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Original poster

Pronunciation issues baby girl names

55 replies

Pinkheather · 11/04/2021 20:34

Originally we really like Fiadh (fee-a) for our baby girl but realised it could sound like fear in certain accents so decided against it. Now we really like Maya (may-a) but worried about people pronouncing it My-a. Wish we could find a name that doesn’t come with pronunciation issues but these are the only two names I’ve loved. What do you think?

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Palavah · 14/04/2021 23:15

@Deadringer

What about Leah, you can't really say that wrong.
Lee-ah or Lay-ah?
Deadringer · 14/04/2021 18:17

What about Leah, you can't really say that wrong.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 14/04/2021 18:11

I have the feeling that the May-a pronunciation is a recent invention, although I could be wrong.

We derive the English name for the month of May from the Goddess Maia, so I don't believe "May-ah" can be a recent invention for Maia/Maya. However I have only heard both pronunciations in English speaking countries - Maya/Maia/Maja always seems to be pronounced "My-ah" in non- English speaking ones.

Pemba · 14/04/2021 17:45

Yes I heard that about Maya Angelou. Her real name was Marguerite. But it is also a traditional old name, pronounced My-a, in Indian culture and I think maybe in other countries too? Sometimes spelled Maia.

Then of course there were the Maya people of Central /South America. Again pronounced My-a.

I have the feeling that the May-a pronunciation is a recent invention, although I could be wrong.

Cindie943811A · 14/04/2021 16:52

Maya Angelou’s first name is a nn given to her as a baby by her toddler brother. He claimed her as his baby — hence Mya pronunciation.

Roo3125 · 13/04/2021 20:13

@Palavah I'm Scottish, so could just be my accent and way of reading things 😂

AlwaysLatte · 13/04/2021 19:28

Fiadh is lovely but I wouldn't have had a clue how to say it if you hadn't put that in the post. Also when I just typed it the autocorrect put Fiasco 3 times first!!

AlwaysLatte · 13/04/2021 19:25

May-a

AlwaysLatte · 13/04/2021 19:25

I thought it was Maya too!

TheThingsWeAdmitOnMN · 13/04/2021 19:06

It's one of those names that makes my heart sink because I know the chances of saying it differently than the person prefers is high, no matter which option I go for!

The Irish/welsh names I can only manage if I've already been told how to say them. But they possibly still don't sound exactly right as I have a reasonably strong NZ accent.

Imagine if, where you live, most people say it differently to your preference, how will you feel? Chilled about it or wound up?

Palavah · 13/04/2021 18:44

@Roo3125

What about spelling it Maia? As a teacher I would instinctively pronounce Maya as My-a (but have had one girl pronounced Mia with that spelling). Maia would instinctively be May-a :)
I'd expect to pronounce Maia as My-ah. Like Gaia
CirqueDeMorgue · 12/04/2021 23:05

May-a sounds like mayor...

CakesOfVersailles · 12/04/2021 22:55

You are more likely to get May-ah if you use the spelling Maia.

I know do know a Maya pronounced the way you want, she would be about 20.

Tillygetsit · 12/04/2021 22:46

I know a very cute Maya pronounced May-a. She's a pooch.

Roodicus21 · 12/04/2021 22:31

I love Fiadh but I see what you mean. We wanted to call dc Fionn or Finn but where we lived in the East London/ Essex accent our friends pronounced it sound like they were saying 'thin' so we discounted it!

gracefull · 12/04/2021 22:15

My name is Maya and pronounced My-ah. That is the correct pronunciation; it is a Sanskrit name meaning illusion and explains why people of colour often know how to pronounce it more instinctively @TheMotherlode. I would say about 60% of people I meet pronounce correctly but it has got better has I have aged; it was considered an unusual name when I was a child.

Roo3125 · 12/04/2021 22:07

What about spelling it Maia? As a teacher I would instinctively pronounce Maya as My-a (but have had one girl pronounced Mia with that spelling). Maia would instinctively be May-a :)

TheMotherlode · 12/04/2021 22:06

But I definitely think the proper pronunciation is My-A. May-A seems to be a new thing that people have made up.

TheMotherlode · 12/04/2021 22:05

@Girlname IME more people say May-A than say My-A

Girlname · 12/04/2021 20:56

@TheMotherlode @polkadotjersey would you say you've found the majority of people pronounce it 'my-a' or 'may-a'?

indecisivewoman81 · 12/04/2021 20:52

Sorry i miss read your post.

I think maybe spell it Mayah for the pronunciation you want

indecisivewoman81 · 12/04/2021 20:51

Couldn't you will it Myah?

polkadotjersey · 12/04/2021 20:26

We have a Maya and pronounce it My-a. It never occurred to us that people would say May-a as we figured most people would know the name through Maya Angelou.

Stevearnottsbeard · 12/04/2021 20:17

To me, maya is may-a
Mya is my-a
Mia is me-a
It's a nice name but really don't like all the confusing pronunciations and spelling issues

wombatspoopcubes · 12/04/2021 20:13

Nina?