[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there, We are expecting our third girl in 8 weeks and haven’t decided on a name. Big sisters are [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. Our last name is short, 3 letters and rhymes with Boy. I keep thinking her name is [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], however I am a little unsettled about how [name_f]Vera[/name_f] can be pronounced Vare-uh (which We prefer) and [name_m]Veer[/name_m]-rah (which i prefer less). My husband and I both love the name and he prefers the first pronounciation as well but does not like any alternate spellings. I’m considering [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for a first name as well because I also really love that name and the nicknames . Of course We love the name [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], but it is so popular, I want to choose a name that is classic, sophisticated and lush but not as popular as [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] this time. Her sisters often go by [name_f]Liv[/name_f] and [name_f]Char[/name_f].
So what do you think of [name_f]Vera[/name_f] and should I be worried about the pronounciation or will everyone just learn to say it how we do? Are there any middle names that go with [name_f]Vera[/name_f] that we could use both names together-I thought about [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] too. Are there other names that go perfectly with her siblings I should consider? Thank you!
I personally love the name [name_f]Vera[/name_f]! Though I’d never considered [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] as a middle name before I think the two names flow together perfectly! I think it fits in well with the two big sisters’ names!
Personally, my first instinct is to pronounce [name_f]Vera[/name_f] as ‘Vare-uh’ and I like that much better than ‘[name_m]Veer[/name_m]-rah’ as well.
I don’t think you should be worried about the pronunciation. If someone does pronounce it as ‘[name_m]Veer[/name_m]-ruh’ all you would have to do is correct them and it would catch on. After all, if her name is pronounced ‘Vare-uh’ then people around her will call her that and know that’s the proper way to say it.
Plus, if that’s the pronunciation you prefer, then it should catch on with others that would be her name after all.
Other middle names that might fit with [name_f]Vera[/name_f] based on the above names you’ve listed: [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Louise[/name_f], and [name_f]Margrete[/name_f]… but honestly, I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is the perfect middle.
It may be regional, but I’ve never heard Vare-uh for [name_f]Vera[/name_f]. You/her can always correct people but it can be hard to enforce and alternate pronunciation if it’s not common. [name_f]Verity[/name_f] would fit well with your other kids and would have the Vare pronunciation and nickname [name_f]Ver[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Vera[/name_f] and I adore [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]! My husband and I would have chosen this name except we both naturally pronounce it differently. However, I think as long as you and your husband pronounce it the same way it shouldn’t be a problem.
I’ve never heard veer-uh. I would not be worried about the pronunciation if I were you, and I would not change it.
I pronounce it Vare-uh too, but I know some people say [name_m]Veer[/name_m]-rah (which I like as well, but I find it less intuitive). If it’s [name_f]Vera[/name_f] that you love, I say take the risk of correcting people. It’s a hassle, but should not be a deal breaker, imo. Another option is probably to name her [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] and nicknamed her [name_f]Vera[/name_f] instead? I consider [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] to be classic, sophisticated and lush -and certainly not as popular. Bonus because Vare-uh pronunciation will be even more obvious.
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] sounds gorgeous together! I wouldn’t change it.
If you want to pair [name_f]Vera[/name_f] with a short name, maybe:
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Bess[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Faith[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Paige[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] …
Nah. [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] sounds the best to my ears.
I have always pronounced it veer-uh and so has everyone I’ve ever heard say it. I have friends that have to constantly tell people how to pronounce their name correctly (for example I have a friend named [name_f]Nina[/name_f], but it’s pronounce nine-uh), so if you’re willing to do that for a name you truley love, then I say do it. If you aren’t, then it’s probably time to look for another name. [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is a stunning name, by the way!
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is absolutely gorgeous. It does look a bit short next to [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], but if they normally go by [name_f]Liv[/name_f] and [name_f]Char[/name_f] that wouldn’t be an issue. As far as pronunciation goes I would never, ever think to pronounce [name_f]Vera[/name_f] vare-uh; I have only every heard veer-uh. That being said its not a tough correction and anyone she interacts with frequently would quickly catch on, but she could expect to be called veer-uh at the doctors office and during school role-call if veer-uh is the more common regional or national pronunciation. For reference I live in the U.S. and I would hazard a guess that veer-uh would be most common, except for among Latinos who would likely say vare-uh. I can’t speak for Europe, [name_f]Canada[/name_f], Australia or any other English speaking country, but I will say that the character named [name_f]Vera[/name_f] in Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] was pronounced veer-uh, if that means anything.
Varity and [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] are also lovely choices, although I would pronounce the first syllable of [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] veer as well. I prefer [name_f]Veronica[/name_f], personally.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] as a first is also gorgeous if you decide you would rather avoid pronunciation issues, and there is no reason you couldn’t flip it to be [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Vera[/name_f].
I like [name_f]Vera[/name_f], but have never heard it pronounced as anything but [name_m]Veer[/name_m]-uh. I think there could be pronunciation/spelling problems with it. If you’re OK with that, go for it. I named my daughter [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and even with it we have spelling/pronunciation errors. I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is a fantastic name, so it would be a great choice as well.
I’m growing to love [name_f]Vera[/name_f]! I originally preferred VARE-ah, too, but I’ve been saying [name_m]VEER[/name_m]-ah more lately because that’s how everyone I know says it, that’s how people say [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] and [name_f]Vera[/name_f] Wang… However, there’s this segment of our church service where someone tells a story to the children (we don’t have a children’s church or anything), and I’m telling the story of a little girl named [name_f]Vera[/name_f] who was adopted from Poland, so I’m of course using the proper Polish pronunciation of (well, [name_f]Wera[/name_f], not [name_f]Vera[/name_f]) “[name_f]Vera[/name_f]”–VEH-rah–for her. Hopefully it’ll rub off on them and some of them will start to say VARE-ah/VEH-rah. 
It’s actually weirdly the backstory of one of the characters in a novel/series of novels I’ve been working on lately, but it’ll work well for the children’s story. Her adopted name will become [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Eliora[/name_f], which I’ve so quickly fallen for for my own list as well, and I’m about 90% sure that [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Eliora[/name_f] will be added to my list as not just a crush but an actual combo. Still trying to decide on a family name–I’m tossing around [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Natalie[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], etc., along with several other options.
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is gorgeous, as is the suggestion of [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Isabel/name_f–which I find to be perfect! I’m honestly not sure what else to suggest, because I’ve never loved one [name_f]Vera[/name_f] combo like I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Eliora[/name_f]. I do really, really like [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], but with [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] being my top choice for a girl, it’s not very likely in my case.
I like the idea of a double-barrel like [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_f]Kate[/name_f] (I think this LOOKS gorgeous, but if you use VARE-uh and not [name_m]VEER[/name_m]-ah, [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_f]Kate[/name_f] sounds a lot like “varicose” like varicose veins…), [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_u]Lou[/name_u], [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Vera[/name_f]-[name_f]Claire[/name_f], etc.
A few random ideas:
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] (too virtue-ey? with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Vera[/name_f], which means “faith”?)
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
Good luck!
I’ve never come across vare-uh as the pr. for [name_f]Vera[/name_f], it’s always been veer-ah. All the Veras I know are veer-ah. But I love the name. [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is so chic.
I have always heard “[name_f]Vera[/name_f]” as a name pronounced “vee-ra” but when anyone I know says “aloe vera” they say “aloe vare-a.” Haha! My guess is that the pronunciation is mostly a regional thing, and since both you and your husband pronounce it the same way, that’s a good sign that your friends and family would as well. I would think the switch for those who think “vee-ra” wouldn’t be terribly difficult for people to catch on to, and I personally think it’s worth it, because [name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is lovely and seems like the perfect name for your family. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] as a first would also go well with your daughters’ names- I smile at the idea of “[name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Char[/name_f], and [name_u]Jo[/name_u].” [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a middle is undoubtedly pretty, but has become very popular in the middle spot. Many would call it “overdone” so that would probably be important to consider in your decision making. Good luck! 
I have also only heard [name_f]Vera[/name_f] as “veer-ah…” so I agree that you might run into that? It’s one of my favorite names…
I would probably go with [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] as a first though as I think it fits a bit better with your other girl names…
Other middle name suggestions:
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
Other first name suggestions:
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] ([name_u]Lou[/name_u])
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] (hel, [name_f]Lena[/name_f])
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]/[name_f]Margery[/name_f] ([name_u]Jorie[/name_u])
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] (bea)
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] (rhett/cricket)
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] (gen)
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] (rose)
[name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] (pip/pippa)
I’ve only ever heard [name_f]Vera[/name_f] pronounced as Vare-uh or Veh-ra. I’ve never heard [name_m]Veer[/name_m]-ah. Either way, i’m sure if you insist on a pronunciation it will be fine.
I’ve heard both pronunciations, but I personally prefer veer-uh. You might have to correct some people on the pronunciation, but it’s pretty easy to grasp. And even if other people say veer-uh, you can still call her vare-uh. I know a couple people whose families pronounce their names differently to their friends and it doesn’t bother them, both feel “right” to them.
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is gorgeous, and goes perfectly with [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Sophia[/name_f].