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Baby names

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Original poster

How would people pronounce

40 replies

PassportBridgetPants · 06/08/2018 05:11

Iolana? I think it's a beautiful name (Hawaiian or Greek, depending on which description you read, and either meaning 'to soar like a hawk' or 'violet'). Without looking it up, how would you automatically assume it was pronounced? TIA.

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MrsReader · 06/08/2018 11:01

Eye-oh-ana?

bridgetreilly · 06/08/2018 10:59

I would think it's the same as Iolanthe, so Eye - oh - lana.

Original poster
PassportBridgetPants · 06/08/2018 10:43

Very useful waffling Chelonia thank you! It's more of a mix than I thought... But do people think it's too much of a pain? I actually quite like the Eye-o-lana pronunciation with Io as a potential nn.

OP posts:
Joeybee · 06/08/2018 09:05

I wouldn't know whether to pronounce Yo-lana or Ee-oh-lana.

MountainPeakGeek · 06/08/2018 09:04

I would guess at Ee-o-lana.

Dontbuymesocks · 06/08/2018 08:58

Yoh-lana

NancyJoan · 06/08/2018 08:30

Yo lana

MikeUniformMike · 06/08/2018 08:29

I'd probably go Yol-ah-na or Eye-ol-a-na, and think hmm looks pretty but no.

flumpybear · 06/08/2018 06:09

EE oh Lana

Chelonia · 06/08/2018 06:07

Oops was waffling so never actually said - I would go with Ee-yo-lana!! Smile

Chelonia · 06/08/2018 06:05

Hmmm, tricky. I have Greek friends with similar names starting with I so I already know how to pronounce this one correctly, but also pretty sure how most people will pronounce it if they encounter it written down (ie school roll)
So one greek name Ioasonas (Jason) is YA-son-as but there is the hint of an ee sound beforehand (Ee-YA-son-as)
A female name, Ioanna, is similar, Ee-yo-AH-na. But in both the Ee sounds are very short and subtle.
I would imagine Hawaiian pronunciation would be similar as it is also a phonetic language.
None of this makes up for the fact that if people aren't familiar with this sort of name and read it first (as opposed to being introduced in person etc) they'll probably go with an English pronunciation and it'll be Aye-o-lana. So you either just accept some people will pronounce it incorrectly until told otherwise, or you go with the incorrect pronunciation yourself, which I wouldn't be able to do, urgh.
Personally I have an unusual French name and spent my school life being called all sort of things by unimaginative teachers, being a shy kid I never had the guts to call out to correct them, my friends thought it was hilarious. Am not sure it has exactly emotionally scarred me tho! And it does make an easy conversation starter with new acquaintances etc. if needed.

Grasslands · 06/08/2018 05:28

Eye-O-Lana

BatBelle · 06/08/2018 05:24

Eye o Lana

Rainatnight · 06/08/2018 05:23

Ee-olana was my first instinct but then when I thought about it, Yolana.

I think it's too tricksy - sorry. Life time of explaining.

CaitlinsYellowSocks · 06/08/2018 05:17

I can't decide between Yo-lana, Ee-o-lana or Eye-o-lana. It does look pretty though.

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