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Original poster

How would you say Ceri? And would you know how to spell it?

110 replies

OfficerMeowMeowFuzzyface · 27/02/2018 14:37

Considering this as a girl's name, but worried that it'll be constantly mis-spelt/mispronounced (we don't live in Wales). Thoughts, please?

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susurration · 27/02/2018 16:26

I know two people called Ceri, both said "Kerry".

MrsElvis · 27/02/2018 16:24

Kerry. I worked with a Male Ceri

butterflycatcher · 27/02/2018 16:21

SE here. Never encountered anyone with this name and would have pronounced the C with an S sound on first attempt.

WhyOhWine · 27/02/2018 16:15

I know a Sara who pronounces it Sarah. Mind you, I know a Clara who pronounces it Claire-ah

I have a name with 2 standard spellings (e.g.Ann/Anne). I dont get too exicted if someone uses the wrong one, unless it is someone who should know better! It is not uncommon for people to use the wrong spelling even in replying to an email i have sent which has the proper spelling both in my email address and in my signature at the end. I rarely call it out though.

Original poster
OfficerMeowMeowFuzzyface · 27/02/2018 16:12

I briefly lived in the South of England though and everyone, almost without exception said Seri or Cherry upon seeing it written down.

Interesting that you found that in South of England - we're in SE, and the three people I have experimentally asked about the name all said 'Seri' and hadn't ever heard of it as a spelling of Kerry. This thread made me think I'd just got a duff sample, but I now wonder whether how commonly encountered it is as a name varies regionally even within England

OP posts:
WhyOhWine · 27/02/2018 16:11

I would pronounce Kerry. I know that Ceri is a possible spelling of this name, but if i had to write the name down without knowing the spelling in advance i would probably go with Kerry (or if i was speaking to someone on the phone i might ask the spelling). Once told, however, I would remember!

NataliaOsipova · 27/02/2018 16:07

Definitely "Kerry". It's a more unusual spelling, but a perfectly well known (Welsh) one.

Original poster
OfficerMeowMeowFuzzyface · 27/02/2018 15:59

Thanks for the comments, and sorry for the Sarah/Sara example, which has proved a bit derailing! Fwiw, I have - like some of the PP - encountered both Saras who pronounce it like Sarah and others who pronounce it differently, hence using it as an analogy.

OP posts:
BabloHoney · 27/02/2018 15:53

Definitely pronounced Kerry. It’s lovely!

ElenaBothari · 27/02/2018 15:49

Sara is pronounced to rhyme with Tara or Lara.

Sarah is pronounced differently- the “Sar” rhymes with chair or snare rather than with car or tar.

They are different names and pronounced differently- I know one Sara who pronounced it Sarah but always has to correct people and says her parents (who weren’t English speakers) hadn’t understood the difference.

Khara · 27/02/2018 15:44

I went to school with a Ceri pronounced Kerry who was a boy. This was in the late 70s/early 80s though, so maybe it's a girl's name now!

PasDeDeux · 27/02/2018 15:41

I would probably have said 'Seree' but this thread has taught me it is Kerry!

iklboo · 27/02/2018 15:37

The Ceri I know is pronounced Kerry

honeyroar · 27/02/2018 15:35

Ive only got one friend who pronounces her name Sara as Sarah (I thought it unusual and she generally has to tell people). The rest of the Saras I know pronounce it more like Zara.

SoupDragon · 27/02/2018 15:34

^they are pronounced the same if you’re English speaking.*

I don’t pronounce them the same.

honeyroar · 27/02/2018 15:33

I have a friend called Ceri, I think it's much nicer spelt that way, although I'd have thought it was spelt Kerry until I was told. A lovely name.

AbsolutelyCorking · 27/02/2018 15:33

It’s not like spelling Sarah as Sara though, those are pronounced differently.

Not usually, they are pronounced the same if you’re English speaking.

Ca23 · 27/02/2018 15:33

I am a non welsh Ceri. I hated my name growing up exclusively because I couldn’t get anything with my name on it (mainly cheap holiday souvinirs). I love it now. In 27 years I’ve only met one other Ceri. However, my parents refused to believe that no one could pronounce it properly until my graduation when they announced Seri. I’ve become accustomed to saying ‘Ceri with a C, like C E R I’ on almost a daily basis.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 27/02/2018 15:32

Kerry is how I would say it. I know a male and a female Ceri, both Welsh. Lovely name.

CeriBerry · 27/02/2018 15:31

I’m a Ceri. I’ve lived in Wales most of my life and so it’s not been a problem. I briefly lived in the South of England though and everyone, almost without exception said Seri or Cherry upon seeing it written down. I also sometimes get people from the bank or companies or whatever calling me and asking to speak to Seri. Despite that, I love my name. And as I’m a proudly and fiercely Welsh I would have hated to have it spelled any other way. (I would argue it’s not the exact same pronunciation as Kerry though, but I think that’s because of the Welsh people that say my name around me all the time. Can’t really explain the difference but it’s a welsher sound than Kerry)

Good choice, OP!

maitaimojito · 27/02/2018 15:29

I’d know to pronounce it Kerry if I saw it written down but on hearing it I’d assume the Kerry spelling as it’s more common.

theunsure · 27/02/2018 15:21

All the Ceri's I knew were Kerry's - but I used to live near the Welsh border so there was a few! it might be less well known in other areas.

DixieNormas · 27/02/2018 15:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tidypidy · 27/02/2018 15:18

Also short for Cerian. Male version is Carey I think.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 27/02/2018 15:18

If I didn't know the Welsh connection and I heard the name, I would spell it 'Kerry' but I am Irish. If I saw it written down, I would assume the same pronunciation and assume it was Welsh.