Carolina

[nothingtolose19.livejournal.com]

When you see the name Carolina, what is your immediate idea of how to say it? Do you pronounce it like the state, or like Care-oh-leen-ah? I personally hate the way it sounds when it's said like the state, but love it the second way. Unfortunately, when I saw that name, I always used to think of the state, so I'm thinking many others will, too (and I'm Canadian!).

Do you think there's any way to spell it that will show that it definitely should be pronounced the second way, without looking kre8tiv?

EDIT: Thanks for all the replies, guys! I've realized that ... it basically varies with each person, lol. But, the few of you who said you would pronounce it like Care-oh-leen-ah is reassuring! :)

I also don't mind the spelling of Carolena. Anyway, thanks so much for all the replies and advice! :) 

This name is really growing on me and it's now on my top name list! :D

Comments

[nothingtolose19.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the quick reply! Hmm, I'm not sure - see, it just looks a little off(because I'm used to seeing it written as Carolina, I guess) but not bad. I'm also thinking of Melanie C's song, Carolyna, with the name spelt like that, and I like your suggestion better! So, thanks! :)

[krosp.livejournal.com]

I agree. I have trouble when a y is meant to represent an "ee" sound because I see it as a long I.

Carolena is not ambiguous at all, it seems like the best way to get the pronunciation you want. Caroleena is the only other way I can think and I don't like that anywhere near as much.

[whenimdead.livejournal.com]

I would pronounce Carolena as leh-na and carolyna as lin-ah
the only way I can come up with is Caroleena which looks weird.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

It's always going to be pronounced like the state for me. And now that my friend Caroline goes to the University of South Carolina, even more so.

Unless it was a foreign-born person, I wouldn't assume it was "caro-lee-nah," even if I do actually prefer that pronunciation.

What about Caroleina?

[moshimoshi-13.livejournal.com]

I'm also Canadian and I would definitely pronounce it Caro-leee-na. I live in a really Polish area though (west end Toronto), and that's the Polish way, so every Carolina I meet pronounces it that way. Except the Polish way of spelling it is Karolina. Maybe that would make it look more like LEE and less like LII.

[in-the-starlite.livejournal.com]

In Spanish class in high school, I chose Carolina as my name and it was pronounced Cah-ro-LEE-nah.

But, I honestly always assume it's pronounced like the state unless I'm told otherwise.

[rubixcube-killr.livejournal.com]

I seem to be the only one here but I knew someone named Carolina pronounced Care-o-lee-nah so it will always be that to me. Karolina might lean people more toward the pronunciation you prefer, which i prefer as well.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I pronounce it like the state, just because Caroline = 'CARE-oh-line', so Carolina (to me) = 'CARE-oh-line-ah'.

[lovetokate.livejournal.com]

like the state.

Caroleena? But even then I sort of see Carol in it more than anything else.
Caroleana? Karoleenah? Caroleenah? Idk...I don't like any of those...lol

[lovebird.livejournal.com]

I see it as Caroleena and I'm from North Carolina if that makes you feel any better. I think it's spanish class that makes me see it that way though.

[jyl-mac.livejournal.com]

Yes, immediately I think of the State when referring to pronunciation. That being said, I don't hate it.

[xx-imagination.livejournal.com]

It depends on the context. If I see it as a name I say Care-oh-lee-nah. If I see North or South in front, I say Care-oh-lie-nah. Carolena isn't too bad kre8tiv-wise but I would always pronounce it the first way.

[memorymaze.livejournal.com]

I see Car-oh-leen-a.

I hail from the North as well. East coast represent.

[nothingbuthp.livejournal.com]

I would pronounce it like Care-oh-leen-ah, and I really like it! :-)

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

I'd say it Care-o-leen-ah because I think that's a pretty name than care-oh-line-uh. Also because I had a friend named Carolina and that is how she said it and living in Florida, I'm more likely to encounter the Spanish pronunciation.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

Haha, oh my god, I've thought about making this exact post for a bit now. I love the name Karolina, I pronounce it Care-oh-leen-ah. I think that it sounds prettier that way. And when I see it, Carolina or Karolina, if it doesn't have North or South in front of it, I always say it Care-oh-leen-ah.