Using alternate pronunciation?

AnonAnonAnon

I love the name Carolina pronounced with a short i like the rest of the world says it ("Caro-lee-na") instead of how it's pronounced in the US with a long i ("Caro-lye-na").  See: Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera, Czech model Karolina Kurkova.

Would my daughter want to strangle me for naming her "Caro-lee-na?"  I know bank tellers and doctor's offices will get it wrong, but heck, they get my perfectly phonetic name wrong at an alarming rate.  People reading it off and actually needing to know it (teachers) should get it with just one correction.  It should be no problem in spoken introductions.

Also, do you think nationality matters?  We're just your run-of-the-mill American mutts - our families have been here since the beginning and have married into a little bit of every nationality.  Our last name is English.

WDYT? 

JaysonandKristin

I don't think she'll want to strangle you.

My name is Kristin.  I can't tell you how it gets butchered.  

My neighbor has a daughter named Leanna (Lee-AWN-uh).  I'm sure she gets to correct just about everyone she comes into contact with.

I don't think this is reason enough to leave a name behind.  FWIW, I like it pronounced either way.  I just think it's a lovely name.  Perfectly feminine, strong and beautiful (and, it doesn't hurt that you're still spelling it correctly despite the fact that you want it pronounced a certain way). 

ETA:  Oh, and one of our favorite girl names is Cara (Car-uh).  

kayjay10

I typically do not like names that are widely pronounced different (but correct) ways, but this is one of my exceptions.  I love Caroline (Care-o-line), but not Carolina (Care-o-lin-uh).  I prefer Carolina pronounced the way you like it (Care-o-leen-uh).  Even names you would think only have one pronounciation will be butchered.  I wouldn't care about bank tellers, etc.  And I think family, friends, teachers would only pronounce it incorrectly one time in the beginning.  Love Care-o-leen-uh BTW!

LissaLynn0682

I think it's a great name.  If she has to correct someone once, it's not a hard one to remember.  Plus, you're right.....we say it dumb and the rest of the world says it right anyways. 

jesstellina

I am also a white American mutt (or however you described it ), and that prevents me from using names of Latin origin, much as I love some of them. I feel like Maria would even be iffy. That's just me though.

queenbone

I would do it, but I usually prefer the Spanish pronunciations of girls names anyway.

Helenahhandbasket

I love this name--pronounced the way is supposed to be pronounced (leena!) but I had/ have similar concerns.

I think the vast majority of people will understand the correct pronunciation.  Those that don't will just have to be corrected.

I don't think nationality matters.  My H and I do happen to have a Spanish last name, but I would not side eye this name being used by any of the other hundreds of nationalities that are residing in the US.

It's a beautiful name-- use it!

RealityJunkie

I absolutely love the way you want to pronounce it. It's actually on my list (same pronounciation) for a MN if its a girl.

blu-eyedwife

I went to high school with a Carolina.  I remember being surprised at the pronunciation the first time I heard it, but it's one of those names that after the first time you hear it pronounced, you remember it always.  Now my instinct would be to pronounce it Care-o-leen-a unless it was preceded by "North" or "South"