Thoughts on this girl name

miss.brittany

DH and I still haven't decided on this baby's name. We like to pick names based on their meaning.

We are thinking of Ariel. But pronouncing it with a hard "R" sound like "Arrrr I'm a pirate" instead of "air" like the little mermaid. We would use the nickname "Ari."

Ariel means lion of God and is also used as a poetic name for the city of Jerusalem.

MrMrsandBaby

I think everyone will say it like the mermaid.

pnwlover12

Sebastion the Jamaican lobster pronounced it that way, I think it's sort of like potato/potatto thing. I think you'd have better luck spelling it Arielle.

CNJ4EVA

I like the name a lot, but I agree with PP that people are not going to pronounce it the way you are.

miss.brittany

@MrMrsandBaby‌ and @CNJ4EVA‌ That's what I told DH. Do you think once we correct them they'll remember though?

And @pnwlover‌ LOL. I forgot about that, but you're right I do think that's how he said it. Never thought about changing the spelling. That might help. I'll mention it to DH.

MrMrsandBaby

Yes, I think when you correct people they will say it the way you want them to.  But I also think they will roll their eyes at you and you will be correcting a lot of people for a few years.

MrMrsandBaby

FWIW, I really like it the way you want to pronounce it.  I just think it will be a constant struggle and I would get tired of correcting people.

pepperpotts317

I think it's a lovely name and people you see often will only need to be corrected a few times. She will have to correct people at school, at the doctor, ect her whole life. If you love the name go for it. I have a Luke and I have to tell people he's not Lucas. There's always something. I agree with @pnwlover12 about the spelling.

miss.brittany

Thanks for all the input so far! I think it's good to hear the thoughts of people who have no personal investment in our name choice.

erinchrisitne424

I knew an Ariel (arrr) but I can't remember how she spelled it. I believe the same as you had posted but she went by Arriel and no one had issues with it.

HappyCianci

My two cents: spelled Arielle puts the accent into the second syllable, but doesn't change the long A to a short A. People will say "Air-ee-ELLE" instead of "AIR-ee-el"

I'm not sure how to spell it to encourage the pronunciation you like. Personally, I think Ariel is a really pretty name even when it's pronounced like the mermaid.  

Saragoeswest

I think if you really want to call her Ari then you should name her Ari.

MorganWP

I agree with PPs, you'll have to correct people but they'll get it eventually.

My daughter's name is Giana (jah-na) and I have to correct people all the time on the pronunciation but after they hear it once they usually get it.

loopybaby

It would be a pain to correct people, I think. What about Aria?

TheOtherJacobsons

Coming from a person who constantly has to correct pronunciation, pick a spelling that will force the pronunciation like pnwlover suggested. She'll thank you in the long run.

meggiev123

I love the name that way you pronounce it and agree with pps about possibly changing the spelling.  They may not get it right if you spell it Arielle, but for me it takes away the little mermaid association and would make me at least think about the pronounciation rather than assuming its Air-eal.

mandapear

Just an FYI, you're pronouncing it correctly in the original Hebrew. If you like the name and don't mind correcting people who assume it is pronounced differently, go for it.

SusieBW

I like the name, and I think the mermaid association would fade over time.  I like it more the way that you plan to pronounce it.  Changing the spelling would also diminish the mermaid association, too.

staryb

SusieBW said:

I like the name, and I think the mermaid association would fade over time.  I like it more the way that you plan to pronounce it.  Changing the spelling would also diminish the mermaid association, too.

The Little Mermaid came out 25 years ago (I feel old now) and apparently the name association is not fading anytime soon if we're all still talking about it lol Sorry, I know you probably meant that the association will fade for her (and I'm sure you're right) but this just made me laugh  

OP, I think it's a lovely name! I like either pronunciation and as long as you are ok with correcting people who mispronounce it you'll be fine. Giving her the nickname Ari will help with that too.

SusieBW

staryb said:

SusieBW said:

I like the name, and I think the mermaid association would fade over time.  I like it more the way that you plan to pronounce it.  Changing the spelling would also diminish the mermaid association, too.

The Little Mermaid came out 25 years ago (I feel old now) and apparently the name association is not fading anytime soon if we're all still talking about it lol Sorry, I know you probably meant that the association will fade for her (and I'm sure you're right) but this just made me laugh  

LOL!  You're totally right!  But yes, I meant for her.  I think that at first when you tell people her name is Ariel, everyone will have a little mermaid comment, but they'll get over it and then it will just be her name.

Saragoeswest

Another vote for Aria.

miss.brittany

Thanks again for all the input ladies! I appreciate it.