how is everyone pronouncing Clara?

magpie1127 · April 2012

Hi Ladies,

Lurker here. I was wondering how everyone is pronouncing Clara, since it's becoming pretty popular. I've always considered using this name, pronounced as Clahr-a (European pronunciation). I'm assuming most people are pronouncing it Clair-a. Is this correct? I would hate to change the spelling, but do you have any spelling recs for my desired pronunciation?

thanks!

Puppylove*85 · April 2012

I pronounce it as Claire with an a on the end, Clair-ah.

I don't think changing the spelling would help you get your desired pronounciation. You will probably just have to spend a lot of time correcting people until they get it right.

Aligator28 · April 2012

I pronounce it Claire-ah.

plunderb · April 2012

Puppylove*85:
I pronounce it as Claire with an a on the end, Clair-ah.

I don't think changing the spelling would help you get your desired pronounciation. You will probably just have to spend a lot of time correcting people until they get it right.

Agree. You're going to get enough eyerolls as it is, insisting that people call her CLAH-ra, rather than CLARE-uh. Don't change the spelling (what would you change it to? Clahra?). If you're going for "classy" with the affected Britishism, changing the spelling will not help.

SpokenVows · April 2012

Mentally, I read it as Clahr-a, but when I'm speaking it I say Clair-a (as most people here pronounce it as such.)

zaramarie81 · April 2012

I pronounce it so it rhymes with Sarah (Claire-uh). I wouldn't change the spelling... you may just need to correct people (kind of like Anna - some have a short a, others a long a).

magpie1127 · April 2012

plunderb:
Puppylove*85:
I pronounce it as Claire with an a on the end, Clair-ah.

I don't think changing the spelling would help you get your desired pronounciation. You will probably just have to spend a lot of time correcting people until they get it right.
Agree. You're going to get enough eyerolls as it is, insisting that people call her CLAH-ra, rather than CLARE-uh. Don't change the spelling (what would you change it to? Clahra?). If you're going for "classy" with the affected Britishism, changing the spelling will not help.

Actually, my husband and I both studied music in college, and he was my accompanist for a piece by Clara Schumann (pronounced Clahr-a). So, no, I'm not trying to be classy. She's a composer I admire.

plunderb · April 2012

magpie1127:
plunderb:
Puppylove*85:
I pronounce it as Claire with an a on the end, Clair-ah.

I don't think changing the spelling would help you get your desired pronounciation. You will probably just have to spend a lot of time correcting people until they get it right.
Agree. You're going to get enough eyerolls as it is, insisting that people call her CLAH-ra, rather than CLARE-uh. Don't change the spelling (what would you change it to? Clahra?). If you're going for "classy" with the affected Britishism, changing the spelling will not help.
Actually, my husband and I both studied music in college, and he was my accompanist for a piece by Clara Schumann (pronounced Clahr-a). So, no, I'm not trying to be classy. She's a composer I admire.

That's fine. But understand that you will come across a bit snobbish if you insist on the CLAH-ra pronunciation. That wouldn't stop me (I'm a bit of a snob myself), but you need to acknowledge that that's how it will sound. Clara is a lovely name, already a bit on the precious/antique/Victorian/pretentious side, and your pronunciation will reinforce that presentation.

I'd go for it and just keep correcting others' pronunciation, with the understanding that the best you can hope for is partial success. Your daughter will be called CLARE-uh over and over again as long as she lives in the US, no matter what you do. If that's unacceptable, name her Cora. But, for the love of all that is sacred, do not change the spelling.

AlphabetFish · April 2012

I think this is a name that legitimately has two pronunciations. I personally say Clahr-ah, but I have heard it both ways.

I would advise not changing the spelling, as that might just add more confusion.

blingbean · April 2012

I pronounce as you do and honestly wouldn't really change the sp. I'm actually surprised by how everyone says claire-uh--I've never heard that before. Perhaps if it bothers you a lot you could do Klara, which is the Swedish/German spelling and they pronounce it clah-ruh. Personally I like the "c" better tho

mattschic · April 2012

Clara is DD's middle name and she is named after my grandmother. My grandmother pronounced it CLAH-ra, so that's how we say it.

Ashley5704 · April 2012

I pronounce it Claire-Ah.

sbuxsweetie · April 2012

Grace0609:
Yes, I would pronounce it "claire-uh".

I think you'll have a hard time getting people here to pronounce it the way you want. It is hard to say, in my opinion. But, I'm a midwesterner, so maybe the highbrows on the coasts wouldn't have a problem : ).

LOL, this.

Some names have the "a" sound you're looking for, like Lara. But I've only ever heard Clara pronounced "Claire-uh" in the US.

LorMor · April 2012

blingbean:
I pronounce as you do and honestly wouldn't really change the sp. I'm actually surprised by how everyone says claire-uh--I've never heard that before. Perhaps if it bothers you a lot you could do Klara, which is the Swedish/German spelling and they pronounce it clah-ruh. Personally I like the "c" better tho

This. But I'm not in the US, so mebbe it's an accent thing.

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