All Berries are welcome to weigh in, but I would especially like to hear from a Scottish [name]Berry[/name] or two who could help clear up a question for me.
I have had the name [name]Mairi[/name] on my list in the past. I thought it was Irish because I read a novel a few years ago which contained an Irish character named [name]Mairi[/name]. I posed a question about pronunciation, about which I wasn’t sure, to an Irish [name]Berry[/name]. She very kindly sent me several links, including this one: How to pronounce Mairi? (RECOMMENDED) - PronounceNames.com , but she also informed me that the name is not Irish but Scottish Gaelic. My international baby name book and subsequent research bear this out.
So are there any Scottish Berries out there who can confirm this pronunciation for me? According to this link, the correct pronunciation in [name]Scotland[/name] and [name]England[/name] is MAH-ree, not [name]MAY[/name]-ree as my baby name book indicates. And the variation Mhairi would be pronounced VAH-ree.
I still like [name]Mairi[/name], but I removed it from my Top Ten because I think it would be problematic for an American girl with only a trace of Scottish heritage.
Any insight would be appreciated! I’m also posting this in the Girls’ Names and Talk About Names forums.
I’m not Scottish (though I’m thinking about moving to [name]Scotland[/name] next summer), but I found a Scottish Gaelic pronunciation on forvo: Pronunciations for mairi
I did coach a little girl named [name]Mairi[/name] a number of years ago and she pronounced her name MAHR-ee.
Maybe a bit of an easier option with be just [name]Mari[/name]? I know a woman named [name]Mari[/name], I think it’s awesome. Also pronounced MAHR-ee.
Thanks, lucialucentum! I need to keep Forvo in mind. I’ve found it very helpful with several names.
[name]Mari[/name] would be easier, and I think it’s pretty, but I probably prefer [name]Mary[/name] or [name]Marie[/name]. That second ‘I’ in [name]Mairi[/name] just gives it a certain sparkle, somehow…
By the way, if I had to move out-of-country [name]Scotland[/name] would be on my list of destination contenders! I’ve never been there, but it’s on my dream-trip list. Best wishes.