How would you pronounce it?

santo614 · February 2011

My husband and I really like the name Conaire. It's a medieval Scottish name, and it can also be spelled Conairi.

It's actually pronounced Connery (or KAHN-iree). We're worried that he would constantly be called Con-air or Canary, but REALLY like the name (Sil Conairi was the term for the medieval Scottish royal family; Conaire Mor was a legendary king of Ireland/Scotland). We'd kind of like to spell it that way, but should we just go with Connery, like the bada** Sean Connery?

SarahPLiz · February 2011

I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

alliejo725 · February 2011

SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

alissabeth · February 2011

con-air

like the movie

forensicmama · February 2011

I did say Con-air, but if I met him and I knew his name was Scottish and he said it was pronounced like Connery, then I'd be cool with it. I say go for it.

jeskawest · February 2011

I would definitely pronounce it Con-air, but I love the name the way you want it pronounced. Connery would probably be okay, or maybe Conairi, as that may be easier to see its pronunciation.

clee2009 · February 2011

alliejo725:

SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

Both of the above.

TrueLoveWaits33 · February 2011

alliejo725:
SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

Immediately thought of the Nicholas Cage movie.

AndLyn · February 2011

jeskawest:
I would definitely pronounce it Con-air, but I love the name the way you want it pronounced. Connery would probably be okay, or maybe Conairi, as that may be easier to see its pronunciation.

I agree with this.

citychicks · February 2011

I pronounced it wrong. Embarrassed

But after hearing the meaning/learning something new I love it. Yes

I would rather learn a new name and hear an actual meaning and history behind it, then see another top 20 name spelled like English was the parents ninth language. Indifferent

littfeli · February 2011

I would definitely spell it Connery Or maybe Conairi. But Conaire looks like Con-air. It's a cute name but no one will ever pronounce it correctly or spell it correctly if you don't spell it Connery.

pms1 · February 2011

I knew how to pronounce it, but then I am also Irish. I think it is a great name.

conchgirl · February 2011

yup, i also read "Con-Air" and thought of the Nick Cage movie....i would go with Connery...

KeriMichaelMarie · February 2011

alliejo725:
SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.
Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

Me too.

I'mAcrossThePond · February 2011

I'd say Con-Air too...and I live pretty darn close to Scotland and am used to more traditional UK names.

I do like the name though, but would probably do Connery.

amwadas · February 2011

alliejo725:

SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

Same here.

BFab11 · February 2011

Conaire I'd pronounce con-air

Conairi I'd pronounce con-air-ee

JaysonandKristin · February 2011

citychicks:
I pronounced it wrong. But after hearing the meaning/learning something new I love it. I would rather learn a new name and hear an actual meaning and history behind it, then see another top 20 name spelled like English was the parents ninth language.

Thanks for the laugh...

I would totally go for the name if it means something to you. Who cares if nobody pronounces it right the first time. MY name gets mispronounced all.the.time, and I'm a Kristin.

msmerymac · February 2011

It's up to you. I like the name. Really like it, especially if you are of Scottish (or Irish) descent, as I am. However, everyone will pronounce it Con-air on the first try. Once he corrects them, it will be fine and they'll learn, "Oh, like Sean Connery." And technically you are using a proper spelling, so points for that. Connery is also technically a proper spelling, though it's a more modern *last* name. If you want to be traditional and don't mind having to correct people (really, it will only be once), then I don't see a problem.

msmerymac · February 2011

JaysonandKristin:
citychicks:
I pronounced it wrong. But after hearing the meaning/learning something new I love it. I would rather learn a new name and hear an actual meaning and history behind it, then see another top 20 name spelled like English was the parents ninth language.
Thanks for the laugh...
I would totally go for the name if it means something to you. Who cares if nobody pronounces it right the first time. MY name gets mispronounced all.the.time, and I'm a Kristin.

Do you encounter a lot of people who don't know the difference between Christine/Kristin/Christina? There was a girl in one of my AP classes in high school named Christine and every day when we took roll, our teacher would trip over her name and call her Kristin most of the time. I don't get it.

weddingpuffgrrl · February 2011

citychicks:
I pronounced it wrong. But after hearing the meaning/learning something new I love it. I would rather learn a new name and hear an actual meaning and history behind it, then see another top 20 name spelled like English was the parents ninth language.

This.

joanithegreat · February 2011

alliejo725:

SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

Or like the Nicholas Cage movie.

This.

MnM7608 · February 2011

jeskawest:
I would definitely pronounce it Con-air, but I love the name the way you want it pronounced. Connery would probably be okay, or maybe Conairi, as that may be easier to see its pronunciation.

This.

Bride7-7-07 · February 2011

SarahPLiz:
I would say con-air, like my blowdryer.

My thoughts exactly!

Bubbalub · February 2011

santo614:
My husband and I really like the name Conaire. It's a medieval Scottish name, and it can also be spelled Conairi.
It's actually pronounced Connery (or KAHN-iree). We're worried that he would constantly be called Con-air or Canary, but REALLY like the name (Sil Conairi was the term for the medieval Scottish royal family; Conaire Mor was a legendary king of Ireland/Scotland). We'd kind of like to spell it that way, but should we just go with Connery, like the bada** Sean Connery?

This has been bothering me all day but I had to wait until I got home and could look at my books before I responded.

Conaire is Irish (though Conaire M?r did go on to found the Kingdom of Scotland). Conaire is pronounced con-oo-er and is a variant of Conor or Conchobar. In Irish, adding an "i" to the end of a word makes it plural, so Conairi is not a name in and of itself, it is referring to a group of Conors. Conairi is pronounced Connery but is most definitely a surname, unlike Conaire.

S?l Conairi means, roughly, "seed of Conaire M?r", referring to his descendents.

backinpgh · February 2011

I thought "Con-air", almost like someone saying "Conner" with a very thick, fake French accent. lol

Honestly I think Connery works just fine. And of all the cool celebs to be "named after" I think that's one of the best!

santo614 · February 2011

Bubbalub:
santo614:
My husband and I really like the name Conaire. It's a medieval Scottish name, and it can also be spelled Conairi.
It's actually pronounced Connery (or KAHN-iree). We're worried that he would constantly be called Con-air or Canary, but REALLY like the name (Sil Conairi was the term for the medieval Scottish royal family; Conaire Mor was a legendary king of Ireland/Scotland). We'd kind of like to spell it that way, but should we just go with Connery, like the bada** Sean Connery?
This has been bothering me all day but I had to wait until I got home and could look at my books before I responded.
Conaire is Irish (though Conaire M?r did go on to found the Kingdom of Scotland). Conaire is pronounced con-oo-er and is a variant of Conor or Conchobar. In Irish, adding an "i" to the end of a word makes it plural, so Conairi is not a name in and of itself, it is referring to a group of Conors. Conairi is pronounced Connery but is most definitely a surname, unlike Conaire.
S?l Conairi means, roughly, "seed of Conaire M?r", referring to his descendents.

I don't know what the point of this post is. Are you trying to start a "who knows more" contest? You're splitting hairs (yes, Conaire can be Irish, but because of the joint heritage it is also Scottish, as in O'Conaire, the king of ancient Scotland born in 192 BCE), you repeated a lot of what I said as if you were teaching me something new, and you're wrong about pronunciation:

https://southernirish.com/irish-names-and-their-meanings-c

https://www.abitoblarney.com/irishbabyboynames.htm

https://www.namenerds.com/irish/meaning3.html

I'd believe that it can be pronounced a number of different ways, but when I was in Scotland this summer, it was pronounced the way I'm going with.

The point of my original post was to give readers a little point of reference, not a nit-picky history lesson.

santo614 · February 2011

Thanks for all the great feedback! I'm not sure how we will spell it, but I'm glad that no one outright hated the name and told me to pick something else (not that that's the end of the world) :0)

I don't mind putting out there that our last name is Breckenridge (Scottish origin), and we're thinking Padraic for a middle name. That's a whole lotta name for a little guy, but we love the sound of it, and the celebration of heritage.

I'm hoping for what many of you said- people will get it wrong the first time, but will "get it" as soon as he corrects them and says its Scottish... Irish... whatever.

Bubbalub · February 2011

santo614:
Bubbalub:
santo614:
My husband and I really like the name Conaire. It's a medieval Scottish name, and it can also be spelled Conairi.
It's actually pronounced Connery (or KAHN-iree). We're worried that he would constantly be called Con-air or Canary, but REALLY like the name (Sil Conairi was the term for the medieval Scottish royal family; Conaire Mor was a legendary king of Ireland/Scotland). We'd kind of like to spell it that way, but should we just go with Connery, like the bada** Sean Connery?
This has been bothering me all day but I had to wait until I got home and could look at my books before I responded.
Conaire is Irish (though Conaire M?r did go on to found the Kingdom of Scotland). Conaire is pronounced con-oo-er and is a variant of Conor or Conchobar. In Irish, adding an "i" to the end of a word makes it plural, so Conairi is not a name in and of itself, it is referring to a group of Conors. Conairi is pronounced Connery but is most definitely a surname, unlike Conaire.
S?l Conairi means, roughly, "seed of Conaire M?r", referring to his descendents.
I don't know what the point of this post is. Are you trying to start a "who knows more" contest? You're splitting hairs (yes, Conaire can be Irish, but because of the joint heritage it is also Scottish, as in O'Conaire, the king of ancient Scotland born in 192 BCE), you repeated a lot of what I said as if you were teaching me something new, and you're wrong about pronunciation:
https://southernirish.com/irish-names-and-their-meanings-c
https://www.abitoblarney.com/irishbabyboynames.htm
https://www.namenerds.com/irish/meaning3.html
I'd believe that it can be pronounced a number of different ways, but when I was in Scotland this summer, it was pronounced the way I'm going with.
The point of my original post was to give readers a little point of reference, not a nit-picky history lesson.

1) Yes, I said that. The Ulster Irish king Conaire M?r founded Scotland. Why are you arguing that point? I was agreeing with you.

2) No, I'm not wrong. I took several years of Irish language lessons, have lived in Ireland and I am QUITE sure of the pronunciation, as well as the "i" being a pluralization and referring to a group, or used as a surname.

The point of the post was not a know-it-all contest. It was to correct a misconception about a name. How about you look at other references for your information besides websites? No one says anyone has to take the information to heart. I'm just putting it out there to correct the misinformation in the original post.