Page 3 | Love the name hate the spelling

CiciLapin · 2022-03-25T22:43:31+00:00

Baby girl due in 2 weeks and we are set on the name pronounced ARE-lee-yah. Struggling with spelling although are leaning towards Arlia. Aware it's probably a marmite name. Other names we liked were Ophelia/Aurelia/Amelia/Delilah but for various reasons they aren't top. Any thoughts on a better way or is ours okay? Not sure I like how it looks? (I have a name always mispronounced/spelt wrong and it's not been an issue so have no problem with that for her) just not sure Arlia is too literal a spelling. Other ways we've looked at are: Aalia, Ahlia. Aware it can be spelt Aaliyah/Aliya/ Aliyah but we don't like the y and h. Also any ideas for middle names? So far we like grace, we are aware it's very common but seeing as her first will be unusual though best to not be too "out there". Thought a one syllable middle name would be best as first is 3 but open to other options. Last name is one syllable. Thoughts? (Please don't hate on the name too much, we took forever to agree [wink])

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FinnRussell · 26/03/2022 09:19

Since you don't want the R pronounced but you want a long ah sound I'd go with Aalia or Ahlia. As another person dealing with school registers they would be the easiest to my eyes.

JenniferBarkley · 26/03/2022 09:08

Please please don't use the R, I'd guess most of the English speaking world has rhotic accents and we would all pronounce the R, making a completely different name to the one you intend. Go with Ah, or Aa.

Stravaig · 26/03/2022 09:07

@CiciLapin Ah ok! So Aaliya / Aaliyah / Aahliya / Aahliyah?

Fivebeanchilli · 26/03/2022 09:05

So Aalia is probably your best bet in that it's like enough to Aaliyah that everyone will know how to pronounce the first bit. And she will have to correct half the people anyway about the second bit. I work in a job where I call children's parents a lot and Aaliyah is super common round here. I automatically default to AA Lee a but half of them correct me to aa LEE a so I think those are just two genuine pronunciations.
I have to say I'm not too keen on the name but Aalia probably makes the most sense.

HaveringWavering · 26/03/2022 09:01

Like I said before I can't say I know specifically about uk accent/language/rhotic etc

But you just said you have an Irish name yourself? Why don’t you ask your Irish relatives how they would pronounce “Arlia”? I guarantee it would be Arrlia.

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:59

@Stravaig

I'm still not clear on whether or not you want an R sound, OP!

Without an R in the spelling, I'd pronounce it like the Arabic name, Aahliyah, with long vowel, implicit h, absolutely no R.

Spelt with an R, I'd go for the full rhotic, Arrrlia. (Scot).

So after reading some other posts I believe I don't want the R pronounced/rolled as such I just want an elongated vowel sound like aaah? In my head it's how I say are so spelt It like that when writing the pronunciation but obviously didn't take in to account Scottish/Irish etc. Equally I didn't want the A to be a short sound like I'd personally read in Alia so I thought putting the R in would help this but obviously not haha.

OP posts:

TrashyPanda · 26/03/2022 08:56

@HaveringWavering

We pronounce the rs here so parth, glarss, grarss etc. That’s not “pronouncing the rs “!

Pronouncing an r is when it is a rolled sound, so for example making a rolled sound at the end of “car” or “door” or in the middle of “urgent” or “border”.

What you do is make a long vowel sound when you see an “r” written down.

Exactly

Adding in an R that does not exist in the word is not pronouncing Rs.

NativityDreaming · 26/03/2022 08:56

Arlia makes me think of the milk brand Arla 😬 but I would never pronounce Alia or Ahlia with the r sound, it is only a specific U.K. accent that uses an intrusive r sound.

Out of the other names you listed I think Aurelia is prettiest.

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:54

@AuntDympna

This is the funniest thread ever. I have zero clue how you want the name pronounced op! But I wouldn't worry. I've read 20 different class registers this week and the girls just correct their names like Sara and Sara, Iman and Iman, Laura and Laura. Or they simply went with whatever I said. I guess the question is whether you feel it is a different name when it's said differently.

Haha yes I knew I'd get that also. Think I was just looking for wider opinions than those of friends or family, which I definitely have! We never wanted an "easy" "common" or "traditional" name. I did try other options as knew it would lead to all the issues mentioned but we both then typically couldn't find one we liked as much.

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Stravaig · 26/03/2022 08:50

I'm still not clear on whether or not you want an R sound, OP!

Without an R in the spelling, I'd pronounce it like the Arabic name, Aahliyah, with long vowel, implicit h, absolutely no R.

Spelt with an R, I'd go for the full rhotic, Arrrlia. (Scot).

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:47

[quote queenmeadhbh]These pronunciation threads always do my head in. There’s no point using “are” to designate a sound, when there is such wide variation in English as to how that word is pronounced!

OP you say you pronounce the words grass etc “with an r”. I’m pretty sure you don’t and it is a long “aw” sort of sound but you imagine there being an R which modifies that A from short to long, because that’s how your accent pronounces the combo “AR” in many words depending on the position.

Your accent is arhotic - ie you actually delete “R” sounds unless it’s in between 2 vowels.

Compare how you pronounce car vs career. The middle r will be heard in career, yes? That rhotic r sound will be heard when someone with my accent (NI) says “arlia”.
Like arrrr (like a pirate) - lee - a.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoticity_in_English?wprov=sfti1[/quote]
Yes you're right in everything you've said here. Like I said before I can't say I know specifically about uk accent/language/rhotic etc so apologies for explaining wrong.
These threads would annoy me too if I weren't worrying baby won't have a name in 2 weeks haha. Thank you for your educational input though.

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RodneySodney · 26/03/2022 08:43

I know an ARE-lee-ya written Alya and an Al-ee-ya written the same way, both adults now. I love the name.

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:42

@GrendelsGrandma

It'll sound like 'earlier' in a lot of the country. Honestly I think you're setting her up for a lifetime of having her name misspelled and mispronounced. Why not go for a name that is actually a name?

I mean it is a name, I didn't invent it it's just seldom heard of and as pp have said they know some children with it. All names were made up once I suppose

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Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:38

@TheHoptimist

Are you Muslim? I think many people seeing the name would assume that you are- regardless of spelling.

No, not Muslim. The pronunciation does originate from Arabic i believe but spelt differently. No issues with that though just like the how the name sounds.

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ThatsGoingToHurt · 26/03/2022 08:35

If you live near Bristol I wouldn’t call a kid a name ARE-lee-yah are the It will sound like ARRRRRRR Lee-ya

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:35

@HaveringWavering

We pronounce the rs here so parth, glarss, grarss etc. That’s not “pronouncing the rs “!

Pronouncing an r is when it is a rolled sound, so for example making a rolled sound at the end of “car” or “door” or in the middle of “urgent” or “border”.

What you do is make a long vowel sound when you see an “r” written down.

Ah damn. Obviously not as well versed on languages and pronunciation as I think haha. Hard to explain when written I suppose! But yes you are right

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AuntDympna · 26/03/2022 08:35

This is the funniest thread ever. I have zero clue how you want the name pronounced op! But I wouldn't worry. I've read 20 different class registers this week and the girls just correct their names like Sara and Sara, Iman and Iman, Laura and Laura. Or they simply went with whatever I said. I guess the question is whether you feel it is a different name when it's said differently.

queenmeadhbh · 26/03/2022 08:33

These pronunciation threads always do my head in. There’s no point using “are” to designate a sound, when there is such wide variation in English as to how that word is pronounced!

OP you say you pronounce the words grass etc “with an r”. I’m pretty sure you don’t and it is a long “aw” sort of sound but you imagine there being an R which modifies that A from short to long, because that’s how your accent pronounces the combo “AR” in many words depending on the position.

Your accent is arhotic - ie you actually delete “R” sounds unless it’s in between 2 vowels.

Compare how you pronounce car vs career. The middle r will be heard in career, yes? That rhotic r sound will be heard when someone with my accent (NI) says “arlia”.
Like arrrr (like a pirate) - lee - a.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoticity_in_English?wprov=sfti1

Alrightqueenie · 26/03/2022 08:32

This spelling issue often happens when people use a name from another language / culture that they're unfamiliar with. Arabic has two 'a' sounds, one heavy a from the back of the throat and a light 'a' similar to English 'a'.

Aaliyah is spelt with the heavy 'a' sound so there's absolutely no 'r' sound in it. The op is changing the pronunciation & spelling of the name so its now a completely different name. The word path might be pronounced by some as 'parth' because of the speakers accent. However, there's no 'r' in the word and it's the same here for this name.

Aaliyah is also the female version of the Arabic male name, Ali.

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:31

@SarahBellam

I'd give her the most obvious spelling for the way you want it said. I have a name that doesn't sound like it's spelt (Irish name) and it's a pain in the bum having to tell people how to spell/pronounce it all the time.

Irish spelling for me too, never bothered me I like my name being slightly unusual. Wanted to pass that down a bit but just couldn't work out if Arlia was too literal a spelling that's all.

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GrendelsGrandma · 26/03/2022 08:29

It'll sound like 'earlier' in a lot of the country. Honestly I think you're setting her up for a lifetime of having her name misspelled and mispronounced. Why not go for a name that is actually a name?

Original poster

CiciLapin · 26/03/2022 08:27

@DustyOwl

Depends on the accent. I am a primary teacher, currently doing supply. I sight read ALOT of children's names, out loud, in the register! I like Arlia, I would read it the way you want Ahlia, I would also read like that. Alia, I would probably read Ay Lee a. But I'm from the West Country!

Yes my issue was with registers and trying to make it slightly easier for poor teachers. I had my whole school life (and then adult life) with people having 2/3 goes at saying my name when reading. Easy name just Irish spelling. Can't say I was ever too bothered when correcting them. She might resent me though.

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HomeHomeInTheRange · 26/03/2022 08:26

I would spell it Ahlia I think. If you want the first syllable to sound like the a in ‘can’t’.

I would pronounce Alia AYlia (as in hay or day)

TheHoptimist · 26/03/2022 08:23

Are you Muslim? I think many people seeing the name would assume that you are- regardless of spelling.

HaveringWavering · 26/03/2022 08:22

We pronounce the rs here so parth, glarss, grarss etc.
That’s not “pronouncing the rs “!

Pronouncing an r is when it is a rolled sound, so for example making a rolled sound at the end of “car” or “door” or in the middle of “urgent” or “border”.

What you do is make a long vowel sound when you see an “r” written down.