Zeynab name pronunciation

[Strava]

How would you pronounce this name please?
I am a non native English speaker so would like to double check how most people may pronounce it. I am not sure if I should go for Zaynab or Zeynab but i want it to sound an “ey” as in elephant? If that makes sense? Thanks so much

The ones I've known pronounced it ZAYnab with the first syllable rhyming with 'hay' or 'play'...?

I'd probably say both of them the same but not with the sound you want at the start.

I'd say Zay (rhyme with Ray)- nab

@dementedpixie

I'd probably say both of them the same but not with the sound you want at the start.

I'd say Zay (rhyme with Ray)- nab

Yep me too.

@dementedpixie

I'd probably say both of them the same but not with the sound you want at the start.

I'd say Zay (rhyme with Ray)- nab

Same here. I just can’t seem to get my accent to say it with a Eh sound. Maybe if I were to hear it, but I don’t think I would naturally say it that way from a written name, regardless of the spelling. Sorry!

And me.

Agree it rhymes with play

@dementedpixie

I'd probably say both of them the same but not with the sound you want at the start.

I'd say Zay (rhyme with Ray)- nab

Same here.

I'd assume, because of the Y, that both were pronounce zay-nab.

I would say Zay- rhymes with hay- nab

It’s a lovely name whichever pronunciation. You should only have to tell people once how it’s pronounced if they don’t get it right first time.

Is Zehnab an alternative? I'd assume an eh sound with that.

I think Zehnab might be the closest? I’ve heard my Asian relatives pronounce the name kind of halfway between zair-nub and zen-ub.

I do think the majority of English people will pronounced it as Zay-nab (zay to rhyme with play) with either of the spellings you’ve suggested.

Iwant it to sound an “ey” as in elephant? If that makes sense? Thanks so much

It doesn't to me,no, sorry.

el eee fant

Ey -like hay? Or like Eye??
Your fist spelling is say zay (say, play) nab
Your second spelling I'd say Zeeeeee nab

Whatever you choose I'd expect it to get mangled by half the population. We don't even say 'English' names the same in the various regions! Let alone how we pronounce (even traditional) Irish/Scottish/Welsh names.

@SpookyPumpkinPants

Iwant it to sound an “ey” as in elephant? If that makes sense? Thanks so much

It doesn't to me,no, sorry.

el eee fant

Ey -like hay? Or like Eye??
Your fist spelling is say zay (say, play) nab
Your second spelling I'd say Zeeeeee nab

Whatever you choose I'd expect it to get mangled by half the population. We don't even say 'English' names the same in the various regions! Let alone how we pronounce (even traditional) Irish/Scottish/Welsh names.

Thank you so much for all the replies.

The difference in accents is a very good point, I guess I can not expect that 100% of people would pronounce it exactly the same.

Sorry I realise now that elephant was not a very good example as quite confusing, yes I would like it to be pronounced the same was as in “play”.

I am slightly worried that some people may pronounce it with a “ee” sound as in “steve” but it looks like most of you would pronounce both spelling the same with a “ay” sound as in “play” so that’s reassuring.

The reason I am leaning more towards “Zeynab” is that I would like the name to be pronounced relatively the same way in french and english and “Zaynab” may get pronounced more like “Zah-y-nab” in french.

@Leafsontheline

I would say Zay- rhymes with hay- nab

It’s a lovely name whichever pronunciation. You should only have to tell people once how it’s pronounced if they don’t get it right first time.

Thank you xx

Im hopeless at pronouncing names I've not seen before. But this one seems pretty straightforward. ZAY nab to rhyme with play.

@Strava

How would you pronounce this name please? I am a non native English speaker so would like to double check how most people may pronounce it. I am not sure if I should go for Zaynab or Zeynab but i want it to sound an “ey” as in elephant? If that makes sense? Thanks so much

I have seen this name spelt as Zainab

Not sure about pronunciations though.

I think play/hay sound is the closest but the 'ai' would be slightly differently pronounced

It’s an Arabic name, popular with Muslim families. It is generally pronounced as it is written Zaynab.

I would pronounce both spellings to rhyme with ‘play’, the same as others.

I think you are safe

I would say it properly because I know a few Zaynabs, there is quite a well known celebrity/presenter named Zeinab Badawi and also I can speak some Arabic.
I may be an outlier.
The celebrity part is probably the most relevant.

Yeah I would pronounce Zay like play / hay - nab.

but i want it to sound an “ey” as in elephant? If that makes sense? Thanks so much
But there isn’t any ey in elephant?

I know a Zainab and she pronounces it Zennab

@dementedpixie

I'd probably say both of them the same but not with the sound you want at the start.

I'd say Zay (rhyme with Ray)- nab

Yes, like this. I think it's a beautiful name.

Zeinab Badawi Is/was a reasonably well known newsreader here in the U.K.

I’d pronounce zeynab or zaynab the same as her name was pronounced.

The only version I know is Zainab (Zai to rhyme with hair) pronounced Zairnub.

The original Arabic pronunciation is Zaynab rhyming with play. Some Indian accents pronounce it zenab or jhenab with an E for elephant sound but that's more a dialect thing than the correct way to say it