How should I spell this name?

kassy66

I'm really liking the name Fiva for a daughter.

Let me say real quick, yes this is a legitimate name. It's an old Russian name, origin a little confusing, but it either comes from the same Greek root as Phoebe, or the Greek name Thebe.

Anyway, it's super rare in English, so I wouldn't say there is a 'correct' spelling of it. My favorite spelling is Fiva, but I'm afraid people would pronounce it Fih-va, instead of Fee-va, like it's supposed to be. But Feeva looks funny written out to me.

So.. Fiva? Feeva? Other spellings?

Update: I would also be okay with a name that is similar, as long as Fiva would be an nice nickname to go with it.

BeachBum678

My first thought reading it was Fee-va. I would spell it however it's most commonly spelled in Russia.

Not a huge fan btw. The first thing that came to mind was, "I got a fe-vah! And the only cure is more cowbell!"

kassy66

BeachBum678 said:

My first thought reading it was Fee-va. I would spell it however it's most commonly spelled in Russia. Not a huge fan btw. The first thing that came to mind was, "I got a fe-vah! And the only cure is more cowbell!"

Well I can't spell it with Russian letters on an American birth certificate, so... Фива is how it is spelled though.

Renisra+2

I actually initially said it "fi-va" like high-five. I'll let the more experienced determine the spelling, because I have no idea!

JuniperGaze

I first though five-uh. I would stick with the traditional spelling and explain to people who don't know the pronunciation. That's just what happens when you choose an non traditional name.

kassy66

@dreadpiratebuttercup the thing is, there doesn't seem to be a 'correct' spelling because I've never seen it used in English (except as a last name, but I think that's a totally different name). The closest translation letter by letter would be Fiva, but the i doesn't come across the same as the Russian version does.

ashiscute

I pronounced it Fee-va when I saw it because it made me think of FIFA.  But I honestly think you would get Five-ah just as often which is a very unfortunate name.  

I would personally keep looking and maybe MN it.  

whatevs89

I pronounced it Five-ah after I read how it's actually pronounced I can't stop singing. "You give me fever" I would consider it for a middle name.

blu-eyedwife

I pronounced it Fee-va from the start, but I have a little background in Russian names.  I do think you'll get Five-ah more often, but I don't know if there's a way around that.  Do you think using a Ph instead of F would lead to a more intuitive pronunciation because of Phoebe?

4N6s

I got fee-vuh, like fever with an odd accent.
Fiona? Phoebe? Idk..

DawnJM25

My first thought was Five-uh, too.  It's a nice name, though.

jelina

I read Fee-va. And I think Fiva is the closest transliteration of Фива.

kassy66

Thanks all! I'm mostly worried about mispronounciations. My full name is also Russian, and ridiculously hard for Americans to say, so I worry about these names. I think Fiva will work good, but I haven't started seriously considering names yet (not planning on kids yet)