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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Bea

54 replies

Leeloo1233 · 22/09/2021 15:59

How would you pronounce this name? I guess I'm worried that people will pronounce it like "bee" or is it obvious?

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NigellaSeed · 22/09/2021 21:17

It's Bee. Maybe just name them Bayah?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 22/09/2021 21:14

I think because Beatrice is pretty popular in the UK now, there are a lot of girls with the nn Bea, pronounced as "Bee". So unfortunately you will often get the pronunciation here, until corrected.

Whitewolf2 · 22/09/2021 21:07

I knew a Bea at work, pronounced Bee-a, that’s how everyone said it so I never considered how else to pronounce it! She was German.

RiotAtTheRodeo · 22/09/2021 20:38

@Elisemum

It IS pronounced as BEE… I can’t see any other option. I see you want it pronounced as Bay like Beyoncé? Nah it’s not a good idea, sorry. Nice as a NN but not as a full name
Bey for Beyoncé is pronounced bee not bay.
PieMistee · 22/09/2021 20:25

I know a Baya.

eurochick · 22/09/2021 20:23

English is unhelpfully not phonetic. There is no consistency at all.

I almost named my daughter Beatrice as I loved the idea of a Baby Bee.

2tired2bewitty · 22/09/2021 20:12

I have a Beatrice nn Bea usually pronounced to rhyme with pea, sea and tea, but I have come across a couple of people (at least one of whom was French) who pronounced it Bee-ah (which makes it sound like Beer).

Elisemum · 22/09/2021 20:06

It IS pronounced as BEE… I can’t see any other option. I see you want it pronounced as Bay like Beyoncé? Nah it’s not a good idea, sorry. Nice as a NN but not as a full name

Blueroses99 · 22/09/2021 17:21

I know a Léa who is French but I expect the accent helps with the pronunciation of Lay-a rather than Lee-ah.

Would Béa give you the Bay-a pronunciation? Is that even a name? As PP have said, Bea is usually short for Beatrice so pronounced Bee.

I’ve never thought about Thea not rhyming…

EdgeOfACoin · 22/09/2021 17:15

Every Bea I've ever known has pronounced it 'Bee'.

I've never really thought about how Thea is not pronounced 'Thee'...

RiotAtTheRodeo · 22/09/2021 17:14

I'd definitely assume bee but if there was an accent on the é I'd give bay-uh a whirl.

Twizbe · 22/09/2021 16:43

@Leeloo1233

Ok, I would have pronounced it Bay-a but I'm French. So confusing with these names eg. Bea and Lea, but Thea is not "thee" right?
I think because it's short for Beatrice/trix so although spelt Bea, it's the first sound of the name which is Bee.
ShowOfHands · 22/09/2021 16:30

No Thea is not pronounced thee but equally, sea isn't say-a either. Joys of the English language. Words borrowed from all over the place, some quite complex rules.

In England people will assume Bea = bee but no reason not to use it if you love it. You'll just have to explain it to people. Those people who are constants in the child's life will remember.

Blubells · 22/09/2021 16:29

I'd pronounce Bea as Beh-a like Lea

Original poster
Leeloo1233 · 22/09/2021 16:26

Ok, I would have pronounced it Bay-a but I'm French. So confusing with these names eg. Bea and Lea, but Thea is not "thee" right?

OP posts:
liverpoolgal82 · 22/09/2021 16:26

My friends girl is Bea and it's pronounced Bay-ah

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 22/09/2021 16:24

It IS pronounced bee

PricklesTheHedgehog · 22/09/2021 16:23

Well, the pronunciation choices are:

Bee-ah
Bay-ah
Bee

I think, until corrected, everyone will assume it's the last one.

Maybe you should go back to the name book, OP.

snowspider · 22/09/2021 16:14

Bee as in Bea, a shortened Beatrix/ice

Needaholiday101 · 22/09/2021 16:13

We know a Bea and hers is pronounced BayA

Horriblewoman · 22/09/2021 16:13

There's no other pronunciation?

FuckingFlumps · 22/09/2021 16:13

@Amz6219

I'd say 'Bee' and assume short for Beatrice

How is it intended to be pronounced?

Agreed. Everyone will assume its short for Beatrice and it's definitely pronounced Bee.

If you call your child Bea and don't pronounce it Bee you're setting her up for a lifetime of problems.

JulesJules · 22/09/2021 16:12

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Wallabyone · 22/09/2021 16:11

@Wallabyone

Bea
Sorry-I'd say Bee and assume it was short for Beatrice or Beatrix
Wallabyone · 22/09/2021 16:11

Bea