Beira?

[SerenityLoveLamb]

So, I'd never heard of it before it hit the news today, but is it a name people use? Do you need to be Scottish?

Love the story of sisters and it's meaning.

I'm not going to have any more babies bit of I was, it would be a contender I think. I wonder if next year will see it on the up?

How would it be pronounced?

Seriously? An ugly, one eyed hag who brings winter and reigns over cold and dark? I don’t think your daughter would be grateful for the name!

I've never heard of it (I'm in Scotland) and not sure what the connection in the news is today?
Is it to Rhyme with Vera?

Apparently it's By-ra, but I guess you could also think along the lines of Welsh Eira - Bey-ra.

From the mythology I've read she is a creator goddess, like Gaia, and a strong matriarch/leader of men. I like it!

JK Rowling has set up a new feminist support organisation called Beira's Place. She talks about the name here -

"Rowling explained why the board chose the name Beira (pronounced By-ra), saying: “Beira rules over the dark part of the year, handing over to her sister, Bride, when summer comes again.

“Beira represents female wisdom, power, and regeneration. Hers is a strength that endures during the difficult times, but her myth contains the promise that they will not last forever.” "

I'm not sure I'd use Bride, but like the story!

Unless you live in Scotland (and honestly, probably even if you do) there’s going to be a lot of mispronunciation of the Beer-uh / Bay-ruh / Bee-eyeruh kind. I don’t think JKR’s new service is going to be meaningful enough to a large enough section of society that the correct pronunciation will be second nature.

I think you're possibly right. And the spelling would be tricky.

I love mythology but am sadly lacking in the right roots to use any of it!

It would be a bit strange to use a welsh pronunciation of the name of a scottish goddess.
Eira is nice, but I think it doesn't sound great in a non-welsh pronunciation.

I quite like it
It's such an apt choice for JKs new centre too. I must admit, I shed a little tear reading about it.

I think it’s a great story but I’m not sure about the actual sound. I guess with the rising popularity of Lyra the sound is obviously not really unfamiliar, but the spelling means it’s not clear.

But yeah I do like the story the way JK tells it. It’s not the only iteration of the story though - in some of the old stories and poems Beira is depicted as keeping Bride captive as a slave out of spite and jealousy.

First thing I though of: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavrentiy_Beria

Apparently it's also a Portuguese name but I would imagine pronounced very differently.

Interesting point about Lyra @Kanaloa - maybe that's what makes it sounds like it could be more popular....