely name.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/09/2016 23:05

I have to say I fail to understand why some people fail to "get" the pronunciation of this name once they know how it's pronounced. [my bold]

My response: because they are dicks. That is a dickish thing to do.

HTH Smile

Original poster
Honeybee79 · 04/09/2016 23:04

Agreed Sanity. Though my name is Tessa (v ordinary!) and I end up spelling that out loads and always have done - plenty of people do, unless they're an Anna a Ben. Just need to weigh up how much of an issue that is. Never bothered me really.

OP posts:
MrsGsnow18 · 04/09/2016 23:01

I love Charis! I would have no problem pronouncing. I think most people would be able to okay and it would only take them to hear it once to get it!

MrsJoeyMaynard · 04/09/2016 22:59

I've never come across Charis before and would have gone for a ch-aris pronunciation (ch as in charity, champion) if I'd had to guess.

SanityClause · 04/09/2016 22:58

I like Charis (massive Heyer fan Blush) and also Carys.

Your DD will end up spelling her name a lot throughout her life, though. But then, I guess lots of people do, really.

Original poster
Honeybee79 · 04/09/2016 22:54

I get that the pronunciation might be confusing (hence I started the thread seeking views) but wanted to know how much of an issue. The consensus: not a huge issue.

We live in London - so many names from different cultures, am always having to check re pronunciation etc, there is no issue asking if you're unsure, but once I have checked it becomes a non-issue. I don't then think "Oh, that isn't right because of x/y/z".

Sounds like it might occasionally be an issue for a girl called Charis, but am actually pretty reassured and encouraged by the comments here!

OP posts:
Laquila · 04/09/2016 22:53

Surely Frazzled just said how she'd pronounce it, and why, not that everyone must follow her lead?

I don't know any, and like it, but would probably have rather uncertainly pronounced it Ch-aris, mainly because my instant reaction would have been that if it were pronounced with a hard ch it'd be spelt Carys. FWIW, I have a son with a Welsh name that's unusual outside Wales (we're not Welsh either!) and everyone asks whether we're Welsh! We're used to it now 😉

SoupDragon · 04/09/2016 22:43

So, getting a pronunciation wrong makes you a dick but being obnoxiously rude is somehow ok?

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/09/2016 22:36

Because they are dicks Honeybee79. Just dicks.

Frazzled2207 · 04/09/2016 22:35

Moving.
I never said such thing. Was merely pointing out that cha is often pronounced cha not ka and to me charis looks like charis not karis.
Am a linguistics graduate and well aware of the many pronunciation variables in english Wink

Original poster
Honeybee79 · 04/09/2016 22:24

I have to say I fail to understand why some people fail to "get" the pronunciation of this name once they know how it's pronounced. Just because some words beginning with "ch" are pronounced as such (ie church etc), that's not the rule for all. The English language doesn't work like that!

OP posts:
IamCarcass · 04/09/2016 21:58

If you people can pronounce words like 'character', surely they can get their head around Charis?
I'm biased, as I do know a lovely Charis, she doesn't have any problems. Her parents liked that it meant 'grace'.

thecatfromjapan · 04/09/2016 21:57

Cousin-in-law is a "Charis". I think it's a lovely name. No problems with pronunciation ("Karis".)

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/09/2016 21:54

No, no, no was to Frazzled with her ridiculous assertion that because some Ch words are pronounced that way they all are.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/09/2016 21:53

No, no, no. DS went to school with a Charis. Once I realised it was pronounced Karris I said it correctly. Was a total non-issue.

There are loads of words ever Ch is pronounced Ca. Charisma, chimera etc. Usually Greek in origin. Like Charis Grin

maroda16 · 04/09/2016 21:32

I think it's fab! I don't think she'll have any problems with itSmile**

Biscuitsneeded · 04/09/2016 21:22

There's a character called Charis in Margaret Atwood's The Robber Bride too, I think. I like it.