is Kirsten a known name in England?

[Vibeke]

Hi,
Im Danish, hubby is English - and I would really like our daughter to be called Kirsten, but we're having some concerns about the pernounciation of Kirsten (it's Keeersten in Danish - but Kuursten in english)
would you say it's going to confuse the child?

• PS have been wondering about Hannah or Emma too, as they're the same in both languages, but my niece in DK is called Anna.

Vibeke

Once they know I'm sure it's fine. FWIW, though, I know a small half-Danish Freya, and she gets most put out that everyone here calls her 'Fray-a' and not 'Fry-a'

I don't think people will have any difficulty with the pronunciation, once they know how it's supposed to be said. It's just that most people will assume the 'Kursten' pronunciation when they see it written down, so you/she might have to do a lot of correcting if you want the other pronunciation.

Or did I misunderstand, and you plan to use one pronunciation in the UK and the other for your Danish side of the family?

Kirsten is a lovely name. I'm a Kirsty but always wanted to be a Kirsten, I feel it ages better. I'm thirty now and still see Kirsty as a bit of a ''little girls name''. Although I generally think that with names ending in 'ie or y'. Just my opinion. My parents call me Kirst-ee and that is how I introduce myself, however all my teachers at Secondary called me Kier-stee.

Its like another poster said, as soon as you introduce baby, people will take the lead from you :) Good luck

Kirsten is a lovely name. Yes, it sounds fine to English ears and is a known name here.

Emma is nice too, and I wouldn't say it's too similar to Anna.

However, Hannah and Anna are very similar.

I know a Kirsten pronounced the German way (same as your way) and it's lovely. She said that once people have heard her name out loud they remember how it's pronounced, she only has to correct people that have seen it written down first before hearing it iyswim. I tink it's a lovely name and that you should go for it.

Kirsten is lovely (I would pronounce it your way). Kristin otoh is horrible.

A child is not going to get confused by hearing a different pronunciation, as long as you and her father pronounce it the same way. That is how she will learn it and say it. I have an Irish name that Irish people pronounce different ways depending on region, and I stick to the pronunciation I learned as a child, at home.

Meant to add -- Hannah is too close to Anna imo, but Emma is a completely different name..

I like the idea of calling her Kjerstin. It'll make people stop and ask how to pronounce it rather than assuming they know. Otherwise I suspect everyone will just call her Kuuursten and it'll annoy you all!

It's my name. I'm Scottish and pronounce it kersten. Kuursten pronunciation in Scottish always sounds quite rough.

it is a known name, yes but I have never heard it pronounced Danish style.

Hi Vibeke

Danish here to married to English man. Our son has a name that is pronounced slightly differently in Danish and English it doesnt phase him in fact he loves to know his name in Danish and often says mummy say my name the danish way..

with your name you must have had to teach the English it and they learnt? will be the same with your Kirsten

(weirdly I have cousins named Vibeke and Kirsten in Denmark)