View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

[Opinions] Re: Do you have a made-up, mashed-up or diminutive name?
My first name is Starla. My mother didn't make it up herself, and it does appear on top 1000 lists before and around the time I was born, but it probably did start out as an elaboration of Star, or maybe a jazzed-up variation of Carla? She can't remember where she got it from, she thinks it might have been on a soap opera.Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up2

Replies

I've noticed that I use two different vowel sounds for that "a". If I think of Starla as "an 80's style name like Carla", I say the a with my mouth more closed and my tongue further back. But if I think of the fact that it has the word "star" in it, I say the a like I would in "star", which is apparently different from how I'd say it in Carla -- more open mouth, longer syllable, more AH. I have no idea how to write the difference phonetically but it's definitely a thing and I wondered if you've noticed differences in how people say your name.
vote up1
Starla is one of my favorite girl names.
vote up2