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Help[Opinions] Xenia and Caoimhe
What are your thoughts on the names Xenia (ZEE-nah) and Caoimhe (KEE-vah) not as sisters, just individually?
Would they spend their life correcting people on how to pronounce and spell their names? Would Caoimhe work on a child that's not from Irish descent? Do you prefer the phonetic spellings Zena / Zeena and Keeva?
Thanks in advance! :)
Would they spend their life correcting people on how to pronounce and spell their names? Would Caoimhe work on a child that's not from Irish descent? Do you prefer the phonetic spellings Zena / Zeena and Keeva?
Thanks in advance! :)
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There was a contestant on the Voice once that was named Xenia, but she and her family pronounced it SEN-yah (I don't remember of what descent they were, but her family weren't American) and I really liked it like that, but I don't like the Z sound.
I like Caoimhe, but it would be too much in that spelling on a person of non-Irish descent. I hate the look of Keeva. Kiva isn't so bad though.
I like Caoimhe, but it would be too much in that spelling on a person of non-Irish descent. I hate the look of Keeva. Kiva isn't so bad though.
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I always think of Xenia as being said like Kseniya first and foremost, and as 'ZEE-nah' as an afterthought. Actually, as ZEN-yah has been mentioned, I think that makes more sense than ZEE-nah, although I can see where both come from. They're all very pretty and I very much like the name.
I like the look of Caoimhe, but I don't really like the sound. I like it a lot in theory and on paper, and not very much at all in practice.
Zena / Zeena can't hold a torch to Xenia, and Keeva looks ugly. Stick with the less dumbed-down spellings :P
I like the look of Caoimhe, but I don't really like the sound. I like it a lot in theory and on paper, and not very much at all in practice.
Zena / Zeena can't hold a torch to Xenia, and Keeva looks ugly. Stick with the less dumbed-down spellings :P
This message was edited 1/26/2013, 12:49 PM
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They're both okay. Xenia would be easier to have than Caoimhe. I used to share a house with a Xenia (Greek) and she didn't have much trouble with it afaik.
I don't really see the point of using a name with a spelling that only really works phonetically in Irish if you're not Irish, or of Irish descent. It is much better than using the name and pronouncing it wrong though!
I don't really see the point of using a name with a spelling that only really works phonetically in Irish if you're not Irish, or of Irish descent. It is much better than using the name and pronouncing it wrong though!
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Xenia (ZEE-nah) seems silly, I'd say go for Xena instead. I mean, why put the i in altogether if you're not gonna pronounce it? Mispronouncing a name on purpose is just asking for trouble for the child.
Caoimhe is nice, but the pronunciation would cause a lot of trouble (or the spelling when she said her name and someone has to write it down). Caoimhe wouldn't work on a non-Irish child I think, I'd recommend using Keeva instead, if it's the sound/meaning you like about the name.
Caoimhe is nice, but the pronunciation would cause a lot of trouble (or the spelling when she said her name and someone has to write it down). Caoimhe wouldn't work on a non-Irish child I think, I'd recommend using Keeva instead, if it's the sound/meaning you like about the name.
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I've only ever heard Xenia pronounced either "ksen-ya" or "zen-ya." I think Zena / Zeena / Zina or Xena would be better for the "zee-na" pronunciation.
As for Caoimhe, I think it would be a bit unusual on a child of non-Irish descent, but some Irish names like Niamh have become reasonably popular in the UK in the last few years, so it could work :) I definitely prefer the Caoimhe spelling to Keeva.
As for Caoimhe, I think it would be a bit unusual on a child of non-Irish descent, but some Irish names like Niamh have become reasonably popular in the UK in the last few years, so it could work :) I definitely prefer the Caoimhe spelling to Keeva.
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Xenia: I don't think pronunciation would be a problem. In fact, Zena/Xena/Zina is not pronounced the same way as Xenia so that's not spelling it phonetically.
Not crazy about Xenia though. It sounds like part of a medical term.
Caoimhe: This definitely seems pretentious and show-off on a child of non Irish parents. Even on an Irish child it seems over the top. The spelling makes no sense to anybody not very familiar with Irish language. The pronunciation Keeva is not very attractive anyway, it sounds like a sport utility vehicle.
Not crazy about Xenia though. It sounds like part of a medical term.
Caoimhe: This definitely seems pretentious and show-off on a child of non Irish parents. Even on an Irish child it seems over the top. The spelling makes no sense to anybody not very familiar with Irish language. The pronunciation Keeva is not very attractive anyway, it sounds like a sport utility vehicle.
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