Pronunciation problems??

beckyw1234 · June 2014

So I think we've almost finally decided on a name for our little one but just wanted some advice. We're thinking Camila but wondering what first instincts are about how it's pronounced. We want it as cuh MEEL uh but some people we mention it to think cuh MILL uh or with an extra syllable at the end like cuh MEEL e uh. I assumed that having just the one l makes it easier to get to the pronunciation we want but just looking for some opinions.

oliversbear · June 2014

I would definitely say that ca-Mill-uh.

The only way I would come close to the pronunciation you want is if it were Camelia, like the flower, but that's a different name altogether.

LNic5 · June 2014

I would say Ca-MILL-uh as well...I don't even know how you would spell it to make people say Ca-MEEL-uh, unless you spell it Camela, but even then people could say it Ca-MEL-uh, that's tough

beckyw1234 · June 2014

LNic5 said:
I would say Ca-MILL-uh as well...I don't even know how you would spell it to make people say Ca-MEEL-uh, unless you spell it Camela, but even then people could say it Ca-MEL-uh, that's tough

Right? We thought of that spelling too but came to the same conclusion. Cameela I guess would be the best spelling but I don't like that at all. Most other spelling variations that might steer away from the Camilla association just look weird, hmmm....

LNic5 · June 2014

Cameila?? I'm really trying to think of other letter combos that could make that sound

LNic5 · June 2014

Camiela...I like this way better actually then Cameila...with the i before the e...there's not a lot of vowel combos you can really do is there

LNic5 · June 2014

Miel is honey in French and it's pronounced with the MEE sound at the beginning...hope this helps

beckyw1234 · June 2014

Ya know, the more I look at Camiela i might actually kinda like that, will have to think on that one for sure. Thanks!

beckyw1234 · June 2014

mjreilly2 said:
Please only spell it Camila (or Camilla).

Butchering spelling *might* solve a pronunciation problem (that really isn't a problem), but it then just creates a spelling problem...and makes it look like you can't spell. Cameela, Camiela, and Cameila are not names.

Camila — /kuh-MEEL-uh/ — Spanish and Portuguese

Camilla — /kuh-MIL-uh/ or /kuh-MEEL-uh/ — English, Italians, Swedish, Roman, etc.

Camille — /kuh-MEEL/

Camelia — /kuh-MEL-yah/ — Romanian name

My name is Ellen and people mispronounce it sometimes (yes, really). It is not that hard to just correct people and say, "It's /kuh-MEE-lah/." It takes two seconds.

This is kind of one of the thoughts I had too especially after my boyfriend told me his name(Casey) has been mispronounced before. Some people will say anything wrong lol. Will probably use Cami or Mila mostly so some correction when using the formal name is likely not a huge deal. Mostly was just interested to see how people see it.

FakeFinn · June 2014

What MJ said. Only I'd pronounce Camelia kuh-mee-lee-ya. Go with Camila or just Camilla and correct people.

Jennifer2008 · June 2014

For me, Camilla = Ca-MILL-ah and Camila = Ca-MEEL-ah. Hope that helps! I'd spell it Camila if I were you.

KTZ17 · June 2014

I would say ca-meel- uh. Especially with the one l. That's how it's spelled and pronounced in Spanish, as mj said. If you live in an area where Spanish is widely spoken I would think people would have an easier time with. It.

BackseatDriver · June 2014

I would struggle with Camiela. I think I would say Cam-ee-el-uh

I would stick with Camila. You will probably have to correct some people, but with another spelling you will end up correcting spelling and pronunciation.

aprilbaby2014 · June 2014

MEEL because that's how it's said in Spanish and that's the only time I've ever heard it .

Helenahhandbasket · June 2014

Spell it Kamila. That's the Eastern European spelling and the MEEL pron.

LNic5 · June 2014

If you don't love different spellings than just stick with Camila...for the first while people will be asking you what her name is anyway so that gives you the opportunity to pronounce it how you want, it could take awhile to stick but eventually people will get it...the only other issue would be when she gets into school but she'll be able to correct the teachers at the beginning and again eventually it'll stick!!!

beckyw1234 · June 2014

I think this has helped a lot so thanks for the responses. I feel like I got confirmation of what I was thinking that plenty of people are likely to pronounce correctly and if some have to be corrected, it's no different from millions of other people who have to do so every day no matter what the name. For the record, I wasn't trying to ruin the name or make up my own spelling, but I had considered some other options which I've found listed as variants on baby name websites I've found.

beckyw1234 · June 2014

I think this has helped a lot so thanks for the responses. I feel like I got confirmation of what I was thinking that plenty of people are likely to pronounce correctly and if some have to be corrected, it's no different from millions of other people who have to do so every day no matter what the name. For the record, I wasn't trying to ruin the name or make up my own spelling, but I had considered some other options which I've found listed as variants on baby name websites I've found.

NerdyLucy · June 2014

FWIW, I would pronounce Camila as Ca-MEE-la and Camilla (my personal favorite) as Ca-mill-a. I wouldn't change the spelling too much, except maybe Kamila, which another pp has pointed out.

Spin313 · June 2014

Personally, I'd think:
Camila (ca-ME-la)
Camilla (ca-MIL-uh)

But I'm Latina, so maybe I see the single vs double "L" differently.

saham07 · June 2014

With one L , I would say, "Ca MEE la" my niece is Camila Rae! Lovely name!

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