any way to make ava ahvah

isaaqsmom

without completely butchering the spelling? We like the name, but only with a long a. Any ideas?

Temp950106187509203

Ay is a long A sound, not Ah.

There is no way to spell or pronounce Ava as Ahvah without looking/sounding like a pretentious weirdo.

Newspaper Articles

I personally like the spelling Ava.  I've seen it spelled once Ayva.  I have no idea what Ahvah is.

thatgirlang

You'd have to spell it Ava, I think, and just pronounce it your way and hope everyone catches on. It WILL be one of those names that people will pronounce the other way though, no matter what.

 

isaaqsmom

ahvah is how we would like it pronounced. It's persian instead of the typical popular version. ahvah isn't a spelling or a name, it's how it would be pronounced. ah-vah.

Newspaper Articles

How is it spelled in Persia?

EXL311

I'm confused.  You said you want it pronounced Ahvah but then you said you like the name with only a long a sound which is how it is normally pronounced.  What am I missing?

Ashley&Bryan

EXL311:

I'm confused.  You said you want it pronounced Ahvah but then you said you like the name with only a long a sound which is how it is normally pronounced.  What am I missing?

 

Yeah, I don't get it either!

StephanieLoes

The "Ah-vah" I know just has teh Ava spelling.  She just pronounces it that  way and corrects people when they get it wrong.  She likes to tell people that if her parents wanted her to be an "Ay-vah" they would have spelled it Eva. She gets a bit salty about it sometimes.

Eviebee

People will pronounce almost every name wrong.  I don't understand why you want to change the spelling, that is how you're supposed to pronounce Ava. 

bim38106

Ava is long A... Am I missing something?

thatgirlang

bim38106:

Ava is long A... Am I missing something?

LOL. I am re-reading the OP and realizing it doesn't make sense.

mermer82

A in English doesn't make the same sound as an a in other languages. Seems as though no one else was forced to take a foreign language in school? And you don't see all 3490442390 girls named Ava calling themselves Ay-vay do you?

However, there is indeed no way around people calling her ay-vah. She will spend her life saying no its AH-VAH, it's Persian!

thatgirlang

mermer82:

A in English doesn't make the same sound as an a in other languages. Seems as though no one else was forced to take a foreign language in school? And you don't see all 3490442390 girls named Ava calling themselves Ay-vay do you?

But she said she liked the long a sound but then described the Ahvah pronunciation. I think that's the confusion.

bim38106

thatgirlang:

mermer82:

A in English doesn't make the same sound as an a in other languages. Seems as though no one else was forced to take a foreign language in school? And you don't see all 3490442390 girls named Ava calling themselves Ay-vay do you?

But she said she liked the long a sound but then described the Ahvah pronunciation. I think that's the confusion.

Exactly. The OP sounded like she wanted it pronounced the way it is typically pronounced in the US. If there was a language barrier, that should have been mentioned. And what's w/ the attitude? For the record, English was not my first language and in my language an A doesn't make a long-A English sound.. but since we're all speaking in English here on a US board, why would we assume otherwise?

And yes, every single Ava I know pronounces it Ay-vah (I was a teacher, I know many). Otherwise, it's spelled Eva. Maybe it's a regional thing?

bim38106

isaaqsmom:

ahvah is how we would like it pronounced. It's persian instead of the typical popular version. ahvah isn't a spelling or a name, it's how it would be pronounced. ah-vah.

What about Ahva then? I don't know if you want to "mess" with a spelling like that, but otherwise she'll have to constantly correct people. Which I guess isn't a huge deal (I have to do it all the time w/ my name but it does get annoying.

isaaqsmom

We don't want it pronounced ay-vah, instead we like ah-vah. I'm sorry about the miscommunication about the long A English sound. I didn't mean to cause friction, but honestly, nothing prevents it on these boards. I mean starting with the first reply post there has been negativeness. What can you do?

DMDavidson

thatgirlang:

You'd have to spell it Ava, I think, and just pronounce it your way and hope everyone catches on. It WILL be one of those names that people will pronounce the other way though, no matter what.

 

That would be my thoughts on it too.

thatgirlang

isaaqsmom:

We don't want it pronounced ay-vah, instead we like ah-vah. I'm sorry about the miscommunication about the long A English sound. I didn't mean to cause friction, but honestly, nothing prevents it on these boards. I mean starting with the first reply post there has been negativeness. What can you do?

I am sorry! I tried to be nice. I don't think anyone WANTED to be confused and make you feel bad about it.

GL!!

andrea922

Newspaper Articles:

How is it spelled in Persia?

I believe you mean Iran.

I think everyone is completely overreacting to a name that is pronounced differently in another culture. People have names in the US all the time that are not 'American' - if you see Jesus do you say Jesus or Hay-sus? You accept it is said differently in a different culture.

If you like Ava pronounced like 'Ah-vah' then you should spell it phoenetically or spell it Ava and correct everyone. My name is Andrea, pronounced Ahndrea, and I have spent my life correcting people. It happens, it sucks, but I would never change my name.

blessedinthewest

Ava is latin isn't it?  As in the Ava Maria song.  I think if you just spell it Ava and pronounce it the latin way that would be fine?

sophie080208

I've taught lots of Ava's and they were all pronounced the same way "A-vuh". All the Ava's I knew in college were pronounced the same way - "A-vuh". I think it's a nice idea wanting to honor your heritage but her name is going to be mispronounced her entire life.

Harms80

You're going to have one frustrated little girl I think.  With Ava being so popular these days and the vast majority of people in America pronouncing it the way Ava Gardner did, you either have to suck it up and spell it that way and constantly correct people or choose a different name.  Sorry but that's what happens!

mfransdell

Since it is a foreign pronunciation I dont think you need to change the spelling at all. Spell it Ava and pronounce it as you like (Ah-vah......which I think is beautiful btw).

I am sure she will be called Ay-va a million times in her life but all the regulars in her life (friends, family, neighbors, teachers ect) will pronounce her name correctly once she says it. Hope that helps!

teacherjess

Newspaper Articles:

How is it spelled in Persia?

Had to laugh at this-- for someone named Newspaper Articles, you must not be reading many newspapers.

Anyway, is your last name Iranian? I think people will actually remember the Ahvah pronunciation more if you have an Iranian last name versus something like Smith.

I wouldn't try to change the spelling. She'll be telling people how to pronounce it, but it's no better or worse than some of the other bad and weird names that pop up on here.

sara1817

She wants to pronounce it with a soft A sounds: Ahh like in all. She is wondering if there would be a way to spell it that would let people know that it has a soft sound. Make sense?

I can't think of any way except Ahva, and I think it looks kind of weird.?

chloephoebecali

If you want it pronounced that way, then you should spell it that way.  It will look strange, but at least your daughter will not have to correct people her whole life.  But then again some people may say Ah and some may do Ahh, which would make her correct them.  GL!!

mrsc720

Ahvah makes me think the mn should be cado (kah-doe), as in avocado. I think Ava is very pretty. I would stick with that or find a new name.