Charis - just too many pronunciation issues??

[Honeybee79]

DH and I have finally agreed on a name we love. However, how much of an issue do you think mispronunciation is going to be with Charis? The h is silent as in "chorus", or "charisma", but I can see this is likely to be an issue.

We wouldn't want to use Carys instead because we're not Welsh and it's a different name with a different meaning, though perfectly nice, just not for us. DH is a classicist and we both love the meaning and sound of Charis, not Carys.

Thoughts please? We love it but don't want to burden her unnecessarily!

I get that the pronunciation might be confusing (hence I started the thread seeking views) but wanted to know how much of an issue. The consensus: not a huge issue.

We live in London - so many names from different cultures, am always having to check re pronunciation etc, there is no issue asking if you're unsure, but once I have checked it becomes a non-issue. I don't then think "Oh, that isn't right because of x/y/z".

Sounds like it might occasionally be an issue for a girl called Charis, but am actually pretty reassured and encouraged by the comments here!

I like Charis (massive Heyer fan ) and also Carys.

Your DD will end up spelling her name a lot throughout her life, though. But then, I guess lots of people do, really.

I've never come across Charis before and would have gone for a ch-aris pronunciation (ch as in charity, champion) if I'd had to guess.

I love Charis! I would have no problem pronouncing. I think most people would be able to okay and it would only take them to hear it once to get it!

Agreed Sanity. Though my name is Tessa (v ordinary!) and I end up spelling that out loads and always have done - plenty of people do, unless they're an Anna a Ben. Just need to weigh up how much of an issue that is. Never bothered me really.

I have to say I fail to understand why some people fail to "get" the pronunciation of this name once they know how it's pronounced. [my bold]

My response: because they are dicks. That is a dickish thing to do.

HTH

I went to school with a Charis Towers. I thought she sounded very grand!! Lovely name.

There was a little Charis at my chiildrens first school, but it was said with a CH like chocolate. Which to me sounds like some strong hash from India.
I do not think anybody had the heart to tell the parents...

My name is Marie, pretty simple you'd think but I get called all sorts and most people spell it wrong too! I wouldn't worry a bit about it, people will get used to it!!

If someone verbally told me their name was Charis, I'd ask if it was spelt with an h or a y. Ds2 had a Charis and a Chiara in his class at primary so the correct pronunciation isn't that out there. Go for it!

Charis in London will be totally fine.Charis in Cardiff, well not so much, initially. But that's because any Welsh person in Waleswould hear "Karis" and expect Carys.

I see it as being a bit like Amelia/Emilia - extremely similar but different names, equally valid.

I really liked this and strongly considered it but disliked Carys. I love Charis' classical origins and meaning.

I love love love it. Vetoed by a very aggravating OH who doesnt appreciate my love of any girl's name ending in s. Love that spelling too.

Its a beautiful name OP, I'd say go for it!

DD has a friend called Charis , I'll ask her if she has many mispronounciation problems

I am at " Are you Greek then ? "

I would pronounce it like Karis. I know one though (sister of a friend who I have never met). Once I knew it was pronounced like that, it made sense to me. If you like it, go for it, OP. It's a really nice, strong name.

I am Welsh so I would automatically spell it Carys and if it was written down I would probably pronounce it ch as in Church.

But people can spell names however they wish so if you like it, go for it!

Thanks for all the comments. Sounds like it might not be so much of an issue!

I have a similar, if not more popular, classical name, which is also used in Shakespeare. I always have to spell it, people can never pronounce it. It's annoying having to spell your name on the phone EVERY day. You run the risk your child will grow to hate it.

I was also at school with someone called charis who was kind of masculine, and so that's colouring my opinion too.

Lovely name. Some people might mispronounce at first but it's easily corrected. Just say Charis like Charisma!

My cousin is called Karris. It's a nice name

I wouldn't use the Charis spelling. She would constantly be correcting them

I know someone who pronounces it with a soft Ch like Chariot. The first time I met her she was being introduced at a meeting as a speaker and I thought the introducer had just mispronounced it but she repeated it that way. I've always known it before with a hard K sound, as the Greek origins would suggest.

I thought it was supposed to be spelled Kerys.

I've not heard of the name Charis but know a Carys.

I would have read it at Sha-ris but now know it's Ch like Christy rather Charlotte.