Antonia pronunciation/thoughts

Girl Names
1

Hi, all!

So my mom is really into family genealogy research and she’s been looking into one of my great-great-grandmothers lately, whose name was [name_u]Antonia[/name_u]. I really like the name and I had no idea there was one in my family tree, but we’re a little confused about the pronunciation. [name_f]My[/name_f] instinct is to pronounce it with the stress on the second syllable, although I’ve also heard with the third syllable stressed. I mostly just prefer the second-stress pronunciation, although I like both. [name_f]My[/name_f] mom has been pronouncing it with the third syllable stressed, although she admits she has no idea how her great-grandma pronounced it.

I feel like some of the differences might be regional or ethnic, since [name_u]Antonia[/name_u] is a common name in many different languages, and I was wondering if you guys could help me try to psych out how she would have most likely pronounced it. She was [name_m]German[/name_m]-American, born in the 1870s, and lived her whole life in the rural American Midwest. This is kind of a long shot, but if anyone could guess how it might have been pronounced, let me know!

Also, for an easier query, which pronunciation do you prefer?

1 Like
2

I think [name_u]Antonia[/name_u] is a beautiful name! It’s classic, yet strong and feminine. I stress the second syllable (An-TOE-nia.) Fun fact, did you know that [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]’s birth name was [name_u]Maria[/name_u] [name_u]Antonia[/name_u]? She changed her name to the [name_u]French[/name_u] form when she married.

4

I love [name_u]Antonia[/name_u]! It’s in my family tree, too.:slight_smile: I’ve always heard and said it with a stress on the second syllable.

5

I read [name_f]My[/name_f] [name_u]Antonia[/name_u] in a class so that’s where my pronunciation is coming from. We said it an-toe-NEE-uh. I always thought of it as a Spanish pronouciation. I might guess that your pronunciation is more likely to be how she would have said it.

6

I love [name_u]Antonia[/name_u]! I think an-TOE-nia is the most common pronunciation, as well as my favorite. I agree with the above poster that I’ve only heard ‘an-toe-NEE-uh’ when in reference to the book [name_f]My[/name_f] [name_u]Antonia[/name_u] (though I think it’s technically [name_f]Ántonia[/name_f] in the title and should be AN-teh-nia?)

7

I find the an-TO-nee-uh pn much easier to say but im familiar with both

1 Like
8

this is how I say [name_u]Antonia[/name_u].

1 Like
9

AN-ta-nia, like [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Cather[/name_f]’s My [name_u]Antonia[/name_u].

10

I’ve only heard it pronounced an-TONE-ee-ah. I think it’s a very pretty name!

1 Like
11

I pronounce is an-TOH-nee-ah so instead of a toe sound I just do a short o sound

2 Likes
12

It’s An-TO-nee-a in [name_m]German[/name_m], too; it’s quite popular here, usually with the nickname [name_u]Tony[/name_u].

1 Like
14

I say an-TON-ia. I’m neutral about it, not hate it but don’t love it either.

15

I say an-TOH-nee-a. Like [name_m]Antonio[/name_m], but with an -a. I’ve never heard the other pronunciation used. When pronounced with the emphasis on the -nee- sound, it sounds Greek to me.

16

An-TOE-nee-uh for me, stress on the second syllable. It’s a lovely name