Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lyra? This is the name I want for my baby, but I need to make sure I'm pronouncing it correctly, or at least acceptably. :blushing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 And now I'm chuckling over the fact that I thought I had picked such a unique baby name if this was a girl, when you thought of the same name yourself :D Yes, I'm not even looking at popularity. I don't want to know :smilielol5: I think it has kind of a trendy sound, but also timeless and classical. And also feminine and pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strange_girl Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Leer-uh. Very pretty, btw :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 LIE-ruh. That's how I've heard the lead character in the Philip Pullman stories pronounced. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I've heard it pronounced lie-ra and leer-a. I think both are nice and I ask how it's pronounced when I see it because I don't think there's one obvious pronunciation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I think the name is generally pronounced LYE-ra, like the constellation. I would spell it Lira if you want it to be pronounced LEER-a. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lee-ra. Prepare yourself, I know two baby Lyras born in the last year. I have a feeling it's taking off in popularity if that matters to you at all. It's a beautiful choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Feel better, it isn't common at all. We just happen to both be brilliant, creative mamas ;) Actually. I lean the other way. I have an unpopular name, and I don't want that. My parents thought they were SO clever. :glare: They gave me an old lady name. I'd rather it be more common than not. I want it to at least be recognizable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horsellian Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ruh here too (and I'm in the UK not the US, which might make a difference, as ArcticMama noted upthread). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I know a 9 year old named Lyra. It is pronounced Lie-ruh. Like "lyre (the instrument) - ah". Here are the official internet/google/youtube pronuciations for lyre and Lyra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ruh. And I'm in Texas, not the U.K. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ruh. In South Carolina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Here is my problem with the name... If you love the name and are considering if for your baby, but even you aren't sure how it's pronounced, your child is going to have to deal with that same confusion (and mispronunciation and misspelling) for her entire life. Could you use it as a middle name instead? (I know Lyra is a constellation, but in my mind it's a brand of colored pencils and a My Little Pony character. :D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Above The Rowan Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 LIE-ruh. That's how I've heard the lead character in the Philip Pullman stories pronounced. L This. It was on our short list for my daughters names and we were planning to pronounce it like in the books :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I pronounce it leer-uh, accent on the first syllable. ETA: I don't pronounce the y quite as a long e, more like lihr-uh. (That spelling makes sense in my brain so just go with it, ok? :laugh: ) ETA2: first syllable as in lyrical, at least the way I pronounce lyrical. How's that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I pronounce it Squidaped-oyt, but either Liera or Leera would probably more typical. Sadly, you'll probably have to tell people how to pronounce it at least half the time. However, many people have that same problem with their names, or else they have to tell people how to spell it, so that shouldn't necessarily deter you if you really like it :) Now I'm positive I want to spell it with an I, to help with the pronunciation issue. Eek! That won't help. People will still say it however they please. Lyra has never been one of the 1000 most popular baby names in the US, so you're probably safe on that front, although you should know that three or more variations on Lilah are in the top 200 currently, and that might cause some confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lyra? This is the name I want for my baby, but I need to make sure I'm pronouncing it correctly, or at least acceptably. :blushing: So it rhymed with Myra. Lie-ruh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Now I'm positive I want to spell it with an I, to help with the pronunciation issue. Eek! No Liras for us this go around, we just got confirmation of a male last Friday. But I'm determined to not drop it from our list for the next baby unless the popularity skyrockets unacceptably :) It sounds like a 50/50 split, Strawberry - I'd say go with whichever pronunciation you like and just correct people as needed. This is the first I have seen that you found out that you're having a little boy. Congratulations! :hurray: (PS. Lira is Italian money in my mind. ;)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I would pronounce it Lie-ruh. Unless you told me differently of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Ok, so Lira is definitely Lee- ruh or Lih ruh, depending on accent. Lyra should be Lie ruh, but alternatively Lee ruh or Lih ruh. I will have to correct about half of the people, half of the time. I would prefer Lyra, pronounced Lih ra. As long as it's not completely unheard of, I'm fine. I have noticed Lila/Lilah/Lyla/Lylah gaining in popularity. My top choice for Taurus was Delilah. I'm sure that will cause some confusion. But really, anything other than Jane and Kate (Jayne and Cate/Cait/Kait/Kayte?) is going to cause a bit of confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ruh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I don't know the correct pronunciation since I've never heard it before, but if I saw it in print, I would pronounce it LIE-ruh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I would prefer Lyra, pronounced Lih ra. As long as it's not completely unheard of, I'm fine. I think you'd have to correct people almost all the time, as that pronunciation doesn't match the spelling. How would anyone know that Ly should be pronounced LIH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in NY Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Ayup.... my cousin just welcomed a Lyla.... the first I've ever met, and so adorable. :) I'd say Lie-ra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 My first thought on reading it was that it was awfully close to Lycra, the fabric in swimsuits. My initial pronunciation would tend to be "LIE-ruh," because of "lyre" rather than "LIH-ruh" like the Italian currency. Another option would include the r in the first syllable "LIAR- uh" or "LEER-uh" and in the US South, the option of "LEE-ruh" will crop up (or a broad "LIE-ruh, but the i is with a very wide and flat mouth position rather than a tall, narrower one----I am terrible at writing out phonetic sounds!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 But really, anything other than Jane and Kate (Jayne and Cate/Cait/Kait/Kayte?) is going to cause a bit of confusion. This reminds me of the first couple days of my freshman year in college. The RA for our dorm had posted everyone's names on their doors to help everyone get to know each other. Jayne was a couple doors down. Someone asked, "Are you Jayne?" (pronounced like Jane) She replied, "Actually, it's Jay-nee." Really? "Yes, according to my mother." :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lie-ra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Lila does cause a lot of confusion. My almost 5 year old is Lila Evangeline. Everyone is like, "Leela? Lou-la? Lill-a?" No... LIE-la. LIE-la, y'all! Unfortunately, when she was about a year and a half, my church added two more Lila/Lylas. So much for having an uncommon but known name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 I'm not one to get all worked up over a name. If people call her Lie ruh, whatever. She can choose whichever pronunciation she wants. I'm not going to throw a tantrum if my kid's name isn't pronounced the way I prefer. Really, I'm in the deep south. I can't even guess what Lyra will sound like in a place where Carmen is KOR mihn and nine is noyn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I'm not one to get all worked up over a name. If people call her Lie ruh, whatever. She can choose whichever pronunciation she wants. I'm not going to throw a tantrum if my kid's name isn't pronounced the way I prefer. Really, I'm in the deep south. I can't even guess what Lyra will sound like in a place where Carmen is KOR mihn and nine is noyn. It's a good point. My Texas MIL's pronunciation of my name sounded like 'LAH-ra to me. That's fine - it's still my name. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Hmmm... not to be dense, but how else would one pronounce "Laura" if not as you described? LAW-ruh. ETA: scroll down for the UK and Australian pronunciations on this page. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 See, Lah-ra and Law-ra are pretty much the same for me. Laura is said like Nora, Dora, Cora... rhymes with store-a here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Oh! I guess I misinterpreted your post. I say "Ah", as in, "Ah, I understand now!" So I guess I was thinking LAH-ruh was actually LAW-ruh... which is how I pronounce it. So basically, Nevermind! (LOL) I added some pronunciations to my post above, as the UK version of 'law' is much more closed than the Texas one. Rather than an open mouth, I have pursed and elongated lips. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 If I saw Lyra, I'd think LEER-uh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 See, Lah-ra and Law-ra are pretty much the same for me. Laura is said like Nora, Dora, Cora... rhymes with store-a here. That's how I would say it unless a person corrected me. I knew a Lara who pronounced her name like Larry but with an -a instead of a -y sound at the end. I pronounced it like she wanted even though I would have never said it that way just seeing it in print. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine72 Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Leer-uh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 LIE-ruh. It's sounds very pretty. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I would guess it would be like "lyric" but with "uh" for the second syllable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen State Sue Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I don't know how you want to pronounce it, but I've never seen it before and in my mind I pronounced it Lear - ah (ear like those things that stick out on the side of your head). A very pretty name, but if I pronounced it incorrectly, just be prepared for that. Oh, I just saw that SKL pronounced it the same way I did but used lyric to describe it. Much nicer way to describe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 I'm out of likes, but yes, like lyric or lira. I like the y better. It does mean harp, and is a constellation. I know it isn't the correct pronunciation, but I have heard the word and lyre pronounced both ways. I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't WRONG. I figure this group is more familiar with the roots than the average American. If it goes both ways here, I can be fairly certain the majority of people she (if baby is a she) interacts with will be fine with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Here is my problem with the name... If you love the name and are considering if for your baby, but even you aren't sure how it's pronounced, your child is going to have to deal with that same confusion (and mispronunciation and misspelling) for her entire life. Could you use it as a middle name instead? (I know Lyra is a constellation, but in my mind it's a brand of colored pencils and a My Little Pony character. :D) People ask us how to pronounce my son's name and it is one of the books in the Bible. I say Leer-uh. I think it is a fine name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I've never heard of this name before. When I saw it I assumed it was pronounced LEER-uh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I would pronounce it Lear (like the jet)- uh. But that's just how I would do it. I've never heard of that name before. It's pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 How do you say Myra? I say it My (like my cupcake) rah. I would say Lyra the same way because I make a connection between the two names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowlark Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I would pronounce it Leer-uh, but 100% agree that you'd be forever giving the pronunciation and 50% of people would pronounce it wrong. With my last baby, I really wanted Kyra as in Keer-uh. I asked here and got similar responses to what up you're getting, Hence, I had no desire to explain a name for the rest of my life (or put that burden on her) so I dropped it from my list. That baby ended up being an Ivy, but truth be told I still look at her and wonder if I should've picked Kyra. But she definitely is my little Ivy girl :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 LIE-ruh. That's how I've heard the lead character in the Philip Pullman stories pronounced. L :iagree: This was my top choice for baby girl names, but I got vetoed. :/ FWIW, I've had even the most obvious names mispronounced by strangers. It's a rare thing that anyone gets my name right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 I have quite a bit of time left to make a decision, but I haven't found any other name that I like enough to use. Not one. I doubt D will love this one, but if not Lyra, I have no other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm wondering how many long I sound mamas are in the UK or other English speaking countries than the US/Canada? I've never heard it pronounced that way here but that would have been the way we'd have pronounced it in Devon. StatesideIve always heard it with a long E sound from the I/Y vowel. I'm in the US and would say it LIE-ra. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'd guess Lie-ruh but I wouldn't know for sure and would probably ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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