Kailani

[Babyandpregnant]

I love the name, the traditional pronunciation is Kai-lani/ KY-lani.
Also love the the shortening of Kaia ( Kya/Kai-a)
It is from my partners heritage.
I am worried it will be constantly
pronounced K-A-Ylani.
The only way I can think of getting around this is to spell it Kylani but DH says it loses its meaning.
Will this be much of an issue for her? I have a very simple name so not an issue I have faced and don’t want to burden her.
Thoughts on the name also welcome. Our last name goes with the name very well.
Middle name suggestions also appreciated.

Thanks

I know a Kailani, pretty closely. She's never had an issue, everyone says her name correctly, most on the first try and everyone once told.

Not a name I'd heard before, and as Kai is quite a well known name I guessed the pronunciation and was pleased I got it right. Yes, you probably will have to tell some people how it is said, is that really going to annoy you so much that you can't use the name?

I'm with your DH that fiddling with the spelling of an established name is not a good move.

@MajorNeville

I know a Kailani, pretty closely. She's never had an issue, everyone says her name correctly, most on the first try and everyone once told.

Thank you that’s great to hear!

@AuntieStella

Not a name I'd heard before, and as Kai is quite a well known name I guessed the pronunciation and was pleased I got it right. Yes, you probably will have to tell some people how it is said, is that really going to annoy you so much that you can't use the name?

I'm with your DH that fiddling with the spelling of an established name is not a good move.

Thanks for the feedback, I really like the spelling as it is traditionally. And it wouldn’t annoy me, I just wouldn’t want it to annoy her. I feel better that you hadn’t heard it before and still automatically went for the right pronunciation

I have a family member called Kalani! I think it's beautiful

I would have pronounced it Kay-lani at first sight but lots of names - including my own - are often pronounced wrongly on the first attempt and are easily corrected.

I agree with your DH re: not amending the spelling, people will quickly learn how to say it.

I agree with your DP, keep the spelling as it's supposed to be.

Tbh I'd probably assume it was pronounced kay-lani initially but I'd only need to be corrected once.

Its lovely and not hard to pronounce

Beautiful

I’d pronounce it correctly on first sight because of having taught quite a few boys called Kai (rhymes with eye). Never seen/heard it before and I think it’s lovely.

I also got the pronunciation right first time because I am familiar with the name Kai. Lovely name.

Not familiar with the name. I would have pronounced it Ky-LA-ni, I'm afraid.

However, once you corrected me I would have been fine!

I got the pronunciation right from seeing the thread title if that helps? As PP have said, Kai is a known name now and so that helped. Keep the spelling as it is. She can always correct people if they get the pronunciation wrong.

It’s a Hawaiian name. As is Kai. I have a Hawaiian friend and she explained to me in great detail alone about what their names mean.

Kai means ocean in Hawaiian she told me.