Opinions needed please!

Yjveverka · June 2012

Before we were married, my husband and I volunteered in a Kenyan orphanage. It made such an impact on our lives that we decided then that we would want to name our daughter after the city, Karatina, and call her Kara. My family is iffy about it, so I wanted to get some honest opinions from you ladies. Thanks!

Reyka9 · June 2012

I'm glad that it has significance for you and your husband, but I feel that your daughter would have a lifetime of explaining that she's "Karatina, not Katarina/Katrina" ahead of her.

SunshineMuffin · June 2012

I'm unclear. Would her name be Kara or would you just call her Kara but name her Karatina?

If it's very important to have the full village name, perhaps you can name her Kara and give her Tina as a middle name. Karatina just sounds odds as one name.

TheWop · June 2012

Reyka9:
I'm glad that it has significance for you and your husband, but I feel that your daughter would have a lifetime of explaining that she's "Karatina, not Katarina/Katrina" ahead of her.

I agree with this, but I still think it's a nice name, and if you love it, use it, especially if you plan on calling her Kara most of the time.

Reyka9 · June 2012

SunshineMuffin:
I'm unclear. Would her name be Kara or would you just call her Kara but name her Karatina?
If it's very important to have the full village name, perhaps you can name her Kara and give her Tina as a middle name. Karatina just sounds odds as one name.

Oh good call, I perhaps misread the original post. Kara as its own name is fine.

Yjveverka · June 2012

Thanks for the honesty. We were thinking the full name would be Karatina, but we would just call her Kara. I hate Tina on its own - I thought that, but it just sounded weird to me. I do like Kara, I just started wondering about the full name...

AnotherPreggo · June 2012

I think that is absolutely awesome- and has such significance to your and your hubs! All in favor!!!

My parents named me Kittery after Kittery, ME where I was conceived (your story is so much less traumatizing for the child haha). Yeah my name is different, but I have gotten used to having to repeat it to people and it really isn't a big deal. I love my name. Besides, if she is going by Kara, that is a common name and no repeats would be needed :-)

CocoBrynne · June 2012

Is it pronounced Kara-Tina?

I like the significance behind it, but I greatly prefer just Kara or you could also use the full name as a MN.

Yjveverka · June 2012

Kittery16:
I think that is absolutely awesome- and has such significance to your and your hubs! All in favor!!!
My parents named me Kittery after Kittery, ME where I was conceived (your story is so much less traumatizing for the child haha). Yeah my name is different, but I have gotten used to having to repeat it to people and it really isn't a big deal. I love my name. Besides, if she is going by Kara, that is a common name and no repeats would be needed :-)

Thank you! Your example helped ease my anxiety. I'm glad to know it isn't a big deal for you to repeat it and it sounds like you appreciate your unique name!

karen_loy · June 2012

Karatina is odd and misleading (Katerina? Katrina? Uh?)

I'd just use Kara which is really nice

melody921 · June 2012

I like Kara, I don't like Karatina

Yjveverka · June 2012

CocoBrynne:
Is it pronounced Kara-Tina?

I like the significance behind it, but I greatly prefer just Kara or you could also use the full name as a MN.

Yes, that is the pronunciation. I've tried arguing to just use Kara and that it would still be significant, but my husband disagrees and thinks that we should use the full name. He argues that my name is Yevgeniya (born in Russia), but nobody ever calls me that.

SoCoGirl · June 2012

I'm just a lurker, but my name is Taracina. I go by Tara and my name has never been a problem. I actually love it. I do have to spell it out for people and pronounce it whenever someone reads it, but I think it makes me memorable

Yjveverka · June 2012

Thank you all for the honest opinions! I knew I could get them here:) please keep them coming...I think we are going to have to reconsider. Granted, we don't even know the gender yet, but we were planning on using it for our first girl regardless.