Circe?

[MsReid]

Is it too Game of Thrones? We really love it and can’t come up with any other girl names

Do you know who Circe was?

Circe isn’t in Game of Thrones she’s from The Odyssey by Homer and she didn’t cover herself in glory.
Are you thinking of Cirsei?

I wouldn't know how to pronounce it. My first guess was Italian, so Cheechay. But then I wondered Sersee? I think it might lead to a lifetime of explaining how it is pronounced.

Well, it’s the Odyssey, not really Game of Thrones. And she’s a sorceress.

Cecily or Cecelia have the same sound but more well known.

Have you heard of The Odyssey?

GOT was Cersei. Still, I definitely wouldn’t.

Quite apart from the mythological associations (sorceress who specialises in potions and turning people into swine), I think it’s an unattractively hissy sort of name in purely sonic terms. Game of Thrones isn’t on my radar.

😀

If you can’t even spell the name you’re thinking of, don’t use it.

I’m on about the pronunciation not the spelling. We like the name because of the sorcerers Circe, but I’m worried people may think differently because of the pronunciation

I enjoyed the book, but not a fan of it as a name. Too many negative associations for me.

I think it's gorgeous.

How is it pronounced? In my head I am saying sirk

Isn't it pronounced Keir - kay....

You'll never get anyone (unless they've studied classics or literature) to say it correctly.

It's my middle name. I love it!

And it's pronounced Sur-See

Personally love it.

People say "Sur-see" because of the recent book "Circe" but...the Greeks pronounced C's as K. In the Odyssey, she was Kir Kee....and that's where it gets confusing! lol

From an interview with Madeline Miller the author of the above....

Refinery29: Before we start, I wanted to make sure I was pronouncing Circe’s name right.
The way it was pronounced in ancient Greek would’ve been 'KIR-kee'. But one of the things that I feel strongly about is using the version of the name that is most recognisable to my audience, so I say 'SUR-see'. I want people to feel like they can own these myths and not feel intimidated by the names and the pronunciation. I try to use the version of the name that people have most comfort with. If the name is totally unknown, then I go with the Greek version. But if it’s a known name, I try to do the one that won’t make people say, ‘Uh oh. I need to have a degree in classics to read this book.’

It hasn't done the singer, Circe Link, any harm.

I quite admire the character in the Odyssey.

Go for it if you like it!

A bit of a mixed bag. We would pronounce it Sur-see just because I think that’s the more known pronunciation. Thank you everyone for your opinions

At school I bet she gets Circle...

I taught a Circé, she was French and pronounced it Seer-say. Very cute.

No I wouldn't personally

The pronunciation bothers me too much to use it. I know it's Kir-kee in Greek and some people say Sur-see, but in my head I can't seem to stop saying Sir-kuh. First C like an S and second as a K, as in Circle