A.B. asks from Saint Louis, MO on July 20, 2008
Riane for a Girl
My husband and I love to have different names. We like names that are uncommon so that they have their own name. Our first daughter is Amalie, pronounced like Emily but with an A. Now we want to name our second daughter Ryan only spelled more feminine, Riane. Does this look enough like Ryan that people won't mess up her name. They are always calling Amalie Amalia, which isn't right at all. I don't want her getting made fun of but we really like the name for a girl.
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J.A. answers from St. Louis on July 22, 2008
To be honest, I didn't know that name was supposed to be pronounced like Ryan, I thought it was Ree an. So, it has good potential to not be pronounced right.
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R.C. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
hello!
i would pronounce it wrong -like rain. what do i know ;)
one of my best buds was going to name her baby amalie after our favorite movie. you should check it out! she ended up having a boy (luca).
K.C. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
Hi A.,
My 10-year old son has a classmate name Riane. She is a doll - very energetic and outgoing. At first, most people were calling her ReeAnn or ReeAnna. Of course, once you get to know her, you learn the pronunciation.
Just thought I'd share since I know someone with that spelling.
Congratulations on your expansion! Hope the pregnancy is going smoothly.
C.V. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
I once knew twins named Mercedes & Rainey, pronounced rain-e
I think the name is both clever & lovely, but would hesitate on the spelling, it really looks like rain at a glance.
If you love it, go for it.
I wanted to name my first son, Getty & my second son Brett.
My family gave me such a hard time w/ comments like: "you would really do that to an innocent child, he will sound like a hippie" I settled for Joe & Ben - common, but nice & easy.
Good luck!
L.K. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
I don't think she will be made fun of, but I do think it won't be pronounced correctly. It looks like Diane but with an "R" so I think it might be mistaken for that, or pronounced like "rain". Either way, you shouldn't change your minds based on what others think. She is yours and her name will be perfectly her, whatever you decide! :-)
S.T. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
I would pronounce that as Ry-Anne. My sister's best friend just had a baby and named her Ryan. She spelled it just like that. If you want it more feminine just add another n (Ryann).
H.S. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
My problem is with our last name. We always have to spell it and sound it out...I feel like the name is spelled exactly how it sounds, but the world never got hooked on phonics with me!!!
My sister wanted to name her second child Michaela and pronounce it mikhala. It totally did not work and she is constantly trying to correct everybody. Riane is from Rhiannon a very beautiful Gaelic name. Ryan is also of Irish decent, but has a different meaning and is not the male form.
Just remember....will you still love the name after you have screamed it a billion times and spelled it and had to tell it to people over and over again? I am horrible with remembering names so I stayed away from names that would be too unique. I can remember simple names, but others are so complicated that I just smile and nod, but never am able to remember it.
The other thing is that she will never be able to find her name on things. My friend has the name Sonya and she hated that her sister would get bookmarks and pencils with her name on it, but they did not have the same thing for her.
I do like Rhianne or Riann, but she will always have to spell it for people and re-pronounce it for them. My sister is Karolyn and she always has to spell it and tell people it is with a 'K'.
As long as you love it and tell her it is unique like her then she will love it and think it is special. I do not know too many adults that did not take their name and make it their own...some have nicknames, change the pronunciation, or just appreciate the heritage that comes with it. My mom said, "Your name will always be something unique and a topic of conversation." Not really, but we grow into them:-)
Another person I know named her daughter Leefe, said like Leaf. It is pretty and very unusual.
M.L. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
its hard to pronouce names correctly when spelled different but remember if you plan on spelling it different then people are used to then you have to be patient and dont take it personal when it is mispronounced.
mostly children.
J.F. answers from St. Louis on July 21, 2008
Based on the name you have given your first girl, which is very feminine and delicate, I think it would be a big mistake to name your second with an extremely masculine-sounding name, regardless of the spelling. "Hi, I'm Isabella and this is my sister Doug." The second child might always feel you had wanted a boy instead, since masculine names on girls isn't simply your naming style for all your kids. If your other daughter had a gender-ambiguous name, it might work, but no matter how you spell them, Emily and Ryan only work as a boy and girl siblings. There are a million "different" names - pick one that is harmonious with Amalie!
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