Right now our top contender for a girl name is [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]. We love the sound of it but have some concerns. 1) would you pronounce it caro-lee-na or [name_u]Caro[/name_u]-line-ah? We want it to be pronounced [name_u]Caro[/name_u]-[name_u]Lee[/name_u]-na. We are both American. 2) is it too long of a name? 4 syllables is long. Which brings us to 3) what nicknames would you use? We don’t like carol. We are torn on [name_f]Lina[/name_f] (pronounced lee-na). What else could work for a nickname? 4) And out of curiosity- do people prefer [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] or [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]? Thanks for your help!
I would pronounce it Car-oh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah
I don’t think it’s too long of a name… it’s still simple and not some complicated mouthful.
I like [name_f]Lina[/name_f] as a nickname. Could also do [name_f]Linnie[/name_f] / [name_f]Linny[/name_f]?
I pronounce it the way you do, and I don’t think it’s to long at all! [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is four syllables as well, but it’s very popular so why would [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] not be okay?
[name_f]Lina[/name_f] (and [name_f]Linnie[/name_f], as the previous poster suggested) are cute nicknames! Some other ones could be [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], [name_m]Rollie[/name_m], Oli, [name_u]Connie[/name_u], [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u], [name_f]Rona[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f]/[name_u]Cali[/name_u] and [name_u]Caro[/name_u]
I’ve taught a couple of young Carolinas who used your preferred pronunciation. I think it is a great name, cosmopolitan with a bit of spunk. Usually I prefer the more tailored version, but in this case I would go for [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]. [name_f]Lina[/name_f] would make a good nickname because it has the similar style and vibe.
I don’t think four syllables is too much, my name is four syllables as well yet it doesn’t have a frilly feeling to me. Your preferred pronunciation sounds the most intuitive to me, but I’m not American, so I’m not sure if it counts. I like the idea of [name_f]Lina[/name_f], but I’m not sure if it’s the most intuitive, as it comes from the end of the name. I also like [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], [name_f]Callie[/name_f]/[name_u]Cali[/name_u] and especially [name_u]Caro[/name_u] for nns.
Because of the States when I see this name I think caro-line-ah. For some reason though when I see it spelled [name_f]Karolina[/name_f] then I think caro-lee-nah.
I don’t think it’s too long, and the advantage of a longer name is lots of nn options. [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lina[/name_f] are both common options, also [name_f]Carol[/name_f], [name_f]Callie [/name_f] and [name_f]Nina[/name_f].
I would pronounce it caro-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah, but I agree with pps that the [name_f]Karolina[/name_f] spelling feels like it’s definitely lee-nah while [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] might be pronounced like the state.
It definitely isn’t too long, especially considering the popularity of other classics like [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], etc. [name_u]Caro[/name_u] is my favorite of the [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] nicknames, but I think [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is most intuitive (and also pretty!)
I much prefer [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] to [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]—it feels more mature and cosmopolitan.
Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. I should also mention we have a son named [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] feel too different in genre to be siblings, or do you think it could work? Thank you!
To respond to that second question, I don’t think they’re too different
[name_m]Henry[/name_m] is a traditional name and [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] is more on the quirky side, but since it’s so much like [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]/[name_f]Carol[/name_f] I think it could definitely work with [name_m]Henry[/name_m]
My Italian great-grandmother was [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]…pronounced Car-o-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah. But I think in [name_u]America[/name_u], people will pronounce it like [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]. In that case, I think you’re safer with [name_f]Caroline[/name_f].