Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Kyra

32 replies

Snowbell99 · 10/03/2022 17:05

What are your thoughts on Kyra, pronounced KY-ra?

I really like it but it annoys me that it doesn't have a clear etymology and that it might get confused with Ciara (Keira, Kiera, Kira) KEE-ra.

Do you think people will pronounce it KY-ra, as I am intending?

Do you like it?

Does it feel too trendy or insubstantial?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Loginmystery · 11/03/2022 07:00

I’m waiting for the person who will say there are three named this in her daughters class. Always happens.

turkeylurkeyl · 11/03/2022 06:57

My MIL is Kyra. She's never had an issue! It's a great name.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 11/03/2022 06:55

I immediately pronounced it the way you said in my head. Kigh-ra

I don’t love it.

liveforsummer · 11/03/2022 06:51

@SeanChailleach

The word Kyrie is in a Greek prayer which is said during the Mass, the church service that Catholics attend every Sunday. The prayer means 'Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy". It is often sung with the words repeated over and over tofit the music. Anyone who regularly attends Mass will be used to seeing "Kyrie" and reading "keer-ee-ay".
Kyriaki is Sunday in Greek it's not just something you hear in a prayer. It's also a very common name - Kyriaki for a girl and kyriacos for a boy both shorten to Kyri, pronounced Kee ri.
SeanChailleach · 11/03/2022 06:22

The word Kyrie is in a Greek prayer which is said during the Mass, the church service that Catholics attend every Sunday.
The prayer means 'Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy". It is often sung with the words repeated over and over tofit the music.
Anyone who regularly attends Mass will be used to seeing "Kyrie" and reading "keer-ee-ay".

TheOriginalEmu · 11/03/2022 04:22

@AHungryCaterpillar

I don’t get it either I really can’t see how people are getting kee from KY 🤔
Because Language is weird and sometimes y is pronounced with an ‘ee’ sound. Family. Yvette. The green name Cyra is pronounced see-ra sometimes. People (mis)pronounce Dylan as having an ‘I’ sound all the time.

Y is tricksy!

TheOriginalEmu · 11/03/2022 04:17

@Marblessolveeverything

It reminds me of a star war character Kyra Ren, sorry.
The Star Wars character is called Kylo Ren
AHungryCaterpillar · 11/03/2022 00:09

I don’t get it either I really can’t see how people are getting kee from KY 🤔

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 10/03/2022 23:59

@LadyShmuck

I work with a Kyra, pronounced Ky-ra. Im on reception. At least 80% of our customers ask for Kee-ra. Even after they've met her and heard her name they still don't get the pronunciation.
That's good to know. To be honest, I can't really understand why. Maybe because Kiera, Keira etc. were so common?

Because (in my opinion) Kyra doesn't look like it should be KEE-ra at all. I don't think anyone would say LEE-ra for Lyra. Or MEE-a for Mya. At least it is easily corrected and I guess people who'd care about her would remember.

I blame Kyra Sedgwick who is KEE-ra :(

OP posts:
LadyShmuck · 10/03/2022 23:56

I work with a Kyra, pronounced Ky-ra. Im on reception. At least 80% of our customers ask for Kee-ra. Even after they've met her and heard her name they still don't get the pronunciation.

ellenpartridge · 10/03/2022 23:50

I would pronounce Kyra as Ky-ra definitely not as Keira

Dinoteeth · 10/03/2022 23:48

I'd assume it was pronounced the same as Ciara Kiera but with a different spelling

PiesNotGuys · 10/03/2022 23:44

I’ve now seen KY capitalised so many times I can only think of KY jelly

Rosieposie101 · 10/03/2022 23:39

I know an adult Kyra pronounced how you want - KY - ra. I definitely think it would be pronounced like this. I don't like it much though.

Marblessolveeverything · 10/03/2022 22:59

It reminds me of a star war character Kyra Ren, sorry.

SeanChailleach · 10/03/2022 22:57

It would get confused with Kyria also.
Not keen myself but I don't know why exactly.
As an Irish word, it sounds a little like "gáire" (laugh). Otherwise, it sounds like Ciara said in a modern Dublin accent which seems to turn í into ai.

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 10/03/2022 20:02

I speak German and "Keiler" (pronounced like KY-la in my accent, KY-lehr in other accents) is the German word for "male wild boar" so I can't consider it.

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 10/03/2022 19:26

Not a massive fan.

What about Kyla? I used to work with a lovely Canadian woman called Kyla.

AHungryCaterpillar · 10/03/2022 19:25

Prefer kyla

RaininSummer · 10/03/2022 19:22

Like. I would say it as OP says. The alternative pronunciations seem more contrived to me

whywouldntyou · 10/03/2022 18:55

I knew a Kyra and she was an absolute bitch so definitely a no from me!!!

TheOriginalEmu · 10/03/2022 18:50

@Snowbell99

I normally prefer names with a really long history and interesting etymology.

But there's a character called Kyra on the series "Alex Rider" and I can't help but love the sound (as KY-ra). I am wondering if because of the series people will get more used to the KY-ra pronunciation. But maybe it's not popular enough. It just sounds so pretty.

Many people have told me it sounds harsh but to me the KY in Kyra sounds really soft and warm.

I also like Ciara (KEE-ra) and Kiera (KEE-ra) is a bit of a guilty pleasure (I love the way it looks but think that it will always be mistaken for Keira).

Ciara, Keira and Kiera are all pronounced Kee-ra, another variant is Kira. I would pronounce Kyra as ky-ra.
PollysPockets · 10/03/2022 18:27

I love Keira, I love Ciara (both pronounced KEER-RA) but not sure why I really don’t like Kyra (pronounced as kye-ra)

Original poster
Snowbell99 · 10/03/2022 18:20

I normally prefer names with a really long history and interesting etymology.

But there's a character called Kyra on the series "Alex Rider" and I can't help but love the sound (as KY-ra). I am wondering if because of the series people will get more used to the KY-ra pronunciation. But maybe it's not popular enough. It just sounds so pretty.

Many people have told me it sounds harsh but to me the KY in Kyra sounds really soft and warm.

I also like Ciara (KEE-ra) and Kiera (KEE-ra) is a bit of a guilty pleasure (I love the way it looks but think that it will always be mistaken for Keira).

OP posts:
roarfeckingroarr · 10/03/2022 18:14

I went to school with a Kyra pronounced Keira