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Original poster

Why call her "Eva" but pronounce it differently?

107 replies

anxietycentralallthetime · 25/09/2017 19:52

Hope this isn't too outing.
Basically there's a little girl that goes to the same nursery as my kids.
So on her peg, her coat, her bag, on the class list for party invites etc her name is written "Eva". However when you speak to her mum and say "oh did Eva get the party invite" etc, then her mum will reply "it's Ava. Just spelt with an E"
All the nursery staff call her Ava too.
This mum appears very normal and intelligent, so can anyone explain why you'd name your daughter Eva, but make everyone pronounce it Ava? Do you think she named her Eva and then preferred Ava?
Or is Ava a known pronunciation for the name Eva?
Most weeks I hear her mum correcting parents and other members of staff within the nursery.
I'm too polite to ask her myself!

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Lobsterquadrille2 · 25/09/2017 20:51

DD has a friend Eva, pronounced "Ever".

RaspberryOverload · 25/09/2017 20:49

We had an Eva in my extended family. Pronounced Ee-va.

KERALA1 · 25/09/2017 20:43

But we are not in Norway or Eastern Europe are we so for most Brits the names are prounounced as op says so this lady and her dd are in for a tedious time over and over again. Why make life difficult for yourself?

Dh worked with a man called "Ivan" but he pronounced it "ivarrn" and spent his life shouting at people (i.e. Pretty much everyone) who pronounced it "wrong".

Eolian · 25/09/2017 20:43

Yes Eva is pronounced Eeva if you're English, but they may be of non-English descent even if you're not aware of that.

Wigeon · 25/09/2017 20:43

My DD is Eva, pronounced "Eeeva" but occasionally gets it pronounced "Ava", I think when people assume she's got to have foreign origins and so they pronounce it like it's pronounced on continental Europe. We are British so pronounce it Eeeeva.

However, if I was British with no particular heritage to nod to, and wanted to pronounce my daughter's name "Ava" I would call her "Ava" not "Eva"...I would guess this family have some kind of foreign ancestry/ roots, or maybe a foreign relative who the little Eva is named after?

redsquirrel2 · 25/09/2017 20:42

My daughter has a Russian friend Eva, pronounced "Ever" so there you go - 3 ways.

Slightlydizzydaily · 25/09/2017 20:41

In my parents' language Ava would be pronounced ah fah btw Smile

Judydreamsofhorses · 25/09/2017 20:40

I teach a couple of Evas, both of Polish descent, and they are Ay-Vah. The head receptionist at work is a lady in her late 50s and she is Eva pronounced Ee-Va.

kath6144 · 25/09/2017 20:39

Lucky, my DD17 has a friend called Eva, pronounced like yours as Eeva. I would never have said ayva, but I live and learn reading this thread!

LuckyFortune · 25/09/2017 20:37

When I am an old granny people will think me younger than my years due to my lately fashionable name Grin Will look good on my CV!

Liara · 25/09/2017 20:37

The I sound in most latin languages is pronounced ee, hence Lila would of course be pronounced Leela.

The E sound in most latin languages is pronounced like the E in egg, hence Eva would be pronounced Ava (except not exactly, but it's the closest english speakers can get to it)

I tell you, it's a fucking nightmare when your children are mixed English/latin heritage to find a name that won't be mangled by half the family!

LuckyFortune · 25/09/2017 20:36

My family is Eastern European and would pronounce it e-VAH.

Or Yeowka for short Confused

Original poster
anxietycentralallthetime · 25/09/2017 20:35

There's lots of little Eva's round here! But like you most are pronounced EE-va!

OP posts:
LuckyFortune · 25/09/2017 20:34

I don't think I've ever met another British Eva in my entire life.

MollyHuaCha · 25/09/2017 20:34

If I saw the name Eva written down, I would assume it was pronounced Ay-va.

I'd very happily switch to Ee-va if told this was the preferred pronunciation.

But I'd definitely assume Ay-va in the beginning.

ferrier · 25/09/2017 20:34

Although in the UK it should be pronounced Eeva, the influence of first Eva Peron and then European does mean there are a few Ayva pronounced Evas around. The first option would naturally be Eeva though so it will be a pain for this child.

pipilangstrumpf · 25/09/2017 20:34

Eva is pronounced Eh-va (ay-va) in most non English countries.

Ava would be Ah-va.

SingingMySong · 25/09/2017 20:31

I like this name but we avoided it because we couldn't agree on the pronunciation. DH would automatically say Ava. His argument is that the 2 famous ones he'd heard of, Peron and Braun, were both pronounced "Ava" so surely that's the default.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 25/09/2017 20:31

My daughter is called Eva and she frequently called Ava and sometimes Ever. It's definitely a common pronounciation. And then there's her teacher who call her Evie despite my numerous corrections Angry

LuckyFortune · 25/09/2017 20:31

I would say 9/10 people say it correctly. About 1/10 say Ava.

I don't say anything to them because I am embarrassed for them that they have got my name wrong Confused

Original poster
anxietycentralallthetime · 25/09/2017 20:30

Actually is that Lilo and Stitch? But still Leelo!

OP posts:
RupertPsmith · 25/09/2017 20:29

Yup, perfectly legitimate pronunciation.

Wait until you meet an Eva pronounced 'Evva'. It'll blow your mind Wink

pizzaparty11 · 25/09/2017 20:29

This mum appears very normal and intelligent,

Pity you are not ! ;-)

daisypond · 25/09/2017 20:29

I would probably pronounce it Leela myself - like Lisa - if I wasn't told.

LuckyFortune · 25/09/2017 20:29

My name is Eva and sometimes people call me Ava.

Gets on my tits.

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